Chapter 1

Three Phase System

By Mdm.Norfadilah Binti Rosle

School of Electrical System Engineering(PPKSE)
 CONTENTS
• Three phase voltages generation and the phase sequence
• Three phase connection in balanced load and unbalanced load
(Wye and Delta)
• Relationship between line and phase values
• Power in three phase circuit
• Power measurement in three-phase circuit
 OBJECTIVES
• CO1: Ability to evaluate parameters of the three phase system
• Become familiar with the operation of a three-phase generator and
the magnitude and phase relationship connecting the three phase
voltages.
• Be able to calculate the voltages and currents for a three-phase Y/ ∆ -
connected generator and load.
• Understand the significance of the phase sequence for the generated
voltages of a three-phase Y-connected or ∆-connected generator
• Understand how to calculate the real, reactive, and apparent power to
all the elements of a Y- or ∆-connected load and be able to measure
the power to the load.
 THREE PHASE VOLTAGES GENERATION
AND THE PHASE SEQUENCE

• Three-phase generator consists of three single-phase generators, with voltages

equal in magnitude but differing in phase angle from the others by 120◦.

Volts

Magnitude

210° 330°

Phase Angle
• Three-phase generator connected to three identical loads.

• Each of these three generators could be connected to one of three identical loads
by a pair of wires.
• Phase Sequence of a three-phase power system is the order in which the
voltages in the individual phases peak.

• Three-phase power system may becomes ‘abc’ phase sequence (positive)

and also possible to connect as ‘acb’ phase sequence (negative).

abc Phase Sequence(positive) acb Phase Sequence(negative)

 THREE PHASE CONNECTION IN BALANCED LOAD AND
UNBALANCED LOAD (WYE AND DELTA)

• A three-phase system is equivalent to three single-phase circuit

• Two possible configurations in three-phase system:
1. Y-connection (wye/star connection)
2. ∆-connection (delta connection)
A three-phase connections generator and load

Y-Connection ∆-connection
Generator

Load
• The point at which all the terminals are connected is called the neutral
point.
• If a conductor is not attached from this point to the load, the system is
called a Y-connected, three-phase, three-wire generator.
• If the neutral is connected, the system is a Y-connected three-phase, four-
wire generator.
• The three conductors connected from A, B and C to the load are called
lines.
• Three-phase,4 wire Three-phase, 3 wire
• Balanced load = The power loading is split equally among all three phases.
• Load on phase A=Load on phase B= Load on phase C
• The current is equal in all three phases
• When the load impedance in the three phases are not equal in magnitude or
phase or both, the load is said to be unbalanced.
•  If three unequal loads are connected to form a delta and connected across
a 3-phase supply the currents in the three loads will not be equal in
magnitude and/or phase. The three-phase currents and the line currents will
also be unbalanced.
Y-Connection
 Relationship between line and phase value in the Y-
Connection

• The voltages and currents in a given phase are called phase quantities.
• The voltages between lines and currents in the lines connected to the
generators are called line quantities.
 Relationship between line and phase value in the Y-
Connection

EAB

-
ECA

EBC

• Line voltage, EL EAB ; EBC ; ECA

• Phase voltage, Eθ EAN ; EBN ; ECN
Phase sequence (Y-connected generator)

ABC (Positive) Phase sequence

Phase voltage (in phasor):
E AN  E AN 0 (reference)
E BN  E BN   120
E CN  E CN 120
Line voltage (in phasor):
E AB  E AB 0 (reference)
E BC  E BC   120
E CA  E CA120

14
Phase sequence (Y-connected generator)

ACB (Negative) Phase sequence

Phase voltage (in phasor):
E AN  E AN 0 (reference)
E CN  E CN   120
E BN  E BN 120
Line voltage (in phasor):
E AB  E AB 0 (reference)
E CA  E CA  120
E BC  E BC 120

15
 • The relationship between the magnitudes of the line-to-line(line) voltage and line-to-
neutral (phase) voltage is:

EAB=EAN−EBN
𝐸 AB= √ 3 𝐸 AN ∠30°
ECA =ECN −E AN EL leads Eφ by 30°

E BC=E BN −E CN
 •Figures show the line-to-line and
phase voltages for the
Y-connection.
(abc phase sequence)

• Since the load connected to this generator is assumed to be resistive, the current in each
phase of the generator will be at the same angle.
• The current in each phase:

