THREE PHASE

CIRCUIT
 SINGLE PHASE TWO WIRE

V p 
Objectives
Explain the differences between single-
phase, two-phase and three-phase.
Compute and define the Balanced Three-
Phase voltages.
Determine the phase and line
voltages/currents for Three-Phase
systems.
 SINGLE PHASE SYSTEM
A generator connected through a pair of wire to
a load – Single Phase Two Wire.
Vp is the magnitude of the source voltage, and
 is the phase.
SINLGE PHASE THREE WIRE

V p 

V p 
 SINGLE PHASE SYSTEM
Most common in practice: two identical
sources connected to two loads by two outer
wires and the neutral: Single Phase Three Wire.
Terminal voltages have same magnitude and
the same phase.
 POLYPHASE SYSTEM
Circuit or system in which AC
sources operate at the same
frequency but different phases are
known as polyphase.
TWO PHASE SYSTEM THREE WIRE

V p 

V p   90
 POLYPHASE SYSTEM
Two Phase System:
◦ A generator consists of two coils placed perpendicular
to each other
◦ The voltage generated by one lags the other by 90.
 POLYPHASE SYSTEM
 Three Phase System:
◦ A generator consists of three coils placed 120 apart.
◦ The voltage generated are equal in magnitude but,
out of phase by 120.
Three phase is the most economical polyphase
system.
THREE PHASE FOUR
WIRE
IMPORTANCE OF THREE PHASE
SYSTEM
All electric power is generated and distributed
in three phase.
◦ One phase, two phase, or more than three phase
input can be taken from three phase system rather
than generated independently.
◦ Melting purposes need 48 phases supply.
IMPORTANCE OF THREE PHASE
SYSTEM
Uniform power transmission and less vibration
of three phase machines.
◦ The instantaneous power in a 3 system can be
constant (not pulsating).
◦ High power motors prefer a steady torque especially
one created by a rotating magnetic field.
IMPORTANCE OF THREE PHASE
SYSTEM
Three phase system is more economical than
the single phase.
◦ The amount of wire required for a three phase system
is less than required for an equivalent single phase
system.
◦ Conductor: Copper, Aluminum, etc
THREE PHASE
GENERATION
 FARADAYS LAW
 Three things must be present in order to
produce electrical current:
a) Magnetic field
b) Conductor
c) Relative motion
 Conductor cuts lines of magnetic flux, a
voltage is induced in the conductor
 Direction and Speed are important
GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

N
Motion is parallel to the flux.
No voltage is induced.
GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S
x

N
Motion is 45 to flux.
Induced voltage is 0.707 of maximum.
GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S
x

N
Motion is perpendicular to flux.
Induced voltage is maximum.
GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S
x

N
Motion is 45 to flux.
Induced voltage is 0.707 of maximum.
GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

N
Motion is parallel to flux.
No voltage is induced.
 GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S
x

N
Motion is 45 to flux.
Notice current in the Induced voltage is
conductor has reversed. 0.707 of maximum.
GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S
x

N
Motion is perpendicular to flux.
Induced voltage is maximum.
GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

S
x

N
Motion is 45 to flux.
Induced voltage is 0.707 of maximum.
GENERATING A SINGLE PHASE

N
Motion is parallel to flux.
No voltage is induced.
Ready to produce another cycle.
THREE PHASE GENERATOR
 GENERATOR WORK
The generator consists of a rotating magnet
(rotor) surrounded by a stationary winding
(stator).

Three separate windings or coils with

terminals a-a’, b-b’, and c-c’ are physically
placed 120 apart around the stator.
As the rotor rotates, its magnetic field cuts the
flux from the three coils and induces voltages
in the coils.

The induced voltage have equal magnitude but

out of phase by 120.
GENERATION OF THREE-PHASE AC
S
x x

N
 THREE-PHASE WAVEFORM
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

120 120 120

240

Phase 2 lags phase 1 by 120 Phase 2 leads phase 3 by 120

Phase 3 lags phase 1 by 240 Phase 1 leads phase 3 by 240
 GENERATION OF 3 VOLTAGES
Phase 1Phase 2 Phase 3
S
x x

Phase 1 is ready to go positive.

