THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, WEST INDIES

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

BSc. in Electrical & Computer Engineering

ECNG 1006

Laboratory and Project Design 1

ELab #4:

Three-Phase Circuits

Philippe Francois

810006519

Group E1

Course Lecturer: Marcus Ganness

Date Performed: March 26, 2012

Date Submitted: April 11, 2012

ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

Table of Contents
Results from 4.1.1........................................................................................................................................3
5.1.1 – Delta Connected Load and Transformer..........................................................................................4
5.1.1 (a)...................................................................................................................................................4
5.1.1 (b)...................................................................................................................................................5
5.1.1 (c) Phasor Diagram....................................................................................................................5
5.1.1 (d)...................................................................................................................................................7
Results for 4.1.2...........................................................................................................................................9
5.1.2 – Star Connected Load and Tranformer..............................................................................................9
5.1.2 (a)...................................................................................................................................................9
5.1.2 (b).................................................................................................................................................10
5.1.2 (c)..................................................................................................................................................10
5.1.2.(d) Phasor diagram.......................................................................................................................12
5.1.2 (e).................................................................................................................................................13
Results from 4.1.3......................................................................................................................................14
5.1.3 – Unbalanced Loads..........................................................................................................................14
5.1.3 (a).................................................................................................................................................14
5.1.3 (b).................................................................................................................................................15
5.1.4 Power Factor....................................................................................................................................18
Results from 4.1.4......................................................................................................................................18
5.1.4 (a).................................................................................................................................................18
5.1.4 (b) Neutral Current..................................................................................................................19
5.1.4 (c)..................................................................................................................................................20
5.1.4 (d).................................................................................................................................................22
5.1.4 (e).................................................................................................................................................24

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

Results from 4.1.1

Figure 1- 3 phase Delta connected transformer and load

Notes:

 Transformer rated power = 1KVA

 25% of rated current
1 KVA 1000
=I P= =4.35 A
VP 230

Since, for delta network

I L =√ 3 x I P= √3 x 4.35=7.53 A

25% of IL:
25 % I L =7.53 X .25=1.88 A

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

Table 1 - Results of 4.1.1

Reading RY YB BR

Line Voltage (VRY/YB/BR) 230V 230V 230V

Line Current (IR/IY/IB) 1.7A 1.8A 1.85A

Phase Current (I1/I2/I3) 1.04A 1.06A 1.06A

Wattmeter (W1 /W2 /W3) 390W 365W 370W

5.1.1 – Delta Connected Load and Transformer

5.1.1 (a)

The relationship between the phase and line currents in a delta connected load is:

I L =√ 3 x I P

A relationship between the phase angles of the line current and phase current also exists.
From Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL):

I L =⃗
⃗ I 1− ⃗
I3

sin (120 ) x ⃗
I1
I L=
⃗
sin( 30)

I L =2 x I P x cos 30

The line current lags the phase currents by 30º.

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

5.1.1 (b)

The relationship between the phase voltage V P and line voltage VL in a delta connected load
is:

V P=V L

The phase and line voltages are in phase.

5.1.1 (c) Phasor Diagram

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

Angle between phase and line currents

From Trigonometry:
a b
=
sin a sin b
Red Phase:

1.7 1.04
=
sin 120 sin θ

θ=sin−1 ( 1.04 x1.7sin 120 )=32 °

Yellow Phase

1.8 1.06
=
sin 120 sin θ

θ=sin−1 ( 1.06 x1.8sin 120 )=30.7 °

Blue Phase

1.85 1.06
=
sin 120 sin θ

θ=sin−1 ( 1.061.85
x sin 120
)=29.75°

Phase Powers

P=V P I P cos φ

Where φ = phase angle

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

R
φ=tan−1 =0
X

i. W1C Phase Power:

P=230 x 1.04=239.2W

W1C = 239.2W

ii. W2C Phase Power:

P=230 x 1.06=243.8 W

W2C = 243.8W

iii. W3C Phase Power:

P=230 x 1.06=243.8 W

W3C = 243.8W

Total Phase Power:

W T =W 1 C +W 2 C +W 3C

W T =239.2+243.8+243.8=726.8 Watts

5.1.1 (d)

Table 2 - Wattmeter vs Calculated Values

Wattmeter (W1 /W2 /W3) 390 365 370 1125

Calculated
239.2 243.8 243.8 726.8
(W1C/W2C/W3C)

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

The main difference between the two values is due to:

1. If the wattmeter was connected as illustrated in the lab manual (figure 1), then the
wattmeter is measuring line current and line voltage not the phase current. Therefore,
using the formula:
IL
=I
√3 P
Then the actual phase power that should be measured by the wattmeter

Red Phase

1.7
phase power=230 x =225.7 watts
√3
Yellow Phase

1.8
phase power=230 x =239.0 watts
√3

Blue Phase

1.85
phase p ower=230 x =245.7 watts
√3

Corrected Wattmeter
225.7 239.0 245 709.7
(W1 /W2 /W3/WTOTAL)
Calculated
239.2 243.8 243.8 726.8
(W1C/W2C/W3C/WCTOTAL)

The new difference can now be accounted for by:

1. Energy losses in the circuit due to resistance of the connections and the wires used to
connect the circuit.
2. Differences in internal resistances of the wattmeter and ammeter and voltmeter.

