Three-phase AC circuits

Scope of this class:

• Introduction to three-phase systems
• Instantaneous power in single-phase and three-phase systrems.
• Phasor diagrams
• Star and delta connection
• RMS calculation of active and reactive power

References to textbook
Chapter 22: Three-phase systems
Three-phase theory, and what about DC transmission
• Power applications such as power transmission/distribution and drive systems
used in electrical vehicles are designed as three-phase systems.

• The first power systems designed in the end on the 19-th century were designed as
DC system due to their simplicity, however, as soon a the ac transformer was
invented, ac took over and bacame the predominant standard.

• The main reason for using ac in power transmission and distribution is that ac can
be transformed into a high voltage for transmission purpose, and then back into a
suitable voltage level in a distribution system. Another main advantage of ac
compared to DC is the possiblity to break ac currents at the zero crossing of the
currents; this is critical when overload or a fault occur. Breaking DC current causes a
need for most advanced and expensive circuit breakers based on power electronics.
Such breakers are developed for High Voltage Direct Current grids which are
considered as an infrastructure for offshore windfarms.

• DC is still used for power transmission over long distances at very high DC voltage
levels such as 500-kV and even up to 1100 kV DC, for long distances DC offers lower
losses compared to ac transmisison, furthermore DC transmission links offers the
possibility to actively control the power transferred on the transmission link.
Power distribution from generator to end consumer

Picture Power generation and distribution

The three-phase generator
A figure of a three-phase synchronous generator is displayed below along with the phase volages (eR,Ey,eB)
and the voltage phasors (VR, VB, VY).
The generation of the phase shifted winding voltages is achieved by a geometrical displacement of the phase-windings
of the machine.
Start and delta connection of loads
In a three-phase system the loads can be connected in a star or a delta configuration.
Star-connection, thus connection between phase and neutral, results is a load voltage equal to the phase voltage. A
Delta connection, thus connection phase to phase, results in a load voltage equal to the phase to phase voltage, which
has an amplitude of 3 times the phase voltage. In a power system at user level (normally 400 V), a neutral is always
provided, to allow connection of single-phase loads.
Star and delta connected circuits
.
 Star and delta connected circuits

. Star Connected load

Load supplied with Phase to Neutral voltage
Line current= Load current

Delta connected load

Load supplied with line to line voltage
Line current=Sqrt (3)*Load current
Complete phasor diagrams of a three-phase system
A phasor diagram for the relations between the phase volages and phase currents in a three-phase system is displayed below.

For calculation purposes it is sufficient to consider one phase of the system during symmetrical conditions.

The line to line voltage VRY leads the

phase voltage VR with 30 degrees.

In this figure, the phase curents lag the phase volages

With 15 degrees.
RMS Calculations of powers

Now again, for calculation purposes, calculations are based on rms values.

Apparent power
S= 3*Uphase*Iphase; or S=Sqrt(3)*Uphase-phase*Iphase

Active power
P= Sqrt(3)*Uphase-phase*Iphase *Cos(fi)

Reactive power
Q= Sqrt(3)*Uphase-phase*Iphase *Sin(fi)
Instantaneous voltages and currents in a three-phase sytem
The plot below display the voltageand current in each phase for a resistive load and an inductive load

Resistive load Inductive load

 Instantaneous power in three-phase systems
The plot below display the instantaneous power in eaach phase and the total instantaneous power.
Resistive load Inductive load
100 % active power 100 % reactive power
Average power during a cycle in ZERO.
Calculation examples from textbook

Problem 2, 3 page 339

Calculation class
Problem 5 page 340
Problem 6 page 341
problem 8 page 342
problem 10 page 343
Problem 14 page 345