• The current in any line is the same as the current in the corresponding phase which is :
Y-Connected Generator with a Y-Connected Load
• Loads connected with three-phase supplies are of two types: the Y and the ∆.If a Y-
connected load is connected to a Y-connected generator, the system is symbolically
represented by Y-Y
• If the load is balanced, the neutral connection can be removed without affecting the
circuit in any manner; that is, if Z1 = Z2 = Z3, then I N will be zero

= IAa

= IBb

= ICc

The currents flowing in the three phases are:

IAa IBb 120°

ICc 120°
1 2 3
 EXAMPLE 1

Calculate the line currents in the three-wire Y-Y system as shown below
SOLUTION
 EXAMPLE 2

A 208-V three-phase power system is shown in above figure. It consists of an ideal 208-V Y-
connected three-phase generator connected through a three-phase transmission line to a Y-
connected load. The transmission line has an impedance of 0.06+ j 0.12Ω per phase, and the
load has an impedance of 12 + j9Ω per phase. Find
(a) The magnitude of the line current, IL
(b) The magnitude of the load’s line and phase voltages VLL and V
 SOLUTION

(a) The line current flowing in the per-phase equivalent circuit is given by:

V
I line 
Z line  Z load
1200

(0.06  j 0.12)  (12  j 9)
1200 1200
 
12.06  j9.12 15.1237.1
 7.94  37.1 A


(b)The phase voltage on the load is the voltage across one phase of the load. This
voltage is the product of the phase impedance and the phase current of the load:

V L  I L Z L
 (7.94  37.1 A)(12  j9)
 (7.94  37.1 A)(1536.9)
•
 119.1  0.2V
Therefore, the magnitude of the load’s phase voltage is

V  119.1V
L
• And the magnitude of the load’s line voltage is

VLL  3V L  206.3V

Balanced Y-Δ Connection

• There is no neutral connection for the Y-∆ system as shown below.

• Any variation in the impedance of a phase that produces an unbalanced
system will simply vary the line and phase currents of the system.

=VCA =VAB

=VBC
• For a balanced load, Z1 = Z2 = Z3 = ZΔ
• The voltage across each phase of the load is equal to the line voltage of the
generator for a balanced or an unbalanced load: Vɸ = EL.
• Assuming the positive sequence:
– the phase voltage are:

– The phase current is

 EXAMPLE 3
Calculate the line currents in the three-wire Y-Δ
system as shown below
SOLUTION
∆ -Connection
 Relationship between line and phase value in the ∆ -
Connection

• Phase voltage, EAB ; EBC ; ECA

• The phase voltage in this generator are given by:

• The line-to-line voltage between any two lines will be the same as the voltage
in the corresponding phase. So :
 Unlike the line current for the Y-connected generator, the line current for the
∆-connected system is not equal to the phase current. The relationship between
the two can be found by applying Kirchhoff’s current law at one of the nodes
and solving for the line current in terms of the phase current; that is, at node A,
IBA = IAa + IAC
or
IAa = IBA - IAC = IBA + ICA

30
Definition of Phase Current

In 3-phase system, for ∆-connected, the current that flow from one phase to
another is called a phase current.

IBA – phase A current

ICB – phase B current
IAC – phase C current

31
Definition of Line Current

In 3-phase system, for ∆-connected, the current that flow through the line is
called a line current.

IAa – line A current

IBb – line B current
ICc – line C current

32
∆ -Connected system (Generator)

Line current:
IAa ; IBb ; ICc

Phase current:
for generator:
IBA ; IAC ; ICB

33
∆ -Connected system (Load)

Line current:
IAa ; IBb ; ICc

Phase current:
for load:
Iab ; Ibc ; Ica

34
Current in ∆ -Connected system (Generator Side)

For 3-phase ∆-connected system (generator), if the phase current IBA is taken as
the reference, so

I BA  I BA 0
I CB  I CB  120

I AC  I AC120
35
Current in ∆ -Connected system (Load Side)

By applying Kirchhoff’s Current Law, the line current can be written as

I Aa=I 𝑎𝑏 −I ca
I Aa = √3 I 𝑎𝑏 ∠−30°  A

36
 Current in ∆ -Connected system (Generator Side)

With the same method,

I Bb =I 𝑏𝑐 − I 𝑎𝑏
and

I Cc=I 𝑐𝑎 −I bc
37
 ∆ -Connected system

The relationship between the line current and the phase current can be
represented as