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

Results for 4.1.2

Reading RY YB BR

Phase Voltage (VRN/YN/BN) 132V 132V 132V

Line Current (IR/IY/IB) 1.5A 1.5A 1.5A

Line Voltage (VRY/VYB/VBR) 230V 230V 230V

Wattmeter (WR /WY /WB) 160W 160W 160W

The neutral current IN = 0A

5.1.2 – Star Connected Load and Tranformer

Figure 2 - Star Connected Load and Transformer

5.1.2 (a)
The relationship between the phase and line currents at a star connected load is:

I L =I P

The phase and line currents are in phase.

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

5.1.2 (b)

The relationship between the phase and line voltages in a star connected load is

V L= √ 3 x V P

From Krichoff Voltage Laws (KVL), in a star network:

V RY =⃗
⃗ V RN −⃗
V YN

Therefore, from trigonometry and vectors

sin ( 120 ) x ⃗
V RN
V RY =
⃗
sin(30)

V RY =2 x ⃗
⃗ V RN x cos (30)

The line voltages are therefore 30º from the phase voltages.

5.1.2 (c)

The neutral current is the current flowing in the neutral line (‘N’ in Figure 3) in a star connected
load.

Figure 3 - Neutral Line Connection in a star network

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

The neutral current is therefore the vector sum of the currents at the center of the star
network. The currents in a three phase circuit are 120º apart and therefore in the circuit are:

1. IR = IM Sin(wt)
2. IY = IM Sin(wt +120)
3. IB = IM Sin(wt -120)

I N =I M sin ( wt ) + I M sin ( wt +120 )+ I M sin( wt−120)

I N =I M [sin ( wt ) +sin ( wt +120 ) +sin ( wt −120 ) ]

I N =I M ¿

I N =I M ¿

I N =I M sin ( wt ) (1+2 cos ( 120 ) )

I N =I M sin ( wt ) ( 0 )=0

Therefore for balanced loads i.e. current magnitudes and phase angles are the same. IN = 0.

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

5.1.2.(d) Phasor diagram

Power supplied to one phase:

P=V P I P cos ∅

From Eq. above and Eq.

i. Red Phase:

W R=132 x 1.5 A cos ( 0 )=198 W

ii. Yellow Phase:

W Y =132 x 1.5 A cos ( 0 )=198 W

iii. Blue Phase:

W B=132 x 1.5 A cos ( 0 ) =198W

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

5.1.2 (e)

Wattmeter (WR /WY /WB) 160 160 160

Calculated Power(WR/WB/WY) 198 198 198

Total Load Power Wattmeter = 160 x 3 = 480 Watts

Total Load Power Calculated = 198 x 3 = 594 Watts

A difference of 114 watts can be observed between the calculated and wattmeter phase powers.

In the star network circuit, negative terminal of the voltage coil of the wattmeter was connected
to neutral and therefore it would be measuring phase voltage. For a star network the phase
current and line current is the same and therefore would not have the error associated with the
first circuit.

114 watts is a significantly large difference that cannot be accounted for by simple factors such
as meter internal resistances and energy losses in wires. It is more likely that the readings taken
may have been slightly incorrect.

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

Results from 4.1.3

Red Phase Yellow Phase Blue Phase

Phase Voltage, Phase Voltage,
Phase Voltage, Vrn/V 130.3 132 132
Vyn/V Vbn/V
Line current, Ir/ A 1.81 Line current, Iy/ A 0.64 Line current, Ib/ A 0.64
Neutral wire current, In / A 1.9 A

5.1.3 – Unbalanced Loads

The neutral current is the vector sum of the IR IY and IB line/phase currents. i.e.

5.1.3 (a)
I N =⃗
⃗ I R +⃗
IY+⃗
IB

Therefore resolving the vectors:

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

(a) Horizontally will cancel and equate to 0, since the magnitudes and angles of the currents
are the same:
I H =0.64 cos 30−0.64 cos 30=0

(b) Resolving vertically:

I V =1.81−2∗0.64 sin30=1.17 A

Resultant Neutral Current = 1.17A

Alternatively, the Equation:

I N =( √2)1.81 e jo ° +( √2)0.64 e j 120° +( √ 2) 0.64 e j −120 °

could have been used.

