Module 7

BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM

This part of the course covers application of Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws in in analyzing
relationships between currents and voltages, calculation of electric power and phasor analysis for a
balanced three-phase system.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this unit, the learner will be able to:

 Analyze and apply Ohm’s Law to determine currents and voltages, relationships
between voltages and currents, and calculate electric power in a three-phase balanced
wye (Y) connected system.

 Analyze and apply Ohm’s Law to determine currents and voltages, relationships
between voltages and currents, and calculate electric power in a three-phase balanced
delta (∆) connected system.

Pre-Test:
Instructions: Answer the each question/problem quietly and encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. In a balance 3-phase star-connected system line voltage is

(a) the phasor difference of the two phase voltages
(b) the phasor sum of the two phase voltages
(c) 0.707 times the phase voltages
(d) 1.414 times the phase voltages

2. In a delta connected system the line current is

(a) 1.414 times the phase current
(b) phasor sum of the two phase currents
(c) equal to the phase current
(d) 1.732 times the phase current

3. A (n) _______ stores and returns energy to a circuit while a(n) ________ dissipates energy.
(a) resistance, impedance (b) resistor, inductor
(c) inductor, resistor (d) inductor, reactance
 4. For an RL circuit, the power factor cannot be less than ______ or greater than
_______.
(a) 1, 0 (b) 0, -1 (c) 0, 1 (d) -1, 0

5. The advantage of using static capacitor to improve the power factor is because they
(a) are not variable
(b) are almost loss free
(c) provide continuous charge of power factor
(d) none of these

6. The advantage of the star-connections over the delta connections for the same phase
voltage is that it gives
(a) step-down current (b) extra step-up voltage
(c) extra step-up current (d) extra step-up power

7. The inductance is responsible for the current to _____ the applied voltage.
(a) lag (b) be in phase with (c) lead (d) be opposite

8. In the circuit shown, the magnitude

of the voltages VL = 240 Volts and A B B’ ZL=10/36.870Ω A’
the load impedance ZL = ZL=10/36.870Ω
10/36.870Ω. If VAB is taken as N’
N
reference and the phase sequence is
ABC. Determine line currents and ZL=10/36.870Ω

power. C C’

(a) 13.86 A & 1,536 Watts (b) 13.86 Amp. & 4,608 Watts
(c) 24.0 Amp. & 4,608 Watts (d) 24.0 Amp. & 1,536 Watts

9. In the circuit shown, the

magnitude of the voltages VL = A’
240 Volts and the load impedance A ZL=18.03/-56.310 Ω
ZL = 18.03/-56.310.Ω. If VAB is ZL=18.03/-56.310 Ω
taken as reference and the phase
C B’ C’
sequence is ABC. Determine line B ZL=18.03/-56.310 Ω
currents and power.

(a) 13.31 A & 1,772 Watts (b) 13.31 Amp. & 5,318 Watts
(c) 23.05 Amp. & 1,772 Watts (d) 23.05 Amp. & 5,318 Watts
 10. In the circuit shown, the
magnitude of the voltages VL = A’
120 Volts and the load A ZL=24+j0 Ω
impedance ZL = 24+j0.Ω. If VAB ZL=24+j0 Ω
is taken as reference and the
C B’ C’
phase sequence is CBA. B ZL=24+j0 Ω
Determine line currents and
power.
(a) 8.66 Amp. & 1,800 Watts (b) 8.66 Amp. & 600 Watts
(c) 5.0 Amp. & 1,800 Watts (d) 5.0 Amp. & 600 Watts

CONTENT

THREE-PHASE SYSTEM

Production of Three-Phase AC Emfs

(a) Three-Phase Synchronous Generator (Alternator) – See video clip 2.1
(b) Three-Phase Transformer Bank

V (Volts)

ea ec
Em

t (seconds)

f (Hertz)

1200 1200
2400

Figure 7.1.1 Three phase voltage waves of a three-phase system. The three phase voltages (emf
waves) ea, eb and ec respectively are out-of-phase by 120 degrees.

