5. Three Phase A.C.

Circuit

5.1 Comparison between single phase and three phase

Basis for Single Phase Three Phase
Comparison
Definition The power supply through one The power supply through three
conductor. conductors.
Wave Shape R R Y B

0 0
180 360
120

240

Number of Require two wires for Requires four wires for

wire completing the circuit completing the circuit
Voltage Carry 230V Carry 415V
Phase Name Split phase No other name
Network Simple Complicated
Loss Maximum Minimum
Power Supply R R
Connection Y Y
B B
N N

Consumer Load Consumer Load

Efficiency Less High

Economical Less More
Uses For home appliances. In large industries and for
running heavy loads.
5.2 Generation of three phase EMF

S
N
B Y

Figure 5.1 Generation of three phase emf

• According to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, we know that whenever a coil

is rotated in a magnetic field, there is a sinusoidal emf induced in that coil.

Bhavesh M Jesadia, EE Department Elements of Electrical Engineering (210005) 1

 5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

• Now, we consider 3 coil C1(R-phase), C2(Y-phase) and C3(B-phase), which are displaced
1200 from each other on the same axis. This is shown in fig. 5.1.
• The coils are rotating in a uniform magnetic field produced by the N and S pols in the
counter clockwise direction with constant angular velocity.
• According to Faraday’s law, emf induced in three coils. The emf induced in these three
coils will have phase difference of 120 0. i.e. if the induced emf of the coil C 1 has phase of
00, then induced emf in the coil C2 lags that of C1 by 1200 and C3 lags that of C2 1200.

e eR=Emsinωt
eY=Emsin(ωt-120)
Em
eB=Emsin(ωt-240)

e
0 ωt

120
240

Figure 5.2 Waveform of Three Phase EMF

• Thus, we can write,

eR = Em sin t
(
eY = Em sin t − 1200 )
eB = Em sin ( t − 240 )
0

• The above equation can be represented by their phasor diagram as in the Fig. 5.3.
eB

120
120

eR
12
0

eY
Figure 5.3 Phasor Diagram of Three Phase EMF

5.3 Important definitions

➢ Phase Voltage
It is defined as the voltage across either phase winding or load terminal. It is denoted by Vph.
Phase voltage V RN, VYN and VBN are measured between R-N, Y-N, B-N for star connection and
between R-Y, Y-B, B-R in delta connection.

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 5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

➢ Line voltage
It is defined as the voltage across any two-line terminal. It is denoted by VL.
Line voltage V RY, VYB, VBR measure between R-Y, Y-B, B-R terminal for star and delta
connection both.
R
IR(line)
1 IR(line)
R
VRN(ph)

IR(ph)

h)

VR
(p
VB

(p
VRY(line) VRY(line)

h)

h)
IR
(p

(p
IB

h)
VBR(line)
N VY IY(ph)
N(
) ph
(ph ) IY(line)
IB
IY( VBR(line) 3 Y
) ph VY(ph) 2
ph )
N(
VB Y VYB(line)
IY(line) IB(line)
B
VYB(line)

B
IB(line)
Figure 5.4 Three Phase Star Connection System Figure 5.5 Three Phase Delta Connection System

➢ Phase current
It is defined as the current flowing through each phase winding or load. It is denoted by Iph.
Phase current IR(ph), IY(ph) and IB(Ph) measured in each phase of star and delta connection.
respectively.
➢ Line current
It is defined as the current flowing through each line conductor. It denoted by IL.
Line current IR(line), IY(line), and IB((line) are measured in each line of star and delta connection.
➢ Phase sequence
The order in which three coil emf or currents attain their peak values is called the phase
sequence. It is customary to denoted the 3 phases by the three colours. i.e. red (R), yellow
(Y), blue (B).
➢ Balance System
A system is said to be balance if the voltages and currents in all phase are equal in magnitude
and displaced from each other by equal angles.
➢ Unbalance System
A system is said to be unbalance if the voltages and currents in all phase are unequal in
magnitude and displaced from each other by unequal angles.
➢ Balance load
In this type the load in all phase are equal in magnitude. It means that the load will have the
same power factor equal currents in them.
➢ Unbalance load
In this type the load in all phase have unequal power factor and currents.

