Electrical Circuit Analysis Lecture Notes Unit:3 Three Phase Circuits
UNIT - 3
3-PHASE CIRCUITS
Phase sequence
Phase sequence refers to the relation between voltages (or currents, as well) in a three-phase
system. The common representation of this relation is in terms of a phasor diagram, as below
The phasor diagram represents the phasor (or vector) relation of the three phase-ground voltages
(for simplicity, in a balanced system). The diagram is based on counter- clockwise rotation. In a
three phase system the voltage or current sinusoid attain peak values periodically one after
[Link] sinusoids are displaced 120 degrees from each other. So also phasors representing the
three sinusoids for voltage or current waves of three lines are phase displaced by 120 degrees.
The order in which the three phase voltages attain their positive peak values is known as the
phase sequence. Conventionally the three phases are designated as red-R, yellow-Y and blue-B
phases. The phase sequence is said to be RYB if R attains its peak or maximum value first with
respect to the reference as shown in the counter clockwise direction followed by Y phase 120°
later and B phase 240° later than the R phase. The phase sequence is said to be RBY if R is
followed by B phase120° later and Y phase 240° later than the R phase. By convention RYB is
considered as positive while the sequence RBY as negative. The phase sequence of the voltages
applied to a load is determined by the order in which the 3 phase lines are connected. The phase
sequence can be reversed by interchanging any one pair of lines without causing any change in
the supply sequence. Reversal of sequence results in reversal of the direction of rotation in case
of induction motor. Phase sequence is critical in measurements on power systems, and for
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Electrical Circuit Analysis Lecture Notes Unit:3 Three Phase Circuits
protective relaying, but perhaps most importantly, for rotating machines (so machines do not run
backwards). Modern microprocessor protective relays have a selectable phase-sequence setting
(often called the phase-rotation setting), so the relay adapts to the phase sequence without
ordinarily requiring changes to the wiring connections. In the historic electromechanical relays
(and meters), the wiring connections had to reflect the phase sequence to enable accurate
measurements and protection.
Inter connection of phases: The three phases can be inter connected either in star (Y)or in delta
(Δ).These connections result in a compact and a relatively economical system as the number of
conductors gets reduced by 33% for a three phase 4 - wire star system and by 50% for 3phase 3 -
wire star or delta systems when compared to independent connection of phases.
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. The three line conductors
run from the remaining three free terminals called line conductors. The wires are carried to the
external circuit, giving three phase, three wire star connected systems. However, sometimes a
fourth wire is carried from the star point to the external circuit, called neutral wire, forming
three phase, four wire star connected systems. The star connection is shown in the diagram
below.
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Electrical Circuit Analysis Lecture Notes Unit:3 Three Phase Circuits
Considering the above figure, the finish terminals a2, b2, and c2 of the three windings are
connected to form a star or neutral point. The three conductors named as R, Y and B run from
the remaining three free terminals as shown in the above figure. The current flowing through
each phase is called Phase current Iph, and the current flowing through each line conductor is
called Line Current IL. Similarly, the voltage across each phase is called Phase Voltage Eph,
and the voltage across two line conductors is known as the Line Voltage EL.
Relation Between Phase Voltage and Line Voltage in Star Connection:
The Star connection is shown in the figure below.
As the system is balanced, a balanced system means that in all the three phases, i.e., R, Y and B,
the equal amount of current flows through them. Therefore, the three voltages ENR, ENY and
ENB are equal in magnitude but displaced from one another by 120 degrees electrical. The
Phasor Diagram of Star Connection is shown below.
The arrowheads on the emfs and current indicate direction and not their actual direction at any
instant. Now,
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There are two phase voltages between any two lines. Tracing the loop NRYN
To find the vector sum of ENY and –ENR, we have to reverse the vector ENR and add it with
ENY as shown in the phasor diagram above. Therefore,
Similarly,
Hence, in Star Connections Line voltage is root 3 times of phase voltage.
VRY=VNR-VNY= Vr m s∟0- Vr m s∟-120
=Vr m s[(cos 0+jsin0)-[cos(-120)+Jsin(-120)]]
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Hence, in a 3 Phase system of Star Connections, the Line Current is equal to Phase Current.
Power in Star Connection
In a three phase AC circuit, the total True or Active power is the sum of the three phase power.