Equations of the Three Emf Waves

ea  E m  Sin  t Volts
eb 
 Em  Sin  t  120 0  Volts
ec  Em  Sin  t  120 
0
Volts
BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM

7.1 Balanced Wye (Y) – Connected System

Ec Eb

1200 1200
Ea (Reference) Ea (Reference)
0 0
120 120

Eb Ec

(a) abc, bca, cab - Sequence (b) cba, bac, acb - Sequence
123, 231, 312 321, 213, 132

Figure 7.1.2 The three phase effective voltages Ea, Eb and Ec of a three-phase system. The three phase
effective voltages Ea, Eb and Ec respectively are out-of-phase by 120 degrees. With Ea
taken as reference, equivalent phasor diagrams are shown below: (a) abc sequence; (b)
cba sequence.

a
Phase Voltages (VФ): Line Voltages (VL):
Vb Van Vab
Vbn Vbc
Va
Vcn Vca
n b
Vc Van  Vbn  Vcn  V Vab  Vbc  Vca  VL

Figure 7.1.3 Balanced Wye (Y) – Connected Source with terminals a, b and c, and common junction n
(Neutral).

Line Voltages in Terms of Phase Voltages (Phasor Addition)

Applying KVL in the circuit of Figure 2.3 to find the line voltages in terms of phase voltages
Vab  Van  Vnb  Van  Vbn Eq. 7.1

Applying the principle of double subscript notations for AC circuits: To omit the negative sign, we
simply interchanged the subscripts, or
Vnb   Vbn  Vnb

Similarly, line voltages Vbc and Vca:

Vbc  Vbn  Vnc  Vbn  Vcn Eq. 7.2
Vca  Vcn  Vna  Vcn  Van Eq. 7.3

Equation 7.1 through Equation 7.3 show that line voltage is equal to the phasor sum of two phase
voltages. These are illustrated in the phasor diagrams in Figure 7.4: (a) for abc-sequence; (b) for cba-
sequence.
 Vca Vbc

Vcn
30 0 Vbn Van
300
Vab (Reference) Vab (Reference)
300
300
300
Vbn Van 300

Vcn

Vbc Vca

(a) abc, bca, cab - Sequence (b) cba, bac, acb - Sequence
123, 231, 312 321, 213, 132
abc – sequence: phase voltage lags 300 with corresponding line voltage
cba – sequence: phase voltage leads 300 with corresponding line voltage

Figure 7.1.4 Relationships between line voltages and phase voltages of a balanced wye (Y)-connected source.
With Vab taken as reference, equivalent phasor diagrams: (a) abc sequence; (b) cba sequence.

Magnitude of Line Voltages in Terms of Phase Voltages

In Figure (b) by Cosine Law:

Vnb V VL  V  V  2  V  V Cos 120 0
2 2 2
120 0 V
Van
VL  2  V  V  3 V 2
2 2 2
300 300 300 300
Vab VL Taking square-root on both sides:
(a) Vab  Van  Vnb  Van  Vbn (b) VL  3  V V L  3  V

Figure 7.1.5 Magnitude of line voltage in terms of phase voltages for balanced wye (Y) – connected
source

Balanced Wye (Y) – Connected Source with Balanced Wye (Y) – Connected Load: Three-Phase
Three-Wire System
 Iaa’
Wye (Y) System:
a b b’ Ib’n’ a’
Inb ZL Voltage:
Ina Ibb’ n’ Ia’n’ VL  3  V
ZL
n
Inc Ic’n’ Current: By Ohm’s Law
ZL
Icc’ V
c c’ I  I L 
ZL
Figure 7.1.6 Balanced wye (Y) – connected source with balanced wye (Y) – connected load.

Voltages:
Phase Voltages (VФ): Source Side = Phase Voltages (VФ): Load Side
Van  Vbn  Vcn  V = Va 'n '  Vb 'n '  Vc 'n '  V

Line Voltages (VL): Source Side = Line Voltages (VL): Load Side
Vab  Vbc  Vca  VL = Va 'b '  Vb 'c '  Vc 'a '  VL

Currents:
Phase Currents (IФ): Source Side = Line Currents (IL): = Phase Currents (IФ): Load Side
I na  I aa'  I a 'n'  I   I L
I nb  Ibb'  Ib'n'  I  I L
I nc  I cc'  I c 'n'  I  I L

Power per Phase:

True Power per phase
Reactive Power per phase
Apparent Power per phase
: 2
P  I  R  V  I  Cos   Watts
: 2
Q  I  X   V  I  Sin   VARs
: S  V  I  /    VA

Total Power (for the three phases):

Total Apparent Power : S  3  V  I /    3  VL  I L /    S /   VA
Total True Power : P  3  I  R
2