Phase 2 is going more negative. N
Phase 3 is going less positive.
THREE PHASE
QUANTITIES
 BALANCED 3
VOLTAGES
Balanced three phase voltages:
◦ same magnitude (VM )
◦ 120 phase shift

v an (t )  VM cos  t 
vbn (t )  VM cos  t  120
vcn (t )  VM cos  t  240  VM cos  t  120
BALANCED 3 CURRENTS
Balanced three phase currents:
◦ same magnitude (IM )
◦ 120 phase shift

i a (t )  I M cos  t   
ib (t )  I M cos  t    120
ic (t )  I M cos  t    240
PHASE SEQUENCE
van (t )  VM cos t
vbn (t )  VM cos t  120
vcn (t )  VM cos t  120
Van  VM 0 Van  VM 0
Vbn  VM   120 Vbn  VM   120
Vcn  VM   120 Vcn  VM   120
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
SEQUENCE SEQUENCE
PHASE SEQUENCE
 EXAMPLE # 1
Determine the phase sequence of the set
voltages:

van  200 cos t  10

vbn  200 cos t  230
vcn  200 cos t  110
 BALANCED VOLTAGE AND
LOAD
Balanced Phase Voltage: all phase voltages
are equal in magnitude and are out of phase
with each other by 120.
Balanced Load: the phase impedances are
equal in magnitude and in phase.
 THREE PHASE CIRCUIT
POWER
◦ The instantaneous power is constant

p (t )  pa (t )  pb (t )  pc (t )
VM I M
3 cos 
2
 3Vrms I rms cos( )
 THREE PHASE CIRCUIT
Three Phase Power,

S T  S A  S B  S C  3 S
THREE PHASE QUANTITIES
QUANTITY SYMBOL

Phase current I

Line current IL

Phase voltage V

Line voltage VL
 PHASE VOLTAGES and LINE
VOLTAGES
Phase voltage is measured between the neutral
and any line: line to neutral voltage
Line voltage is measured between any two of
the three lines: line to line voltage.
 PHASE CURRENTS and LINE
CURRENTS
Line current (IL) is the current in each line
of the source or load.
Phase current (I) is the current in each
phase of the source or load.
THREE PHASE
CONNECTION
SOURCE-LOAD CONNECTION
SOURCE LOAD CONNECTION

Wye Wye Y-Y

Wye Delta Y-

Delta Delta - 

Delta Wye -Y

SOURCE-LOAD CONNECTION
Common connection of source: WYE
◦ Delta connected sources: the circulating current
may result in the delta mesh if the three phase
voltages are slightly unbalanced.
Common connection of load: DELTA
◦ Wye connected load: neutral line may not be
accessible, load can not be added or removed
easily.
WYE CONNECTION
WYE CONNECTED
GENERATOR
 WYE CONNECTED LOAD
a a
ZY
b

OR b
ZY
Load
ZY
c c
ZY

Load
n n
BALANCED Y-Y CONNECTION
 PHASE CURRENTS AND
In
LINE CURRENTS
Y-Y system:

IL  Iφ
PHASE VOLTAGES, V

 Phase voltage
is measured
between the
neutral and any
line: line to
neutral voltage
PHASE VOLTAGES, V

Van  VM 0 volt

Vbn  VM   120 volt
Vcn  VM 120 volt
LINE VOLTAGES, VL
Ia
a
 Line voltage is
measured between Van
any two of the three V
Vab
ab
n Vbn
lines: line to line
Ib
voltage. b
VVcaca
Vcn

V
V bc bc

Ic
c
 LINE VOLTAGES, VL
Vab  Van  Vbn
Vbc  Vbn  Vcn
Vca  Vcn  Van
Vab  3VM 30
Vbc  3VM   90
Vca  3VM 150
Van  VM 0 volt
PHASE
Vbn  VM   120 volt VOLTAGE (V)
Vcn  VM 120 volt

Vab  3 VM 30 volt

LINE
VOLTAGE Vbc  3 VM   90 volt
(VL)
Vca  3 VM 150 volt
PHASE DIAGRAM OF VL AND V

Vcn
Vca Vab

30°
-Vbn
120° Van

Vbn

Vbc
 PROPERTIES OF PHASE
All
VOLTAGE
phase voltages have the same magnitude,

V  Van 
= V
bn 
= V
cn

Out of phase with each other by 120

PROPERTIES OF LINE
VOLTAGE
Allline voltages have the same
magnitude,
VL  Vab = Vbc = Vca

Out of phase with each other by 120

 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
V and VL
1. Magnitude

VL  3 V
2. Phase
- VL LEAD their corresponding V by 30

VL  V  30

 EXAMPLE 1
Calculate the line currents
DELTA CONNECTION
DELTA CONNECTED
SOURCES
DELTA CONNECTED LOAD

OR
BALANCED -  CONNECTION
 PHASE VOLTAGE AND LINE
VOLTAGE
In - system, line voltages equal to phase
voltages:

VL  Vφ
 PHASE VOLTAGE, V
Phase voltages are equal to the voltages across
the load impedances.