I L  3I φ   30
Where; IL : line current
Iφ = Ip : phase current

IL lags Iφ by 30°
38
 EXAMPLE 4
• Calculate the phase and line currents.
SOLUTION
 EXAMPLE 5

A 208-V three-phase power system is shown in above figure. It consists of an ideal 208-V Y-
connected three-phase generator connected through a three-phase transmission line to a Δ -
connected load. The transmission line has an impedance of 0.06+ j 0.12Ω per phase, and the
load has an impedance of 12 + j9Ω per phase. Find
(a) The magnitude of the line current, IL
(b) The magnitude of the load’s line and phase voltages VLL and V
 SOLUTION

Convert ∆ connected to an equivalent Y form. The phase impedance of the ∆ connected load is
12 +j9 Ω so the equivalent phase impedance of the corresponding Y form is
Z
ZY   4  j 3
3
(a) The line current flowing in the per-phase equivalent circuit is given by:
V
I line 
Z line  Z load
1200

(0.06  j 0.12)  (4  j3)
1200 1200
 
4.06  j 3.12 5.1237.5
 23.4  37.5 A
The magnitude of the line current is thus 23.4 A
(b)The phase voltage on the equivalent Y load is the voltage across one phase of the
load. This voltage is the product of the phase impedance and the phase current of
the load:

V L  I ' L Z ' L
 23.4  37.5 A)(4  j3)
 (23.4  37.5 A)(536.9)
 117  0.6V

• The original load was ∆ connected so the phase voltage of the original load is

V L  3(117)  203V
• And the magnitude of the load’s line voltage is

VLL  V L  203V
 EXAMPLE 6 (∆ -Connected Generator with a ∆ -Connected
Load)
• A balanced delta connected load having an impedance 20 - j15  is
connected to a delta connected, positive sequence generator having VAB
= 3300 V. Calculate the phase currents of the load and the line
currents.

 ZΔ  20  j15   25  36.87

 VAB  3300 V
 SOLUTION
• Phase currents of the load
Vab 3300
I ab    13.236.87A
ZΔ 25  38.87

I bc  I ab   120  36.87  13.2 - 83.13A

I ca  I ab   120  36.87  13.2156.87A

• Line currents.
I Aa  I ab 3  30

 13.236.87 3  30 
 22.866.87 A
I Bb  I Aa   120  6.87  22.86 - 11 3.13 A
I Cc  I Aa   120  6.87  22.86126.87 A
EXAMPLE 7 (∆ -Connected Generator with a Y-Connected
Load)
A balanced Y-connected load with a phase impedance 40 + j25  is
supplied by a balanced, positive-sequence Δ-connected source with a line
voltage of 210 V. Calculate the line currents. Use VAB as reference
 SOLUTION
The load impedance, ZY and the source voltage, VAB are

 ZY  40  j25  47.1732 
 VAB  2100 V
When the ∆-connected source is transformed to a Y-connected
source

VAB
Van    30
3
2100
  1  30
3
 121.2-30 V
• Line current:

Van 121.2  30

I Aa    2.57 - 62 A
ZY 47.1732

I Bb  I Aa   120  62  2.57 - 182 A

I Cc  I Aa   120  62  2.5758 A
Summary of relationships in Y and ∆ -Connections

Y-Connections ∆ -Connections
Voltage Magnitude

Current Magnitude
abc phase sequence

acb phase sequence

 Real Power in Single Phase

• Active Power (P) delivered to or absorb by

resistive component to each phase, Pᶲ:
V
P  V I cos  I (W)

where
V
 I V I
is the phase angle between and
2
2 V
P  I R (W) or
 P  R
(W)
R
 Reactive Power in Single Phase

• Reactive Power (Q) delivered to or absorb by

reactive component to each phase, Qᶲ:
V
Q  V I sin  I (VAR)

where
V
 I V I
is the phase angle between and
2
2
X x
Q  I X  (VAR)
 or Q  X (VAR)

 Apparent Power in Single Phase

• Apparent Power (S) - is the product of voltage and

current that deliver to each phase.