 3  V  I  Cos   3  VL  I L  Cos 
 S  Cos   Watts
Total Reactive Power : Q  3  I  X 
2

 3  V  I  Sin   3  VL  I L  Sin 
 S  Sin   VARs
Illustrative Problem 7.1
In the circuit shown, the magnitude
of the voltages VL = 240 Volts and A B B’ ZL=10/36.870Ω A’
the load impedance ZL = ZL=10/36.870Ω
10/36.870Ω. If VAB is taken as N’
N
reference and the phase sequence
is ABC. Determine (a) line ZL=10/36.870Ω

currents; (b) power; (c) draw C C’

phasor diagram
Solution:
Given Data:
VL  V A'B '  VB 'C '  VC ' A'  240 Volts
IAA’
V  V A' N '  VB ' N '  VC ' N '
A B B’ IB’N’ A’
VL INB ZL
  138.564 Volts
3 INA IBB’ N’ IA’N’
ZL
Z L  10 / 36.87  8  j 6 
0
N
Load is inductive, so p.f is lagging: INC IC’N’
ZL
ϴ = 36.870 ϴ = 36.870 ICC’
= Power Factor angle
= Angle between phase voltage and phase current C C’
Cos ϴ = Power Factor = 0.80 Lagging Balanced wye (Y) – connected source with balanced
Sin ϴ = Reactive Factor = 0.60 wye (Y) – connected load.

Phasor diagram - ABC sequence (From Figure 7.4a), showing voltages with VAB taken as reference
VCA = VC’A’ Line Voltages (VL): From Phasor Diagram
V AB  V A'B '  240 / 0 V
0

V BC  V B 'C '  240 /  120 V

0
VCN = VC’N’

VCA  VC ' A''  240 / 120 V

0
300
(Reference)
VAB = VA’B’
300
0
Phase Voltages (VФ): From Phasor Diagram
30
VAN = VA’N’ V AN  V A' N '  138 .564 /  30 V
0
VBN = VB’N’
VBN  VB 'N '  138 .564 /  150 V
0

VCN  VC 'N ''  138 .564 / 90 V

0

VBC = VB’C’

Required:
(a) line currents:
Line Currents (IL) = Phase currents (IФ):

I  I L ; By Ohm’s Law
138 .564 /  30
o
V A' N '
 I AA'  I A' N '    13.856 /  66.87 A
o
I NA o
ZL 10 / 36.87
138 .564 /  150
o
VB ' N '
 I BB'  I B ' N '    13.856 / 173 .13 A
o
I NB o
ZL 10 / 36.87
 o
VC ' N ' 138 .564 / 90
 I CC '  I C ' N '    13.856 / 53.13 A
o
I NC o
ZL 10 / 36.87

(b) power
Power per Phase:
True Power per phase : 2
P  I  R  V  I  Cos   Watts
P  13.856   8  138 .56 13.856 0.80 
2

 1,535 .91 Watts

Reactive Power per phase : 2

Q  I  X   V  I  Sin   VARs
Q  13.856   6  138 .56 13.856 0.60 
2

 1,151 .93 VARs Inductive

Apparent Power per phase : S  V  I  /    VA
S  138.56 13.856  /  36.87
0

 1,919.887 /  36.87 VA
0

Total Power (for the three phases):

Total Apparent Power : S  3  V  I  /    3  VL  I L /    S /    VA
S  3 138.56   13.856  /  36.87  3  240 13.856  /  36.87
0 0

 5,759.66 /  36.87 VA
0

Total True Power  R  3  13.856  8  4,607 .73 Watts

2
: P  3  I
2

or
 3  V  I   Cos   3  V L  I L  Cos 
 3  138 .56 13.856 0.80   3  240 13.856 0.80 
 4,607 .73 Watts
or
 S  Cos   5,759 .66  0.80   4,607 .73 Watts

Total Reactive Power  X   3  13.856  6  3,455 .80 VARs Inductive

2
: Q  3  I
2

or
 3  V  I   Sin   3  V L  I L  Sin 
 3  138 .56 13.856 0.7071  3  240 13.856 0.7071
 3,455 .80 VARs Inductive
or
 S  Sin   5,759 .83  0.7071  3,455 .80 VARs Inductive
(c) Phasor Diagram:
Phasor diagram - ABC sequence (From Figure 7.4a) with currents indicated as shown.
INB = IBB’ = IB’N’
VCA = VC’A’

VCN = VC’N’ ϴ = 36.870

= Power Factor angle
= Angle between phase voltage and phase current
Note: Phase current lags phase voltage by an angle ϴ = 36.870
300 ϴ = 36.870
INB = IBB’ = IB’N’
(Reference)
300 VAB = VA’B’
ϴ = 36.870
300
ϴ
= 36.870
VAN = VA’N’
VBN = VB’N’

VBC = VB’C’

INA = IAA’ = IA’N’

