What is unbalance?

Any deviation in voltage and current waveform from perfect sinusoidal, in terms of
magnitude or phase shift is termed as unbalance. In ideal conditions i.e. with only linear
loads connected to the system, the phases of power supply are 120 degree apart in terms
of phase angle and magnitude of their peaks should be same. On distribution level, the load
imperfections cause current unbalance which travel to transformer and cause unbalance in
the three phase voltage. Even minor unbalance in the voltage at transformer level disturbs
the current waveform significantly on all the loads connected to it. Not only in the
distribution side but through the transformer, voltage unbalances disturbs the high voltage
power system as well.

Causes of unbalance
Practical imperfections which can result in unbalances are:-
1. A three phase equipment such as induction motor with unbalance in its windings. If the
reactance of three phases is not same, it will result in varying current flowing in three
phases and give out system unbalance.
– With continuous operation, motor’s physical environment cause degradation of rotor and
stator windings. This degradation is usually different in different phases, affecting both, the
magnitude and phase angel of current waveform.
– A current leakage from any phase through bearings or motor body provides floating earth
at times, causing fluctuating current.
2. Any large single phase load, or a number of small loads connected to only one phase
cause more current to flow from that particular phase causing voltage drop on line.
3. Switching of three phase heavy loads results in current and voltage surges which cause
unbalance in the system.
4. Unequal impedances in the power transmission or distribution system cause
differentiating current in three phases.
How to calculate unbalance –
Unbalance is calculated in terms of maximum deviation of current in a phase from the
mean of three phases. To calculate the percentage deviation- [1]

Where- Im is mean of currents in three phases (i.e. Im= (Ir+Iy+Ib)/3

Ir, Iy, Ib are phase currents.
Besides, an unbalance can also be quantified by comparing the intensity of negative
sequence currents in comparison to the positive sequence currents. The permissible limit in
terms of percentage of negative phase sequence current over positive sequence current is
1.3% ideally but acceptable upto 2%.[2]
Effects of unbalance:
1. The unbalance decreases the motor efficiency by causing extra heating in the motor.
Heat generated also effect the equipment life by increasing the operating temperature,
which decompose the grease or oil in the bearing and de-rate the motor windings.
2. In induction motors connected to unbalanced supply, the negative sequence currents
flow along with positive sequence current resulting in decreased percentage of productive
current and poor motor efficiency. Any unbalance above 3% hampers the motor efficiency.
3. Torque (and thus the speed) produced by the motor becomes fluctuating. These sudden
changes in torque cause more vibration in the gear box or the equipment connected to it.
The vibration and noise produced damages the equipment and also reduces the efficiency
of equipment.
4. The variable frequency or speed drives connected to an unbalanced system can trip off.
VFD treats high level unbalances as phase fault and can trip on earth fault or missing phase
fault.
5. Unbalances cause de-rating of power cables and thus increase I2R losses in the cable. For
distribution cables de-rating factor represents the part of total current giving fruitful
outcomes.
6. UPS or inverter supplies also perform with poor efficiency and inject more harmonic
currents in case of unbalances in the system.
7. Negative phase sequence current flowing due to unbalance can cause faults in the motor,
resulting in, tripping or permanent damage of the electrical equipment.
Quantifying the losses-
An unbalance of 1% is acceptable as it doesn’t affect the cable. But above 1% it increases
linearly and at 4% the de-rating is 20%. [3] This implies that- 20% of the current flowing in
the cable will be unproductive and thus the copper losses in the cable will increase by 25%
at 4% unbalance.
1. For motors, an unbalance of 5% will result in capacity reduction by 25%. [4] That means,
the motor current will increase to match the equipment’s torque needs which will result in
proportional copper losses in motor. The voltage unbalance of 3% increase the heating by
20% for an induction motor.[4]
2. The resistance for negative sequence current is 1/6th of the positive sequence current
which means a small unbalance in voltage waveform will give more current and thus losses.

Control Measures
1. All the single phase loads should be distributed on the three phase system such
that they put equal load on three phases.
2. Replacing the disturbing equipments i.e. with unbalanced three phase reactance.
3. Reducing the harmonics also reduces the unbalance, which can be done by
installing reactive or active filters. These filters reduce the negative phase sequence
currents by injecting a compensating current wave.
4. In case the disturbing loads cannot be replaced or repaired, connect them with
high voltage side this reduces the effects in terms of percentage and even controlled
disturbance in low voltage side.
5. Motors with unbalanced phase reactance should be replaced and re-winded.