Or the sum of the all three phase powers is the Total Active or True Power.
Hence, total active or true power in a three phase AC system;
Total True or Active Power = 3 Phase Power
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Or
P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ ….. Eq … (1)
Good to Know: Where Cos Φ = Power factor = the phase angle between Phase Voltage and
Phase Current and not between Line current and line voltage. We know that the values of Phase
Current and Phase Voltage in Star Connection;
IL = IPH
VPH = VL /√3 ….. (From VL = √3 VPH)
Putting these values in power eq……. (1)
P = 3 x (VL/√3) x IL x CosФ .............. (VPH = VL /√3)
P = √3 x√3 x (VL/√3) x IL x CosФ {3 = √3x√3}
P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ
Hence proved;
Power in Star Connection,
P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ or
P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ
Similarly,
Total Reactive Power = Q = √3 x VL x IL x SinФ
Good to know: Reactive Power of Inductive coil is taken as Positive (+) and that of a Capacitor
as Negative (-).
Also, the total apparent power of the three phases
Total Apparent Power = S = √3 x VL x IL
Or, S = √ (P2 + Q2)
Delta Connection In a 3 Phase System :
In this system of interconnection, the starting ends of the three phases or coils are connected to
the finishing ends of the coil. Or the starting end of the first coil is connected to the finishing end
of the second coil and so on (for all three coils) and it looks like a closed mesh or circuit as
shown in fig (1). In more clear words, all three coils are connected in series to form a close mesh
or circuit. Three wires are taken out from three junctions and the all outgoing currents from
junction assumed to be positive. In Delta connection, the three windings interconnection looks
like a short circuit, but this is not true, if the system is balanced, then the value of the algebraic
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sum of all voltages around the mesh is zero. When a terminal is open, then there is no chance of
flowing currents with basic frequency around the closed mesh.
.
1. Line Voltages and Phase Voltages in Delta Connection
It is seen from fig 2 that there is only one phase winding between two terminals (i.e. there is one
phase winding between two wires). Therefore, in Delta Connection, the voltage between (any
pair of) two lines is equal to the phase voltage of the phase winding which is connected between
two lines. Since the phase sequence is R → Y → B, therefore, the direction of voltage from R
phase towards Y phase is positive (+), and the voltage of R phase is leading by 120°from Y
phase voltage. Likewise, the voltage of Y phase is leading by 120° from the phase voltage of B
and its direction is positive from Y towards B.
If the line voltage between; Line 1 and Line 2 = VRY ;
Line 2 and Line 3 = VYB : ; Line 3 and Line 1 = VBR
Then, we see that VRY leads VYB by 120° and VYB leads VBR by 120°.
Let‟s suppose,
VRY = VYB = VBR = VL .................... (Line Voltage)
Then VL = VPH
I.e. in Delta connection, the Line Voltage is equal to the Phase Voltage.
2. Line Currents and Phase Currents in Delta Connection
It will be noted from the below (fig-2) that the total current of each Line is equal to the vector
difference
between two phase currents flowing through that line. i.e.;
Current in Line 1= I1 = IR – IB
Current in Line 2 =I2 = IY – IR
Current in Line 3 =I3 = IB – IY
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The current of Line 1 can be found by determining the vector difference between IR and IB and
we can do
that by increasing the IB Vector in reverse, so that, IR and IB makes a parallelogram. The
diagonal of that parallelogram shows the vector difference of IR and IB which is equal to Current
in Line 1= I1. Moreover, by reversing the vector of IB, it may indicate as (-IB), therefore, the
angle between IR and -IB (IB, when reversed = -IB) is 60°.
If, IR = IY = IB = IPH …. The phase currents Then;
The current flowing in Line 1 would be;
IL or IL = √(IR 2+IY 2 +[Link]*IY C0S 60 o)
i.e. In Delta Connection, The Line current is √3 times of Phase Current
Similarly, we can find the reaming two Line currents as same as above. i.e.,
I2 = IY – IR … Vector Difference = √3 IPH
I3 = IB – IY … Vector difference = √3 IPH
As, all the Line current are equal in magnitude i.e.
I1 = I2 = I3 = IL
Hence
IL = √3 IPH
It is seen from the fig above that;
The Line Currents are 120° apart from each other
Line currents are lagging by 30° from their corresponding Phase Currents
The angle Ф between line currents and respective line voltages is (30°+Ф), i.e. each line
current is
lagging by (30°+Ф) from the corresponding line voltage.