Illustrative Problem 7.2:
In the circuit shown, the magnitude
of the voltages VL = 440 Volts and A B B’ ZL=12/-25.840 Ω A’
the load impedance ZL = 12/- ZL=12/-25.840 Ω
25.840Ω. If VAB is taken as reference N’
N
and the phase sequence is CBA.
Determine (a) line currents; (b) ZL=12/-25.840 Ω

power; (c) draw phasor diagram C C’

Solution:
Given Data:
V L  V A' B '  V B 'C '  VC ' A'  440 Volts IAA’
V  V A' N '  VB ' N '  VC ' N '
A B B’ IB’N’ A’
VL INB ZL
  254.03 Volts IBB’
3 INA ZL N’ IA’N’
 12 /  25.84  10.80  j 5.23  N
0
ZL
INC IC’N’
Load is capacitive, so p.f is Leading: ZL
ϴ = 25.840 ICC’
= Power Factor angle C C’
= Angle between phase voltage and phase current
Cos ϴ = Power Factor = 0.90 Leading Balanced wye (Y) – connected source with balanced
wye (Y) – connected load.
Sin ϴ = Reactive Factor = 0.436

Phasor diagram - CBA sequence (From Figure 7.4b), showing voltages with VAB taken as reference
VBC = VB’C’ Line Voltages (VL): From Phasor Diagram
V AB  V A'B'  440 / 0 V
0

V BC  V B 'C '  440 / 120 V

0

VBN = VB’N’ VAN = VA’N’ VCA  VC ' A''  440 /  120 V

0
300 (Reference)
300 VAB = VA’B’
Phase Voltages (VФ): From Phasor Diagram
V AN  V A' N '  254 .03 / 30 V
0
300

V BN  V B ' N '  254 .03 / 150 V

0
VCN = VC’N’
VCN  VC ' N ''  254 .03 /  90 V
0

VCA = VC’A’

Required:
(a) line currents:
Line Currents (IL) = Phase currents (IФ):

I  I L
o
V A' N ' 254 .03 / 30
  I A' N '    21.17 / 55.84 A
o
I NA I AA'
12 /  25.84
o
ZL
o
VB 'N ' 254 .03 / 150
  I B'N '    21.17 / 175 .84 A
o
I NB I BB'
12 /  25.84
o
ZL
 254 .03 /  90
o
VC ' N '
  I C 'N '    21.17 /  64.16 A
o
I NC I CC '
12 /  25.84
o
ZL

(b) power
Power per Phase:
True Power per phase : 2
P  I  R  V  I  Cos   Watts
P  21.17   10.8  254 .0321.17 0.90 
2

 4,840 .22 Watts

Reactive Power per phase : 2

Q  I  X   V  I  Sin   VARs
Q  21.17   5.23  254 .0321.17 0.436 
2

 2,343 .92 VARs Capacitive

Apparent Power per phase : S  V  I  /    VA

S  254.0321.17  / 25.84
0

 5,377.82 / 25.84 VA
0

Total Power (for the three phases):

Total Apparent Power : S  3  V  I  /    3  VL  I L /    S /    VA
S  3 254.03  21.17  / 25.84  3  440 21.17  / 25.84
0 0

 16,133.71 / 25.84 VA
0

Total True Power  R  3  21.17  10.80   14,520 .67 Watts

2
: P  3  I
2

or
 3  V  I   Cos   3  V L  I L  Cos 
 3  254 .0321.17 0.90   3  440 21.17 0.80 
 14,520 .67 Watts
or
 S  Cos   16,133 .71  0.90   14,520 .67 Watts

Total Reactive Power  X   3  21.17  5.23  7,031 .77 VARs Cap.

2
: Q  3  I
2

or
 3  V  I   Sin   3  V L  I L  Sin 
 3  254 .0321.17 0.436   3  440 21.17 0.436 
 7,031 .77 VARs Capacitive
or
 S  Sin   14,520 .67  0.436   7,031 .77 VARs Capacitive
 (c) Phasor Diagram:
Phasor diagram - CBA sequence (From Figure 7.4b) with currents indicated as shown.
INA = IAA’ = IA’N’
VBC = VB’C’
ϴ = 25.840
= Power Factor angle
= Angle between phase voltage and phase current

VBN = VB’N’ Note: Phase current leads phase voltage by an angle ϴ = 25.840
25.840= VAN = VA’N’
INB = IBB’ = IB’N’ 300 ϴ
25.840 = ϴ (Reference)
300
VAB = VA’B’

300
ϴ = 25.840

VCN = VC’N’

VCA = VC’A’

INC = ICC’ = IC’N’

Learning Activity 7.1 Self-Assessment:

Balanced Three-Phase Wye (Y) – Connected System

I. Direction Analyze and identify data given on the following problems and employ related
equations to determine the corresponding required data for each problem.