 
 PHASE CURRENTS, I
The phase currents are obtained:

VAB VBC VCA

I AB  , I BC  , I CA 
ZΔ ZΔ ZΔ
 LINE CURRENTS, IL
The line currents are obtained from the phase
currents by applying KCL at nodes A,B, and C.

 
 LINE CURRENTS, IL
I a  I AB  I CA
I b  I BC  I AB
I c  I CA  I BC I a  3 I AB  30
I b  I a   120
I c  I a   120
 PHASE
CURRENTS (I)

VAB
I AB  LINE CURRENTS (IL)
ZΔ
VBC I a  3 I AB  30
I BC 
ZΔ I b  I a   120
VCA
I CA  I c  I a   120
ZΔ
PHASE DIAGRAM OF IL AND I
 PROPERTIES OF PHASE
All
CURRENT
phase currents have the same magnitude,

Vφ
I φ  I AB  I BC  I CA 
ZΔ
Out of phase with each other by 120
 PROPERTIES OF LINE
All
CURRENT
line currents have the same magnitude,

IL  Ia  Ib  Ic
Out of phase with each other by 120
 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN I
and IL
1. Magnitude

I L  3 I
2. Phase
- IL LAG their corresponding I by 30

I L  I  30
 EXAMPLE
A balanced delta connected load having an
impedance 20-j15  is connected to a delta
connected, positive sequence generator having
Vab = 3300 V. Calculate the phase currents of
the load and the line currents.
Given Quantities

 ZΔ  20  j15   25  36.87

 Vab  3300
 Phase Currents
VAB 3300
I AB    13.236.87A
ZΔ 25  36.87

I BC  I AB  120  13.2 - 83.13A

I CA  I AB  120  13.2156.87A
 Line Currents
I a  I AB 3  30

 13.236.87 3  30 A 
 22.866.87

I b  I a   120  22.86 - 11 3.13A

I c  I a   120  22.86126.87A
BALANCED WYE-
DELTASYSTEM
THREE PHASE POWER
MEASUREMENT
 Unbalanced load

In a three-phase four-wire system the line voltage is 400V

and non-inductive loads of 5 kW, 8 kW and 10 kW are
connected between the three conductors and the neutral.
Calculate: (a) the current in each phase
(b) the current in the neutral conductor.
Voltage to neutral VL 400
VP    230V
3 3

PR 10 4
Current in 10kW resistor IR    43.5 A
VP 230

PY 8 103
Current in 8kW resistor IY    34.8 A
VP 230

PB 5 103
Current in 5kW resistor IB    21.7 A
VP 230
 IR
INV IN

IBH IYH

IBV IYV
INH
IB IY

Resolve the current components into horizontal and vertical

components.
I H  I Y cos 30  I B cos 30o  0.866 34.8  21.7   11 .3 A

IV  I R  I Y cos 60  I B cos 60o  43.5  0.5(34.8  21.7)  13.0 A

2 2
I N  I NH  I NV  11.32  13.0 2  17.2 A
 A delta –connected load is arranged as in Figure below.
The supply voltage is 400V at 50Hz. Calculate:
(a)The phase currents;
(b)The line currents.
IR
R
I1
R 1 =100 
400V 400V
IY
Y C=30 F
I2
R 2 =20 
400V I3
IB X 2 =60 
B
(a) VRY 400
I1    4A
R1 100

I1 is in phase with VRY since there is only resistor in the branch

In branch between YB , there are two components , R2 and X2
VYB 400
I2    6.32 A
ZY 20  60
2 2
IR

V RY
2 2
2
ZY  R 2  X 2
2
 20  60
I1
-I3
X   60 
 Y  tan 1  2   tan 1    7134' 30 o

