Lab 7

Balanced Three Phase Systems (Y-∆) and (Y-Y)

Objective
 Learning how to make wye and delta loads connections.
 To distinguish between line and phase voltages and currents in wye-wye and wye-delta
connected balanced ac circuits.
Software
OrCAD PSpice 17.2
Introduction
Three-phase balanced networks are used in the power industry for reasons of economy and
performance. Three-phase generators and motors run smoothly, with no torque pulsations, unlike
single phase machines. In addition balanced three phase systems may be operated as three wire or
four wire systems, with much less copper needed for the power delivered as compared with three
single phase systems.
Electric power is for the most part generated, transmitted, and distributed to loads with
three phase circuits. The most simplistic representation of a three-phase network consists of
a voltage sources connected to the loads by transmission line (see Figure 1). Except for
special cases three-phase circuits are usually operated under balanced conditions. Some of
the characteristics of a balanced three-phase network are
• The source contains a set of three-phase voltages with the same amplitude and
frequency and their phases separated by 120º increments.
• The impedances of the transmission line are the same.
• The impedances for the load are the same.

Figure 1: Simple representation of a three phase system

Because three-phase sources and loads can be connected as either a wye or a delta, the
circuit in Figure 1 represents the following possible configurations: Y-Y, Y-∆, ∆-Y and ∆-∆.
Lab Task 1

Figure 4
Draw the single phase equivalent circuit for the above balanced 3 phase system in the space
provided below.
Find the line current Ia in the three wire Y-Y system for original and equivalent circuits.

Ia (original) = 8.462

Ia(equivalent) = 8.462

What is the advantage of replacing 3 phase circuit with single phase equivalent circuit? And why
this transformation can be done in balanced three phase system?
Advantages are:
• The source contains a set of three-phase voltages with the same amplitude and frequency and
their phases separated by 120º increments.
• The impedances of the transmission line and load are the same.
• Efficiency of three phase operated devices and appliances is higher.
• Simplifies analysis and calculations of the circuit.
Lab Task 2
Refer to the balanced Y-Y circuit of figure below. Use Pspice to find the line voltages and
current and the phase voltages and currents. Take f=100Hz.

(Figure 5)
Procedure
1) Implement the circuit of figure 5 in OrCAD PSpice. Your circuit should display values of both
magnitude and phase for all the three sources.
2) Perform single frequency analysis using the frequency f=100Hz for the steps 3-5.
3) Use Iprint for measurement of all the line currents and note the values in the table below.
The value of magnitude and phase is inserted in voltage sources settings and in Iprints.

Line Currents
IaA 8.547∠28.7
IbB 8.547∠-91.3
IcC 8.547∠148.7
4) Use Iprint for measurement of all the phase currents and note the values in the table below.
As, line and phase currents are in series. So, phase currents will be same as line currents.
Phase Currents
IAB 8.547∠28.7
IBC 8.547∠-91.3
IAC 8.547∠148.7
5) Use Vprint to measure phase and line voltages.
 Phase Voltage Line Voltage
VAN 120∠60 Vab 207.8∠90
VBN 120∠-60 Vbc 207.8∠-30
VCN 120∠180 Vca 207.8∠-150

Conclusion
1) How phase voltage can be related with line voltage? Prove the relationship from
observations.
In a three-phase AC system, the phase voltage and the line voltage are related by a factor of the
square root of three (√3). This can be shown as:
Line voltage = Phase voltage × √3
2) What is the relationship between phase current and line current?
In a Y-Y configuration, each phase is connected to a common point, forming a Y-shaped connection.
The three line conductors are connected to the other ends of the three phases, and these line
conductors carry the line current. Since the Y-Y configuration is balanced, each phase has the same
impedance and draws the same amount of current. As a result, the current flowing through each
phase conductor (i.e., the phase current) is the same as the current flowing through the
corresponding line conductor (i.e., the line current). Therefore, in a Y-Y configuration, the line
current and the phase current are equal in magnitude.
Lab Task 3
For the balanced Wye-delta circuit in the figure below, use PSpice to find the line currents, the phase
voltages, line voltages and the phase currents . Assume that the source frequency is 60Hz.

(Figure 6)
Procedure

1. Implement the circuit of figure 6 in OrCAD PSpice. Your circuit should display values of both
magnitude and phase for all the three sources.
2. Perform single frequency analysis using the frequency f=60Hz for the steps 3-5.
3. Use Iprint for measurement of all the line currents and note the values in the table below.
 Line Currents
IaA 2.395∠-37
IbB 2.395∠-157
IcC 2.395∠82.9
4. Use Iprint for measurement of all the phase currents and note the values in the table below.

Phase Currents
IAB 1.383∠-7.016
IBC 1.383∠-127
IAC 1.383∠-67
5. Use Vprint to measure phase and line voltages.
 Phase Voltage Line Voltage
Van 100∠0 Vab 1.732∠30
Vbn 100∠-120 Vbc 1.732∠-90
Vcn 100∠120 Vca 1.732∠150

6. Attach OrCAD schematic and results for each step from 3-5 in form of screenshots.
Conclusion
1) How phase current can be related with line current? Prove the relationship from
observations.
2) How Vbc and Vca are related to Vab. Analyse this based on the output.