EEU104- ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY

Lecture outline
Single and Polyphase power system
- Phase sequences
- 3 phase Wye-Delta connection
Single and Polyphase power system

 In electricity, the phase refers to the distribution of a load.

 What is the difference between single-phase and three-phase power supplies?

 Single-phase power is a two-wire alternating current (ac) power circuit. The type of AC
supply where all the voltages in the system varies in a same sinusoidal pattern is called
single phase power supply. Typically, there is one power wire—the phase wire—and one
neutral wire, with current flowing between the power wire (through the load) and the
neutral wire.
Single Phase Power
•Single phase electricity is used in most homes and small businesses
•Able to supply ample power for most smaller customers, including homes and
small, non-industrial businesses
•Adequate for running motors up to about 5 horsepower; a single phase motor
draws significantly more current than the equivalent 3-phase motor, making 3-
phase power a more efficient choice for industrial applications
The given figure shows the AC voltage and current waveform for a single phase supply.

The voltage fluctuates between zero and peak points. Where the maximum peak point occurs at 90° and the minimum peak point

occurs at 270°. The voltage does go to zero some times.

That is why single phase power is not very consistent as compared to a three phase power and cannot be used to power high

rated machines. It is mostly used for appliances below 1000 Watt.

3-Phase Power
•Common in large businesses, as well as industry and manufacturing around the
globe
•Increasingly popular in power-hungry, high-density data centers
•Expensive to convert from an existing single phase installation, but 3-phase allows
for smaller, less expensive wiring and lower voltages, making it safer and less
expensive to run
•Highly efficient for equipment designed to run on 3-phase
 Three phase power contains three voltage that are 120° apart individual sinusoidal
waveform.
 The three phase power supply consist of three individual power conductor i.e. 3 different
color coded wires for individual phases.
 While the voltage and current between any two power conductors is 120° phase apart. Three
phase power supply is also known as Poly-phase power system.
 Three phase power supply used for powering a load can be connected in either of the two
configuration i.e. delta configuration and Star or Wye configuration (Star and Delta
represented by the symbols of Y and Δ respectively). In delta configuration, there is no
neutral cable. It only uses 3 phase cable or power cable to supply power to the load
3 phase power supply contains three individual AC waveform with 120° difference between them.
Therefore, the power delivered by three phase is much more consistent and supply more power than a
3 single-phase power lines.
It is used for powering heavy loads greater than 1000 Watts. It is impervious to power failure in case of
a fault in one phase because the other two phases still delivers power.