 R2   20 

In the branch RB , only capacitor in 90 o

V 71 o 34'
it , so the XC is -90 out of phase. BR V YB
30 o

I3
V 400

I 3  BR 1 /(2  50  30  10  6 )  90  I2
XC

 3.77 A 90 o
(b) I R  I1  I 3

I R2  I12  2 I1 I 3 cos   I 32 =30o

I1
I R2   4.0  2 4.0 3.77  cos 30o   3.77   56.3
2 2

I R  7.5 A 120 o

 = 71o 34’ -60o= 11o 34’ 60 o

71 o 34'
I Y  I 2  I1 

I2 -I 1
I  I  2 I1 I 2 cos   I
2
Y
2
2 1
2

I Y2   6.32  2 4.0  6.32  cos11o34' 4.0   105.5

2 2

I Y  10.3 A
IY
 = 180-30o-11o 34’ = 138o 34’
-I
IB  I3  I2 2

I B2  I 32  2 I 3 I 2 cos   I 22
I2
o
I   6.32   2 3.77  6.32  cos138 26' 3.77   18.5
2 2 2
B

90 o
71 o 34'
I B  4. 3 A
o
11 o 34' 30
I3

I2
 Power in three phase

Active power per phase = IPVP x power factor

Total active power= 3VPIP x power factor

P  3VP I P cos 
If IL and VL are rms values for line current and line voltage
respectively. Then for delta () connection: VP = VL and IP
= IL/3. therefore:
P  3VL I L cos 

For star connection () : VP = VL/3 and IP = IL. therefore:

P  3VL I L cos 
A three-phase motor operating off a 400V system is developing
20kW at an efficiency of 0.87 p.u and a power factor of 0.82.
Calculate:
(a)The line current;
(b)The phase current if the windings are delta-connected.
output power in watts
(a) Since Efficiency 
input power in watts
output power in watts

3 I LVL  p. f
20  1000
0.87  And line current =IL=40.0A
3  I L  400  0.82
(b) For a delta-connected winding
line current 40.0
Phase current    23.1A
3 3
Three identical coils, each having a resistance of 20
and an inductance of 0.5 H connected in (a) star and (b)
delta to a three phase supply of 400 V; 50 Hz. Calculate
the current and the total power absorbed by both method
of connections.
First of all calculating the impedance of the coils
R P  20 X P  2  50  0.5  157

1 XP 
2
Z P  RP  jX P  RP  X P 
2
where   tan  
 RP 
 157 
1
 20  157  tan 
2 2
  15883


 20 

cos   cos 83  0.1264

Star connection

400V 0.5H
20  20 

0.5H
400V 400V 20  0.5H

VP 400
VP  VL  400V IP    4.38A
Z P 158

P  3VL I L cos   3  400  4.38  0.1264  383W

A balanced three phase load connected in star, each phase consists
of resistance of 100  paralleled with a capacitance of 31.8 F.
The load is connected to a three phase supply of 415 V; 50 Hz.
Calculate: (a) the line current;
(b) the power absorbed;
(c) total kVA;
(d) power factor .
415

VL 415
VP    240V
3 3
 Admittance of the load
1 1 1
YP   where XP 
R P XP j C

1 1
  jC   j2  50  31.8  10 6  (0.01  j0.01)S
RP 100
Line current
I L  I P  VPYP  240(0.01  j 0.01)  2.4  j 2.4  3.3945
Volt-ampere per phase
PVA  VP I P  240  3.3945   814.445 

Active power per phase PPA  814.4 cos 45  576

Total active power PA  3  576  1.728kW

(b)

P
Reactive power per phase PR  j814 . 4 sin 45 
 j576

Total reactive power PR  j3  576  j1.728kW

(c) Total volt-ampere  3  814.4  2.44kVA

(d)
Power Factor = cos = cos 45 = 0.707 (leading)
A three phase star-connected system having a phase voltage of
230V and loads consist of non reactive resistance of 4 , 5 
and 6 respectively.
Calculate:(a) the current in each phase conductor
(b) the current in neutral conductor
and (c) total power absorbed.

230
I 4   57.5A
4
230
I 5   46A
5
230
I 6   38.3A
6
 38.3 A

57.5 A

(b) 46 A

X-component = 46 cos 30 + 38.3 cos 30 - 57.5 = 15.5 A

Y-component = 46 sin 30 - 38.3 sin 30 = 3.9 A

Therefore I N  15.52  3.9 2  16A

(c) P  230 57.5  46  38.3  32.61kW