Practice Problem 7.1:

In the circuit shown, the magnitude
of the voltages VL = 440 Volts and A B B’ ZL=12/-25.840 Ω A’
the load impedance ZL = 12/- ZL=12/-25.840 Ω
25.840Ω. If VAB is taken as reference N’
N
and the phase sequence is ABC.
Determine (a) line currents; (b) ZL=12/-25.840 Ω

power; (c) draw phasor diagram C C’

Practice Problem 7.2:

In the circuit shown, the magnitude of
the voltages VL = 240 Volts and the A B B’ ZL=10/36.870Ω A’
load impedance ZL = 10/36.870Ω. If ZL=10/36.870Ω
VAB is taken as reference and the phase N N’
sequence is CBA. Determine (a) line
ZL=10/36.870Ω
currents; (b) power; (c) draw phasor
diagram C C’
7.2 Balanced Delta (∆) – Connected System

a’
Phase Voltages (VФ): Line Voltages (VL):
a Vab Va’b’
Vca
Vab Vbc = Vb’c’
b’ Vca Vc’a’
c
Vbc
b Vab  Vbc  Vca  V = Va 'b '  Vb 'c '  Vc 'a '  VL
c’
VL  V
Figure 7.2.1 Balanced Delta (∆) – Connected Source with terminals a, b and c on the supply side, and
line terminals a’, b’ and c’ respectively.

Line Voltages in Terms of Phase Voltages (Phasor Addition)

Applying KVL in the circuit of Figure 7.2.1 to find the line voltages in terms of phase voltages
Vab  Va 'b' Eq. 7.4

Similarly, line voltages Vb’c’ and Vc’a:

Vbc  Vb 'c ' Eq. 7.5
Vca  Vc 'a ' Eq. 7.6

Equation 7.4 through Equation 7.6 show that line voltage is equal to the phase voltage. These are
illustrated in the phasor diagrams in Figure 7.2.2: (a) for abc-sequence; (b) for cba-sequence.

Vca = Vc’a’

1200 (Reference) 1200 (Reference)

Vab= Va’b’ Vab= Va’b’
1200 1200

Vbc = Vb’c’ Vca = Vc’a’

(a) abc, bca, cab - Sequence (b) cba, bac, acb - Sequence
123, 231, 312 321, 213, 132

abc – sequence: phase voltage = line voltage

cba – sequence: phase voltage = line voltage

Figure 7.2.2 Relationships between line voltages and phase voltages of a balanced delta (∆)-connected
source. With Vab taken as reference, equivalent phasor diagrams (a) abc sequence; (b) cba sequence.
Balanced Delta (∆) – Connected Source with Balanced Delta (∆) – Connected Load:

Iaa’

a’ Delta (∆) System:

a Ia’b’ Ic’a’
Iac Ibb’ Voltage:
ZL
VL  V
ZL ZL
b b’ c’
Icb Icc’ Ib’c’ Current: By Ohm’s Law
c IL V
I  
3 ZL

Figure 7.2.3 Balanced delta (∆) – connected source with balanced delta (∆) – connected load.

Voltages:
VФ = VL: Source Side = VФ = VL: Load Side

Vab  Vbc  Vca  V  VL = Va 'b '  Vb 'c '  Vc ' a '  V  VL

Line Currents in terms of phase currents: Load Side (Phasor Addition)

I aa'  I a 'b '  I c 'a '  I a 'b '  I a 'c '

I bb'  I b 'c '  I a 'b '  I b 'c '  I b 'a '

I cc'  I c 'a '  I b 'c '  I c 'a '  I c 'b '

Line Currents in terms of phase currents: Source Side (Phasor Addition)

I aa'  I ba  I ac  I ba  I ca

I bb'  I cb  I ba  I cb  I ab

I cc'  I ac  I cb  I ac  I bc

Power per Phase:

True Power per phase
Reactive Power per phase
Apparent Power per phase
: 2
P  I  R  V  I  Cos   Watts
: 2
Q  I  X   V  I  Sin   VARs
: S  V  I  V  I /    VA

Total Power (for the three phases):

Total Apparent Power : S  3  V  I /    3  VL  I L /    S /   VA
Total True Power : P  3  I  R
2

