Unbalance ratio

• IEC (True Definition)

o definition:
The ratios between the magnitudes of negative and positive sequence components of
voltage and current respectively are a measure of the unbalance (in %):

o limits:
max. 2% voltage /
max. 10% current / measured as 10 minutes values

max. 4% voltage instantaneous

• NEMA
o definition:

o limits:
max. 3% voltage

Voltage unbalance Temperature rise

De-rating
1% 98%
2% 8% 95%
3% 18% 88%
4% 32% 82%
5% 50% 75%
effects:
Voltage unbalance creates extremely high current unbalance.

• Voltage-unbalance leads to an increase in the temperature rise of the induction motor.

This results in premature aging of the motor.

• Synchronous generators can also suffer from excessive heat.

• Transformers, cables, and transmission lines operate with reduced capacity due to
voltage unbalance.

• Transformers can also suffer from overheating. Overheating damages the winding and
insulation of the transformer.

Cause:

• An open circuit in the primary distribution system.

• A combination of single-phase and three-phase loads on the same distribution system, with
the single-phase loads unequally distributed.
• An open wye-delta system.

a) Variation in ground supply impedance

An increase in primary ground impedance increases the voltage and current balances.
Maximum unbalance occurs with overloaded transformers, and the large single-phase load
is in the lagging phase. The motor serves to balance the system voltage better when the
motor is loaded than when it is unloaded.

b) Transformer loading varied 50 to 150%

The greatest unbalance occurs when a smaller transformer is lightly loaded and a larger
transformer is overloaded.
If a single-phase load varies over a large range, it is better to supply this phase with the
larger transformer on the leading phase.

c) Impedance of lines to the single-phase loads

The voltage and current unbalance ratios increase with the line impedances. Again, the
unbalance ratios decrease as the motor is loaded more heavily.

d) Impedance of the supply line to the motor

The voltage and current unbalance ratios decrease with an increase in the line impedance to
the motor. However, this results in lower voltage at the motor and decreased motor torque
and speed.
 e) Other parameters
Variations in the magnitude of transformer impedances, the power factor of single-phase
loads, and primary line impedances have minor effects (not more than 3%) on the phase
currents and unbalance ratios.

• An open delta-delta system:

When the two transformers are supplied by three-phase conductors, the only differenee is in the
lack of neutral impedance. Therefore, under usual conditions, the open delta-delta configuration will
show superior performance to the open wye-delta configuration.

However, when there are unequal line impedances or unusually long supply lines, there are
additional observations.

There are mixed effects with variation of the lines supplying the single-phase loads.
An increase in the common primary supply line impedance results in increased voltage and
current unbalances.

ameliorare:

Utility level techniques:

· Redistribution of single-phase loads equally to all phases.
· Reduction of the system unbalance that arise due to system impedances such as
those due to transformers and lines.
· Single-phase regulators have been suggested as devices that can be used to
correct the unbalance but care must be exercised to ensure that they are
controlled carefully not to introduce further unbalance.
· Passive network systems and active power electronic systems such as static var
compensators and line conditioners also have been suggested for unbalance
correction. Compared to passive systems, active systems are able to dynamically
correct the unbalance.
Plant level techniques:
· Load balancing.
· Use of passive networks and static var compensators.
· Equipment that is sensitive to voltage unbalance should not be connected to
systems which supply single-phase loads.
· Effect of voltage unbalance on ac variable speed drives can be reduced by
properly sizing ac side and dc link reactors.
To protect induction motors relays that trip the motor on negative sequence voltage
and current can be employed. It has been stated that the negative sequence current
detecting relays have a better sensitivity compared to negative sequence voltage
detecting relays.