5.1.3 (b)
For star connected loads

V L=V RN +V YN

V L=V RN Sinθ +V YN sin (θ+120)

V L=V RN Sinθ +¿ ¿

When θ is 0:

V L=V YN sin ( 120 )=V YN cos(30)

Therefore the Line Voltages leads the Phase voltages by 30º

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

For a purely resistive load, the phase voltages and phase currents are in phase. For the
unbalanced loads the magnitudes of the Y and B phase currents are less than that of the R phase
as shown by the phasor diagram. As such the Y and B phase powers are less than the R phase
power.

The phase powers can be calculated from the phasor diagram using the formula:

P=V P I P cos ∅

Where Ø is the phase angle between the current and voltage phasors. Since, the two are in phase
then Ø is 0. Power for each phase can therefore be calculated as:

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

W R=130.3 x 181.1=235.8 Watts

W Y =132 x 0.64=84.5 Watts

W B=132 x 0.64=84.5 Watts

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 ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

5.1.4 Power Factor

Results from 4.1.4

Phase Power (W) for Line Current (IP)/A Phase Voltage (VP)/V Line Voltage (VL)/V
Wattmeter
Symbol Name Symbol Measured Symbo Measured Symbol Measured Symbol Measured
l
R Red WR 94 Ir 1.1 VRN 130 VRY 226

Y Yellow WY 94 Iy 1.1 VYN 130 VYB 226

B Blue WB 94 Ib 1.1 VBN 130 VBR 226

5.1.4 (a)

(a) Load Power factors is given by

Real Power
Power Factor=
Apparent Power

Real Power is given by the reading on the wattmeter

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

Apparent Power is given as the sum of the products of the phase voltage and phase currents
recorded by the voltmeter and ammeter respectively.

Real Power

W R=94+94 +94=282 W

Apparent Power (balanced)

W A =3 V P I P =3 x 130 x 1.1=429 VA

282
Load Power Factor= =0.657
429

W A =W R cos ∅

282
∅=cos−1 =48.9
429

5.1.4 (b) Neutral Current

The inductive loads in each phase are assumed to be all equal. Therefore, if there is a
phase shift between the phase voltage and current in a single phase, that phase shift will
be prevalent and of equal magnitude in each phase. Hence, the phase currents will still be
120º from each other. From Equation:

I N =I R + I Y + I B

1. IR = IM Sin(wt)
2. IY = IM Sin(wt +120)
3. IB = IM Sin(wt -120)

I N =I M sin ( wt ) + I M sin ( wt +120 )+ I M sin( wt−120)

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

I N =I M [sin ( wt ) +sin ( wt +120 ) +sin ( wt −120 ) ]

I N =I M ¿

I N =I M ¿

I N =I M sin ( wt ) (1+2 cos ( 120 ) )

I N =I M sin ( wt ) ( 0 )=0

5.1.4 (c)

The inductive loads would have caused the phase currents to shift from the phase voltages. It
is therefore necessary to calculate the phase shifts of each phase. From the results in 4.1.4,
the phase voltages and line currents are equal for each phase. It is therefore only required to
calculate the shift for one phase:

Real Power ( per phase)=V P I P cos ∅

94=130 x 1.1 cos ∅

94
∅=cos−1 ( 143 )=48.9

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

5.1.4 (d)

The power triangle can be used to calculate reactive power (R), from the real power.

From trigonometry,

Reactive Power
tanθ=
Real Power

Reactive Power=Real Power x tanθ

Where θ,

P 94
θ=cos−1 =cos−1 =48.9
S 143

- Red-phase

i. Real Power:
Real Power=V P I P cos ∅

Real Power=130 x 1.1 x cos ( 48.9 )=94 Watts

ii. Reactive Power

Reactive Power=94 x tan 48.9=107.75VAr

- Yellow-phase

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

ii. Real Power:

Real Power=V P I P cos ∅

Real Power=130 x 1.1 x cos ( 48.9 )=94 Watts

ii. Reactive Power

Reactive Power=94 x tan 48.9=107.75VAr

- Blue-phase

iii. Real Power:

Real Power=V P I P cos ∅

Real Power=130 x 1.1 x cos ( 48.9 )=94 Watts

ii. Reactive Power

Reactive Power=94 x tan 48.9=107.75VAr

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ELAB 4: Three Phase Circuits

5.1.4 (e)

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