 3  V  I  Cos   3  VL  I L  Cos 
 S  Cos   Watts
Total Reactive Power : Q  3  I  X 
2

 3  V  I  Sin   3  VL  I L  Sin 
 S  Sin   VARs
Illustrative Problem 7.3:
In the circuit shown, the
magnitude of the voltages VL = A’
240 Volts and the load A ZL=18.03/-56.310 Ω
impedance ZL = 18.03/- ZL=18.03/-56.310 Ω
56.31 .Ω. If VAB is taken as
0
C B’ C’
reference and the phase B ZL=18.03/-56.310 Ω
sequence is ABC. Determine
(a) line currents; (b) power; (c)
draw phasor diagram; (d) phase currents from the supply mains.
Solution:
Given Data:
Load Side:
VL  V  V A'B '  VB 'C '  VC ' A'  240 Volts
Z L  18.03 /  56.31  10  j 15 
0

IAA’
Load is capacitive, so p.f is Leading:
ϴ = 56.310 A’
= Power Factor angle A IA’B’ IC’A’
= Angle between phase voltage and IAC IBA IBB’ ZL
phase current ZL ZL
Cos ϴ = Power Factor B B’ C’
= 0.555 Leading ICB ICC’ IB’C’
Sin ϴ = Reactive Factor = 0.832 C

Phasor diagram - ABC sequence (From Figure 7.2.2a), showing voltages with VAB taken as reference
VCA = VC’A’

1200
(Reference)
VAB = VA’B’

1200
Line Voltages (VL) =Phase Voltage (VФ): From Phasor Diagram
V AB  V A'B '  240 / 0 V
0

V BC  V B 'C '  240 /  120 V

0

VBC = VB’C’
VCA  VC ' A''  240 / 120 V
0

Required:
(a) line currents: (Considering Load Side)
By Ohm’s Law
Phase currents:
o
V A' B ' 240 / 0
I A' B '    13.31 / 56.31 A
o

18.03 /  56.31
o
ZL
240 /  120
o
VB 'C '
I B 'C '    13.31 /  63.69 A
o

18.03 /  56.31
o
ZL
 o
VC ' A ' 240 / 120
I C ' A'    13.31 / 176 .31 A
o

18.03 /  56.31
o
ZL
Note: The three phase currents are equal in magnitude and exactly out-of phase by 1200.

By KCL:
Line currents:
I AA'  I A'B '  I C ' A'  13.31 / 56.31  13.31 / 176 .31  23.05 / 26.31 A
o o o

I BB'  I B 'C '  I A'B '  13.31 /  63.69  13.31 / 56.31  23.05 /  93.69 A
o o o

I CC '  I C ' A'  I B 'C '  13.31 / 176 .31  13.31 /  63.69  23.05 / 146 .31 A
o o o

IL  3  I  3  13.31  23.05 A

Note: The three line currents are equal in magnitude and exactly out-of phase by 1200.
Magnitude of each line current is equal to square-root of 3 times the magnitude of
phase-current.
(b) power
Power per Phase:
True Power per phase : 2
P  I  R  V  I  Cos   Watts
P  13.31  10   240 13.310.555 
2

Reactive Power per phase
 1,772 Watts
: 2
Q  I   X   V  I   Sin   VARs
Q  13.31  15   240 13.310.832 
2

 2,658 VARs (Capacitive)

Apparent Power per phase : S  V  I  /    VA
S  240 13.31 / 56.31
0

 3,195 /  36.87 VA
0

Total Power (for the three phases):

Total Apparent Power : S  3  V  I  /    3  VL  I L /    S /    VA
S  3 240   13.31 / 56.31  3  240 23.05 / 56.31
0 0

 9,583 / 56.31 VA
0

Total True Power  R  3  13.31 10   5,318 Watts

2
: P  3  I
2

or
 3  V  I   Cos   3  V L  I L  Cos 
 3  240 13.310.555   3  240 23.050.555 
 5,318 Watts
or
 S  Cos   9,583  0.80   5,318 Watts
 Total Reactive Power  X   3  13.31 15  7,973 VARs Capacitive
2
: Q  3  I
2

or
 3  V  I   Sin   3  V L  I L  Sin 
 3  240 13.310.832   3  240 13.310.832 
 7,973 VARs Capacitive
or
 S  Sin   9,583  0.832   7,973 VARs Capacitive

(c) Phasor Diagram:

Phasor diagram - ABC sequence (From Figure 7.2.2a) with phase and line currents indicated as
shown. V =V CA C’A’

I CC '  I C ' A'  I B 'C '

IA’B’ I AA'  I A'B '  I C ' A'

ϴ = 56.310 ϴ = 56.310
300
IC’A’’ 300 (Reference)
VAB = VA’B’

300

ϴ = 56.310
ϴ = 56.310
IB’C’ = Power Factor angle
= Angle between phase voltage and phase current

VBC = VB’C’ Note: Phase current leads phase voltage by an angle ϴ =

56.310
I BB'  I B 'C '  I A'B '

(d) phase currents from the supply mains.