S  V I (VA)
or

2
S  I Z (VA)
Power in Y-Connection
P  I  V  cos 
P3  PT  3  I  V  cos 
 VL 
PT  3  I L     cos 
 3
 3I LVL cos
QT  3I LVL sin 
ST  3I LVL The angle θ is angle between the
voltage and current in any phase of
the load ( it is the same in all
phases), and the power factor of the
load is the cosine of the impedance
angle θ
Power in Δ-Connection
P  I  V  cos 
P3  PT  3  I  V  cos 
 IL 
PT  3     VL  cos 
 3
 3I LVL cos
QT  3I LVL sin 
ST  3I LVL The angle θ is angle between the
voltage and current in any phase of
the load ( it is the same in all
phases), and the power factor of the
load is the cosine of the impedance
angle θ
 Power Factor, pf

Defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to

the load over the apparent power in the circuit.
Displacement angle between V and I
PT

Reactive Power, Q (kVAR)

V
Power Factor, pf   cos  I
ST
r, S
we
Po
ent
p a r
Ap )
k VA
(

Active Power, P (kW)
• Defined as 'the cosine of the angle between the voltage and current'.
• In AC circuit, the voltage and current are ideally in phase.
• But practically, there exists a phase difference between them.
• The cosine of this phase difference is termed as power factor.
• It can be defined and mathematically represented as follows:
• Power factors are usually stated as "leading"
or "lagging" to show the sign of the phase
angle. Capacitive loads are leading (current
leads voltage), and inductive loads
are lagging (current lags voltage).
Phase Current
Phase
Voltage

Phase
Phase Current Voltage

•Lagging power factor •leading power factor

( inductive loads) • (capacitive loads)
 EXAMPLE 8

A 208-V three-phase power system is shown in above figure. It consists of an ideal 208-V Y-
connected three-phase generator connected through a three-phase transmission line to a Y-
connected load. The transmission line has an impedance of 0.06+ j 0.12Ω per phase, and the
load has an impedance of 12 + j9Ω per phase. Find
(a) the real, reactive and apparent powers consumed by the load
(b) the power factor of the load
 SOLUTION
(a) The real power consumed by the load is
Pload  3V L I L cos 
 3(119.1V )(7.94 A) cos 36.9
 2270W
The reactive power consumed by the load is
Qload  3V L I L sin 
 3(119.1V )(7.94 A) sin 36.9
 1702 var
The apparent power consumed by the load is
Sload  3V L I L
 3(119.1V )(7.94 A)
 2839VA
(b) The load power factor is
PFload  cos 
 cos 36.9
 0.8lagging
 EXAMPLE 9

A 208-V three-phase power system is shown in above figure. It consists of an ideal 208-V Y-
connected three-phase generator connected through a three-phase transmission line to a Δ -
connected load. The transmission line has an impedance of 0.06+ j 0.12Ω per phase, and the
load has an impedance of 12 + j9Ω per phase. Find
(a) the real, reactive and apparent powers consumed by the load
(b) the power factor of the load
 SOLUTION
(a) The real power consumed by the equivalent Y load is
Pload  3V L I L cos 
 3(117V )(23.4 A) cos 36.9
 6571W
The reactive power consumed by the load is
Qload  3V L I L sin 
 3(117V )(23.4 A) sin 36.9
 4928 var
The apparent power consumed by the load is
Sload  3V L I L
 3(117V )(23.4 A)
 8213VA
(b) The load power factor is PFload  cos 
 cos 36.9
 0.8lagging
 TWO-WATTMETER METHOD
To measure the power delivered by a three-phase, 4-wire system, three single-
phase wattmeter could be connected to measure power in each of the phases and the
readings added to obtain the total power.

However is not necessary because two single-phase wattmeter connected as

shown in Figure 1 will gave the same result.

The total power is the algebraic sum of the two wattmeter readings and this
method of power measurement is known as the two-wattmeter method.
 Figure 1: The Two-Wattmeter Method of Measuring Three-Phase Power

Figure 2 shows a wattmeter connected to measure the power delivered to a load

and the equivalent circuit connections of the DAI to obtain the same result with the
Metering system.

Figure 2: Measuring Power with a Wattmeter

 Alternative hookup for the Two
Two Wattmeter Method
Wattmeter Method
 EXAMPLE 10

An unbalanced Δ load is connected to a three-phase, Y-connected generator

having a line voltage of EAB, EBC and ECA. Calculate the readings of the
wattmeters W1 and W2. Find PTotal
SOLUTION
THANK YOU