Three-phase Circuits

Balanced 3-phase systems

Unbalanced 3-phase systems

SKEE 1043 Circuit Theory

Dr. Nik Rumzi Nik Idris

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Balanced 3-phase systems

Single-phase two-wire system:

• Single source connected to a
load using two-wire system

Single-phase three-wire system:

• Two sources connected to two
loads using three-wire system
• Sources have EQUAL
magnitude and are IN PHASE

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Balanced 3-phase systems

Balanced Two-phase three-wire system:

• Two sources connected to two
loads using three-wire system
• Sources have EQUAL
frequency but DIFFFERENT
phases

Balanced Three-phase four-wire system:

• Three sources connected to 3

loads using four-wire system
• Sources have EQUAL
frequency but DIFFFERENT
phases

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Balanced 3-phase systems

WHY THREE PHASE SYSTEM ?

• ALL electric power system in the world used 3-phase system to

GENERATE, TRANSMIT and DISTRIBUTE

• Instantaneous power is constant – thus smoother rotation of

electrical machines

• More economical than single phase – less wire for the same power
transfer

• To pass SKEE 1043 – to be able to graduate !

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Balanced 3-phase systems
Generation of 3-phase voltage: Generator SEE VIDEO

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Balanced 3-phase systems
Generation, Transmission and Distribution

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Balanced 3-phase systems
Generation, Transmission and Distribution

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Balanced 3-phase systems
Y and  connections

Balanced 3-phase systems can be considered as 3 equal single phase

voltage sources connected either as Y or Delta () to 3 single three loads
connected as either Y or 

SOURCE CONNECTIONS LOAD CONNECTIONS

Y connected source Y connected load

 connected source  connected load

Y-Y Y- -Y -

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Balanced 3-phase systems SOURCE CONNECTIONS
Source : Y connection
a
Van o
+ v an ( t )  2 Vp cos(t)  Van  Vp0

o
n
v bn ( t )  2 Vp cos(t  120o ) Vbn  Vp  120
Vcn


v cn ( t)  2 Vp cos(t  120o ) Vcn  Vp120o



+
+

Vbn b
RMS phasors !
c

240o
120 o

Van Vbn Vcn

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Balanced 3-phase systems SOURCE CONNECTIONS
Source : Y connection
Vcn  Vp120o
a
Van
+

120o
Van  Vp0o
n
Vcn 120o



+
+

120o
Vbn b

c
Vbn  Vp  120o

Phase sequence : Van leads Vbn by 120o and Vbn leads Vcn by 120o

This is a known as abc sequence or positive sequence

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Balanced 3-phase systems SOURCE CONNECTIONS
Source : Y connection
a
o
Van v an ( t )  2 Vp cos(t)  Van  Vp0
+
 o
v cn (t)  2 Vp cos(t  120o ) Vcn  Vp  120
n
Vcn
v bn (t )  2 Vp cos(t  120o ) Vbn  Vp120o



+
+

Vbn b
RMS phasors !
c
240o
120o
Van Vcn Vbn

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Balanced 3-phase systems SOURCE CONNECTIONS
Source : Y connection
Vbn  Vp120o
a
Van
+

120o
Van  Vp0o
n
Vcn 120o



+
+

120o
Vbn b

c
Vcn  Vp  120o

Phase sequence : Van leads Vcn by 120o and Vcn leads Vbn by 120o

This is a known as acb sequence or negative sequence

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 Balanced 3-phase systems SOURCE CONNECTIONS
Source :  connection

o
a v ab ( t)  2 Vp cos(t)  Vab  Vp0
o
Vab
v bc ( t )  2 Vp cos(t  120o ) Vbc  Vp  120


Vca
+

b v ca (t)  2 Vp cos(t  120o ) Vca  Vp120o


+

Vbc

c RMS phasors !
120o
240o

Vab Vbc Vca

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Balanced 3-phase systems LOAD CONNECTIONS

Y connection  connection
a
a

Z1 Zb
Zc
n

b
Z2 Z3
b Za
c
c

Balanced load:
Z
Z1= Z2 = Z3 = ZY Za= Zb = Zc = Z ZY 
3

Unbalanced load: each phase load may not be the same.

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 Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection
Ia
A
a
Van Van  Vp0o
+ Phase
 ZY Vbn  Vp   120 o
In voltages
n N
Vcn Vcn  Vp 120 o



Ib ZY
+
+

ZY
c Vbn B
b Ic C

Vp0o Vab  Van  Vnb

Ia 
ZY  Vp 0o  Vp 60o

Vp  120o line  3 Vp 30o

Ib  currents line-line
ZY voltages
Vbc  Vbn  Vnc
Vp120o OR
Ic   3 Vp  90o Line
ZY voltages
 Ia  Ib  Ic  In  0 Vca  Vcn  Vna
The wire connecting n and N can be removed !  3 Vp150o 15
Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection

Vab  Van  Vnb

 Vp 0o  Vp 60 o
 3 Vp 30 o

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Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection

Vab  Van  Vnb

 Vp 0o  Vp 60 o Vcn

 3 Vp 30 o Van

Vbn

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Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection

Vab  Van  Vnb

 Vp 0o  Vp 60 o
Vnb
 3 Vp 30 o Van

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Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection

Vab  Van  Vnb

 Vp 0o  Vp 60 o
Vnb
 3 Vp 30 o Van

Vbn
Vbc  Vbn  Vnc
 3 Vp  90o
Vnc

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Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection

Vna
Vab  Van  Vnb
Vcn
 Vp 0o  Vp 60 o
Vnb
 3 Vp 30 o Van

Vbn
Vbc  Vbn  Vnc
 3 Vp  90o
Vnc
Vca  Vcn  Vna
 3 Vp150o

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Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection

Vca Vab
Vab  Van  Vnb
 Vp 0o  Vp 60 o 30o Vcn

 3 Vp 30 o 30o
Van
Vbn
Vbc  Vbn  Vnc 30o
 3 Vp  90o

Vbc
Vca  Vcn  Vna
 3 Vp150o
VL  3 Vp

where VL  Vab  Vbc  Vca and Vp  Van  Vbn  Vcn

Line voltage LEADS phase voltage by 30o 21

Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection

For a balanced Y-Y connection, analysis can be performed using an

equivalent per-phase circuit: e.g. for phase A:
Ia A
a
Van
+
 ZY
In=0
n N
Vcn



Ib ZY
+
+

ZY
c Vbn B C
b Ic

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Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y-Y Connection

For a balanced Y-Y connection, analysis can be performed using an

equivalent per-phase circuit: e.g. for phase A:
Ia A
a
Van
+
 ZY

n N

Van
Ia 
ZY

Based on the sequence, the other line currents can be

obtained from:

Ib  Ia   120 o Ic  Ia120o

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 Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y- Connection
Ia
a
Van Van  Vp0o
A
+
 Vbn  Vp   120 o
Z Z
n
Vcn Vcn  Vp 120 o
IAB Z


ICA


Ib
+
+

B C
c Vbn b Ic IBC

Using KCL, Ia  IAB  ICA

Vab  3 Vp30o V
IAB  AB
Z  IAB (1  1120o )
 VAB
 IAB 3  30o
VBC Ib  IBC  IAB
Vbc  3 Vp  90 o IBC  Phase
Z currents  IBC (1  1120o )
 VBC
 IBC 3  30o
VCA
Vca  3 Vp150o ICA  Ic  ICA 3  30o
Z
 VCA 24
Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced Y- Connection

Ic

ICA
30o
IAB
Ia  IAB  ICA
30o
 IAB (1  1120o )
30o
Ib  IAB 3  30o
IBC Ia
Ib  IBC  IAB
IL  3Ip  IBC (1  1120o )
 IBC 3  30o
where IL  Ia  Ib  Ic and Ip  IAB  IBC  ICA o
Ic  ICA 3  30
Phase current LEADS line current by 30o 25
 Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced - Connection
Ia
a
Vab  Vp 0o
A
Vbc  Vp   120 o
Vca Vab Z
+

+ Z

Vcn  Vp 120 o
Ib IAB Z ICA
B C

+

c Vbc b Ic IBC

Using KCL, Ia  IAB  ICA

V
Vab  VAB IAB  AB
Z  IAB (1  1120o )
 IAB 3  30o line
VBC Ib  IBC  IAB currents
Vbc  VBC IBC  Phase
Z currents  IBC (1  1120o )
 IBC 3  30o
Vca  VCA VCA
ICA  Ic  ICA 3  30o
Z
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 Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced - Connection
Ia
a
Vab  Vp 0o
A
Vbc  Vp   120 o
Vca Vab Z
+

+ Z

Vcn  Vp 120 o
Ib IAB Z ICA
B C

+

c Vbc b Ic IBC

Alternatively, by transforming the  connections to the equivalent Y

connections per phase equivalent circuit analysis can be performed.

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 Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced -Y Connection
Ia
A
a
Vab  Vp 0o
ZY Vbc  Vp   120 o
Vca  Vab Loop1
+ + N

Vca  Vp 120 o
Ib ZY ZY

+

c Vbc B C
b Ic

How to find Ia ?
Vab
Loop1 - Vab  Z YIa  Z YIb  0  Ia  Ib 
ZY

Since circuit is balanced, Ib = Ia-120o  Ia  Ib  Ia (1  1( 120 o ))

 Ia 330 o
Vp 3
Therefore Ia    30 o
ZY
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 Balanced 3-phase systems Balanced -Y Connection
Ia
A
a
Vab  Vp 0o
ZY Vbc  Vp   120 o
Vca  Vab
+ + N

Vca  Vp 120 o
Ib ZY ZY

+

c Vbc B C
b Ic

How to find Ia ? (Alternative)

Transform the delta source connection to an equivalent Y and then

perform the per phase circuit analysis

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