Bhavesh M Jesadia, EE Department Elements of Electrical Engineering (210005) 3

 5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

5.4 Relation between line and phase values for voltage and current in case of
balanced delta connection.
➢ Delta (Δ) or Mesh connection, starting end of one coil is connected to the finishing end of
other phase coil and so on which giving a closed circuit.
Circuit Diagram
IR(line) 1
R

h)

VB
(p
VRY

VR

(p
h)

h)
IB
(p
VBR

(p
IR

h)
IY(ph)
IY(line)
Y 3
2 VY(ph)
VYB

B
IB(line)
Figure 5.6 Three Phase Delta Connection

• Let,
Line voltage, VRY = VYB = VBR = VL
Phase voltage, VR ( ph) = VY ( ph) = VB ( ph) = Vph
Line current , IR ( line ) = IY ( line ) = I B ( line ) = I line
Phase current , IR ( ph) = IY ( ph) = I B ( ph) = I ph
Relation between line and phase voltage
• For delta connection line voltage V L and phase voltage V ph both are same.
VRY = VR( ph )
VYB = VY ( ph )
VBR = VB ( ph )
VL = Vph
Line voltage = Phase Voltage
Relation between line and phase current
• For delta connection,
IR ( line ) =IR ( ph) − IB( ph)
IY( line ) =IY( ph) − IR ( ph)
IB( line ) = IB( ph) − IY( ph)

Bhavesh M Jesadia, EE Department Elements of Electrical Engineering (210005) 4

5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

• i.e. current in each line is vector difference of two of the phase currents.
IB(line)

IB(

)
ph
ph

(
-IY
)
60

-IR(ph) IR(ph)

60 60

-IB
)
ph

ph(

IR(line)
IY(

IY(line)
)

Figure 5.7 Phasor Diagram of Three Phase Delta Connection

• So, considering the parallelogram formed by I R and IB.

IR ( line ) = IR ( ph)2 + IB( ph)2 + 2IR ( ph)IB( ph) cos

IL = Iph2 + Iph2 + 2IphIph cos60

1
IL = Iph2 + Iph2 + 2Iph2   
2
IL = 3Iph2
IL = 3Iph

• Similarly, IY( line ) = IB( line ) = 3 I ph

• Thus, in delta connection Line current = 3 Phase current

Power
P = VphIph cos + VphIph cos + VphIph cos 
P = 3VphIph cos
 I 
P = 3VL  L  cos
 3
P = 3VLILcos

Bhavesh M Jesadia, EE Department Elements of Electrical Engineering (210005) 5

 5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

5.5 Relation between line and phase values for voltage and current in case of
balanced star connection.
➢ In the Star Connection, the similar ends (either start or finish) of the three windings are
connected to a common point called star or neutral point.
Circuit Diagram
R
IR(line)

VR(ph)

IR(ph)
VRY

N VB
VBR h)
(ph
)
I Y(p
IB(
ph
h) )
V Y(p
Y
IY(line)
VYB

B
IB(line)
Figure 5.8 Circuit Diagram of Three Phase Star Connection

• Let,
line voltage, VRY = VBY = VBR = VL
phase voltage, VR ( ph) = VY ( ph) = VB ( ph) = Vph
line current, IR( line ) = IY ( line ) = I B ( line ) = Iline
phase current , IR ( ph) = IY ( ph) = I B ( ph) = I ph
Relation between line and phase voltage
• For star connection, line current IL and phase current Iph both are same.
IR( line ) = IR( ph)
IY ( line ) = IY ( ph)
I B( line ) = I B( ph)
 IL = Iph
Line Current = Phase Current
Relation between line and phase voltage
• For delta connection,

Bhavesh M Jesadia, EE Department Elements of Electrical Engineering (210005) 6

5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

VRY =VR ( ph) − VY( ph)

VYB =VY( ph) − VB( ph)
VBR =VB( ph) − VR ( ph)
• i.e. line voltage is vector difference of two of the phase voltages. Hence,

VBR VRY

VB

H)
(P

(P
H)

-VY
60
60

-VR(PH) VR(PH)