Phasor diagram - ABC sequence (From Figure 7.2.2a) with line currents indicated as shown in terms
of the unknown phase currents from the supply mains.

I CC '  I AC  I BC

I  ? I AA'  I BA  I CA

I  ? 300
300 ϴ = 56.310
(Reference)
VAB = VA’B’

300

I  ?

I BB'  I CB  I AB
Based on the preceding phasor diagram, we can now write/indicate the phase currents from the source
in the phasor diagram that corresponds to the component currents of the line currents.

I CC '  I AC  I BC

IBA = IA’B’ I AA'  I BA  I CA

IAC = IC’A’ 300

300 (Reference)
VAB = VA’B’

300

ICB = IB’C’

I BB'  I CB  I AB

Hence, phase currents from the supply maims are:

I BA  I A'B '  13.31 / 56.31 A
o

I CB  I B 'C '  13.31 /  63.69 A

o

I AC  I C ' A'  13.31 / 176.31

o
A
Illustrative Problem 7.4
In the circuit shown, the
magnitude of the voltages VL = A’
120 Volts and the load A ZL=24+j0 Ω
impedance ZL = 24+j0.Ω. If VAB ZL=24+j0 Ω
is taken as reference and the
C B’ C’
phase sequence is CBA. B ZL=24+j0 Ω
Determine (a) line currents; (b)
power; (c) draw phasor diagram
Solution:
Given Data:
Load Side:
VL  V  V A'B '  VB 'C '  VC ' A'  120 Volts
Z L  24  j 0   24 / 0 
0

Load is purely resistive, so p.f is unity: IAA’

ϴ = 00
= Power Factor angle A’
= Angle between phase voltage and A IA’B’ IC’A’
IAC IBA IBB’ ZL
phase current (phase current is
in-phase with the phase voltage) ZL ZL
Cos ϴ = Power Factor B B’ C’
=1 ICB ICC’ IB’C’
Sin ϴ = Reactive Factor = 0.0 C

Phasor diagram - CBA sequence (From Figure 7.2.2b), showing voltages with VAB taken as reference
VBC = VB’C’

1200
(Reference)
VAB = VA’B’

1200
Line Voltages (VL) =Phase Voltage (VФ): From Phasor Diagram
VAB  VA'B '  120 / 0 V
0

VBC  VB 'C '  120 / 120 V

0

VCA  VC ' A''  120 /  120 V

0
VCA = VC’A’

Required:
(a) line currents: (Considering Load Side)
By Ohm’s Law
Phase currents:
o
V A'B ' 120 / 0
I A'B '    5/ 0 A
o
o
ZL 24 / 0
o
VB 'C ' 120 / 120
I B 'C '    5 / 120 A
o
o
ZL 24 / 0
 120 /  120
o
VC ' A'
I C ' A'    5 /  120 A
o
o
ZL 24 / 0
Note: The three phase currents are equal in magnitude and exactly out-of phase by 1200.

By KCL:
Line currents:
I AA'  I A'B '  I C ' A'  5 / 0  5 /  120  8.66 / 30 A
o o o

I BB'  I B 'C '  I A'B '  5 / 120  5/ 0  8.66 / 150 A

o o o

I CC '  I C ' A'  I B 'C '  5 /  120  5 / 120  8.66 / 90 A

o o o

IL  3  I  3  5  8.66 A

Note: The three line currents are equal in magnitude and exactly out-of phase by 1200.
Magnitude of each line current is equal to square-root of 3 times the magnitude of
phase-current.