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3. Power in Delta Connection
We know that the power of each phase
Power / Phase = VPH x IPH x CosФ
And the total power of three phases;
Total Power = P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ ….. (1)
We know that the values of Phase Current and Phase Voltage in Delta Connection;
IPH = IL / /√3 ….. (From IL = √3 IPH)
VPH = VL
Putting these values in power eq……. (1)
P = 3 x VL x ( IL/√3) x CosФ …… (IPH = IL / /√3)
P = √3 x√3 x VL x ( IL/√3) x CosФ …{ 3 = √3x√3 }
P = √3 x VLx IL x CosФ …
Hence proved;
Power in Delta Connection,
P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ …. or
P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ
Good to Know: Where Cos Φ = Power factor = the phase angle between Phase Voltage and
Phase Current and not between Line current and line voltage.
Good to Remember:
In both Star and Delta Connections, The total power on balanced load is same.
I.e. total power in a Three Phase System = P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ
Good to know:
Balanced System is a system where:
All three phase voltages are equal in magnitude
All phase voltages are in phase by each other i.e. 360°/3 = 120°
All three phase Currents are equal in magnitude
All phase Currents are in phase by each other i.e. 360°/3 = 120°
A three phase balanced load is a system in which the load connected across three phases are
identical.
Analysis of Balanced Three Phase Circuits:
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It is always better to solve the balanced three phase circuits on per phase basis. When the three
phase supply voltage is given without reference to the line or phase value, then it is the line
voltage which is taken into consideration.
The following steps are given below to solve the balanced three phase circuits.
Step 1 – First of all draw the circuit diagram.
Step 2 – Determine XLP = XL/phase = 2πfL.
Step 3 – Determine XCP = XC/phase = 1/2πfC.
Step 4 – Determine XP = X/ phase = XL – XC
Step 5 – Determine ZP = Z/phase = √R2 + X2 P
Step 6 – Determine cosϕ = RP/ZP; the power factor is lagging when XLP > XCP and it is
leading when XCP > XLP.
Step 7 – Determine V phase. For star connection VP = VL/√3 and for delta connection VP = VL
Step 8 – Determine IP = VP/ZP.
Step 9 – Now, determine the line current IL. For star connection IL = IP and for delta connection
IL = √3 IP
Step 10 – Determine the Active, Reactive and Apparent power.
THREE-PHASE CONNECTIONS:
The sources and loads in a three-phase system can each be connected in either a wye (Y) or delta
(Δ) configuration. Note that the wye connections are line-to-neutral while the delta connections
are line-toline with no neutral. Also note the convention on the node designations (lowercase
letters at the source connections and uppercase letters at the load connections). Both the three
phase source and the three phase load can be connected either Wye or DELTA.
We have 4 possible connection types.
1. Y-Y connection
2. Y-Δ connection
3. Δ- Y connection
4. Δ -Δ connection
Balanced Δ connected load is more common & Y connected sources are more common.
BALANCED WYE-WYE CONNECTION
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The balanced three-phase wye-wye connection is shown below. Note that the line impedance for
each of the individual phases in included in the circuit. The line impedances are assumed to be
equal for all three phases. The line currents (IaA, IbB and IcC) are designated according to the
source/load node naming convention. The source current, line current, and load current are all
one in the same current for a given phase in a wye-wye connection. Wye source Wye load
Assuming a positive phase sequence, the application of Kirchoff‟s voltage law around each
phase gives where Ztotal
Assuming a positive phase sequence, the application of Kirchoff‟s voltage law around each
phase gives
Van = Vrms∟0o = Ia(Zl+ZL) = Ia Ztotal = Ia ǀZtotal Iǀ∟θZ
Vbn = Vrms∟-120o = Ib(Zl+ZL) = Ib Ztotal = Ib ǀZtotal ǀ∟θZ
Vcn = Vrms∟120o = Ic(Zl+ZL) = Ic Ztotal = Ic ǀZtotal ǀ ∟θZ
Where Ztotal is the total impedance in each phase and θZ is the phase angle associated with the
total phase impedance. The preceding equations can be solved for the line currents.