60
H)
(P

-VB
VY

(P
H)

VYB
Figure 5.9 Phasor Diagram of Three Phase Star Connection

From parallelogram,
VRY = VR ( ph)2 + VY( ph)2 + 2VR ( ph) VY( ph) cos

 VL = Vph2 + Vph2 + 2VphVph cos60

 VL = Vph2 + Vph2 + 2Vph2  1 ( 2)

 VL = 3Vph2
 VL = 3Vph

• Similarly, VYB = VBR = 3 Vph

• Thus, in star connection Line voltage = 3 Phase voltage
Power
P = Vph I ph cos + Vph I ph cos + Vph I ph cos
P = 3Vph I ph cos
V 
P = 3 L  I L cos
 3
 P = 3VL I L cos

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 5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

5.6 Measurement of power in balanced 3-phase circuit by two-watt meter

method
• This is the method for 3-phase power measurement in which sum of reading of two
wattmeter gives total power of system.
Circuit Diagram
I R(line) M L
R

C V

Z1
VRY

Z3
Z2
I Y(line)
Y
C V
VBY

B
IB(lline)M L

Figure 5.10 Circuit Diagram of Power Measurement by Two-Watt Meter in Three Phase Star Connection

• The load is considered as an inductive load and thus, the phasor diagram of the inductive
load is drawn below in Fig. 5.11.
VBY

-VY
VRY
VB 0
30 I
B


0
30
IY   VR
I
R

VY

Figure 5.11 Phasor Diagram of Power Measurement by Two-Watt Meter in Three Phase Star Connection

Bhavesh M Jesadia, EE Department Elements of Electrical Engineering (210005) 8

5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

• The three voltages V RN, VYN and V BN, are displaced by an angle of 120 0 degree electrical as
shown in the phasor diagram. The phase current lag behind their respective phase voltages
by an angle  . The power measured by the Wattmeter, W 1 and W2.
Reading of wattmeter, W1 = VRY IR cos1 = VL IL cos (30 +  )
Reading of wattmeter, W2 = VBY IB cos2 = VL IL cos (30 −  )
Total power, P = W 1+W2
 P = VL I L cos (30 +  ) + VL I L cos (30 −  )
= VL I L cos (30 +  ) + cos (30 −  ) 
=VL I L cos30cos + sin30sin  + cos30cos  − sin30sin  
= VL I L 2cos30cos 
  3 
= VL I L 2  cos 
 
  2  
= 3VL I L cos
• Thus, the sum of the readings of the two wattmeter is equal to the power absorbed in a 3-
phase balanced system.
Determination of Power Factor from Wattmeter Readings
• As we know that
W1 + W2 = 3VL IL cos
Now,
W1 − W2 = VL I L cos (30 +  ) − VL IL cos (30 −  )
= VL I L cos30cos + sin30sin  − cos30cos  + sin30sin  
= VL I L 2sin30sin  
 1 
= VL I L 2  sin   = VL IL sin 
 2 
3 (W1 − W2 ) 3VL IL sin 
 = = tan 
(W1 + W2 ) 3VL IL cos
3 (W1 − W2 )
 tan  =
(W1 + W2 )
• Power factor of load given as,
 3 (W1 − W2 ) 
cos = cos  tan −1 

 (W1 + W2 ) 

Bhavesh M Jesadia, EE Department Elements of Electrical Engineering (210005) 9

5. Three Phase A.C. Circuit

Effect of power factor on wattmeter reading:

• From the Fig. 5.6, it is clear that for lagging power factor cos  , the wattmeter readings are
W1 = VL IL cos (30 +  )
W2 = VL IL cos (30 −  )
• Thus, readings W 1 and W2 will very depending upon the power factor angle  .

p.f  W1 = VL IL cos (30 +  ) W2 = VL IL cos (30 −  ) Remark

cos = 1 00 3 3 Both equal and +ve

VL I L VL I L
2 2
cos  = 0.5 600 0 3 One zero and second total
VL I L power
2
cos = 0 900 1 1 Both equal but opposite
− VL I L VL I L
2 2

Bhavesh M Jesadia, EE Department Elements of Electrical Engineering (210005) 10