(b) power
Power per Phase:
True Power per phase : 2
P  I  R  V  I  Cos   Watts
P  5  24   120 51
2

 600 Watts

Reactive Power per phase : 2

Q  I  X   V  I   Sin   VARs
Q φ  5  24   120 50.0
2

 0 Since Purely Resistive 

Apparent Power per phase : S  V  I  /    VA

S  120   5 / 0
0

 600 / 0 VA
0

Total Power (for the three phases):

Total Apparent Power : S  3  V  I  /    3  VL  I L /    S /    VA
S  3 120   5 / 0  3  120 8.66  / 0
0 0

 1,800 / 0 VA
0

Total True Power P  3  I   R  3  13.31 10   5,318 Watts

2
: 2

or
 3  V  I   Cos   3  VL  I L  Cos 
 3  120 51  3  120 8.66 1
 1,800 Watts
or
 S  Cos   1,800  1  1,800 Watts
 Total Reactive Power Q  3  I   X   3  5 0  0 VARs
2
: 2

or
 3  V  I   Sin   3  VL  I L  Sin 
 3  120 50.0  3  120 8.66 0.0
 0 VARs
or
 S  Sin   1,800  0.0  0 VARs

(c) Phasor Diagram:

Phasor diagram - CBA sequence (From Figure 7.2.2b) with phase and line currents indicated as
shown.
VBC = VB’C’

I BB'  I B 'C '  I A'B ' I AA'  I A'B '  I C ' A'
IB’C’ ϴ=0 0

300
1200
300 IA’B’ (Reference)
ϴ=0 0 VAB = VA’B’
1200
ϴ = 00

IC’A’’ 300
ϴ = 00
= Power Factor angle
= Angle between phase voltage and phase current
Note: Phase current and phase voltage are in phase (angle
VCA = VC’A’ ϴ = 00)
I CC '  I C ' A'  I B 'C '
Learning Activity 7.2 Self-Assessment:
Balanced Three-Phase Delta (∆) – Connected System

I. Direction Analyze and identify data given on the following problems and employ related
equations to determine the corresponding required data for each of the problems.

Practice Problem 7.3:

In the circuit shown, the
magnitude of the voltages VL = A’
240 Volts and the load A ZL=12+j16 Ω ZL=12+j16 Ω
impedance ZL = 12+j16.Ω. If
VAB is taken as reference and
C B’ C’
the phase sequence is ABC. B ZL=12+j16 Ω
Determine (a) line currents; (b)
power; (c) draw phasor
diagram; (d) phase currents from the supply mains.

Practice Problem 7.4:

In the circuit shown, the
magnitude of the voltages VL = A’
440 Volts and the load A ZL=22/-30 Ω 0

impedance ZL = 22/-300.Ω. If ZL=22/-300 Ω

VAB is taken as reference and the
C B’ C’
phase sequence is CBA. B ZL=22/-300 Ω
Determine (a) line currents; (b)
power; (c) draw phasor diagram

Practice Problem 7.5:

In the circuit shown in the Illustrative Problem 7.4, find the phase currents from the supply
mains.
Answer Key

Pre-Test
1. a 6. b
2. b 7. a
3. c 8. b
4. c 9. d
5. b 10. a

Learning Activity 7.I

7.1 (a) Line currents:
I L  I   21.17 A

I AA'  21.17 /  4.16 A

o

I BB'  21.17 /  124.16 A

o

I CC '  21.17 / 115 .84 A

o

(b) Total Power (for the three phases):

S  16.134 / 25.84 kVA
0

P  14.52 kW
Q  7.03 kVARs Capacitive

(c) Phasor diagram: Draw as P.D. based on the given answers

7.2 (a) Line currents:

I L  I   13.856 A

I AA'  13.856 /  6.87 A

o

I BB'  13.856 / 113.13 A

o

I CC '  13.856 /  126 .87 A

o

(b) Total Power (for the three phases):

S  5.760 /  36.87 kVA
0

P  4.608 kW
Q  3.456 kVARs Inductive

(c) Phasor diagram: Draw as P.D. based on the given answers

Learning Activity 7.2

7.3 (a) Line currents:
I   12 A
IL  3  I   20.785 A

I AA'  20.785 /  83.13 A

o

I BB'  20.785 / 156.87 A

o

I CC '  20.785 / 36.87 A

o

(b) Total Power (for the three phases):

S  8.640 /  53.13 kVA
0
 P  5.184 kW
Q  6.912 kVARs Inductive

(c) Phasor diagram: Draw as P.D. based on the given answers

(d) Find phase currents from the supply mains.

7.4 (a) Line currents:

I   20 A
IL  3  I   34.641 A

I AA'  34.641 / 60 A
o

I BB'  34.641 / 180 A

o

I CC '  34.641 /  60 A
o

(b) Total Power (for the three phases):

S  26.40 / 30 kVA
0

P  22.863 kW
Q  13.2 kVARs Capactive

(c) Phasor diagram: Draw as P.D. based on the given answers

7.5 (a) Find phase currents from the supply mains.

TO BE CONTINUED
7.3
&
7.4