Note that the line current magnitudes are equal and each line current lags the respective line-to-
neutral voltage by the impedance phase angle 2Z. Thus, the balanced voltages yield balanced
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currents. The phasor diagram for the line currents and the line-to-neutral voltages is shown
below. If we lay the line-to neutral voltage phasors end to end, they form a closed triangle (the
same property is true for the line currents). The closed triangle shows that the sum of these
phasors is zero.
The fact that the line currents sum to zero in the balanced wye-wye connection shows that the
neutral current In is zero in this balanced system. Thus, the impedance of the neutral is
immaterial to the performance of the circuit under balanced conditions. However, any imbalance
in the system (loads, line impedances, source variations, etc.) will produce a non-zero neutral
current. In any balanced three-phase system (balanced voltages, balanced line and load
impedances), the resulting currents are balanced. Thus, there is no real need to analyze all three
phases. We may analyze one phase to determine its current, and infer the currents in the other
phases based on a simple balanced phase shift (120o phase difference between any two line
currents). This technique is known as the per phase analysis.
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Single Phase Equivalent of Balanced Y-Y Connection:
Balanced three phase circuits can be analyzed on “per phase “ [Link] look at one phase, say
phase a and analyze the single phase equivalent circuit. Because the circuit is balanced, we can
easily obtain other phase values using their phase relationships.
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Electrical Circuit Analysis Lecture Notes Unit:3 Three Phase Circuits
In addition to the wye-wye three-phase connection, there are three other possible configurations
of wye and delta sources and loads. The most efficient way to handle three-phase circuits
containing delta sources and/or loads is to transform all delta connections into wye connections.
Delta Source - Source Voltage and Source Current Calculations: Source Voltage:
Given that a delta source is defined in terms of line-to-line voltages while the wye source is
defined in terms of line-to-neutral voltages, we can use the previously determined relationship
between line-to-line voltages and line-to neutral voltages to perform the transformation.
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Two Wattmeter Method of Power Measurement:
Two Wattmeter Method can be employed to measure the power in a 3 phase, 3 wire star or
delta connected balanced or unbalanced load. In Two wattmeter method the current coils of the
wattmeter are connected with any two lines, say R and Y and the potential coil of each wattmeter
is joined across the same line, the third line i.e. B as shown below in the figure A.
Measurement of Power by Two Wattmeter Method in Star Connection:
Considering the above figure A in which Two Wattmeter W1 and W2 are connected, the
instantaneous Ncurrent through the current coil of Wattmeter, W1 is given by the equation
shown below.
Instantaneous potential difference across the potential coil of Wattmeter, W1 is given as
Instantaneous power measured by the Wattmeter, W1 is
The instantaneous current through the current coil of Wattmeter, W2 is given by the equation
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Instantaneous potential difference across the potential coil of Wattmeter, W2 is given as
Instantaneous power measured by the Wattmeter, W2 is
Therefore, the Total Power Measured by the Two Wattmeters W1 and W2 will be obtained by
adding the equation (1) and (2).
Where, P is the total power absorbed in the three loads at any instant.
Hence, the total instantaneous power absorbed by the three loads Z1, Z2 and Z3, are equal to the
sum of the powers measured by the Two watt meters, W1 and W2.
Measurement of Power by Two Wattmeter Method in Delta Connection
Considering the delta connected circuit shown in the figure below,
The instantaneous current through the coil of the Wattmeter, W1 is given by the equation
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Instantaneous voltage measured by the Wattmeter, W1 will be
Therefore, the instantaneous power measured by the Wattmeter, W1 will be given as
The instantaneous current through the current coil of the Wattmeter, W2 is given as
The instantaneous potential difference across the potential coil of Wattmeter, W2 is
Therefore, the instantaneous power measured by Wattmeter, W2 will be
Hence, to obtain the total power measured by the Two Wattmeter the two equations, i.e. equation
(3) and (4) has to be added.
Where, P is the total power absorbed in the three loads at any instant. The power measured by
the Two Wattmeter at any instant is the instantaneous power absorbed by the three loads
connected in three phases. In fact, this power is the average power drawn by the load since the
Wattmeter reads the average power because of the inertia of their moving system.
Alternate method:
THREE PHASE REAL POWER MEASUREMENTS
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Electrical Circuit Analysis Lecture Notes Unit:3 Three Phase Circuits
The three phase real power is given by,
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