Delta Connection In a 3 Phase System :
In this system of interconnection, the starting ends of the three phases or coils are connected to the
finishing ends of the coil. Or the starting end of the first coil is connected to the finishing end of the
second coil and so on (for all three coils) and it looks like a closed mesh or circuit as shown in fig (1).
In more clear words, all three coils are connected in series to form a close mesh or circuit. Three wires
are taken out from three junctions and the all outgoing currents from junction assumed to be positive.
In Delta connection, the three windings interconnection looks like a short circuit, but this is not true, if
the system is balanced, then the value of the algebraic sum of all voltages around the mesh is zero.
When a terminal is open, then there is no chance of flowing currents with basic frequency around the
closed mesh.
1. Line Voltages and Phase Voltages in Delta Connection
It is seen from fig 2 that there is only one phase winding between two terminals (i.e. there is one phase
winding between two wires). Therefore, in Delta Connection, the voltage between (any pair of) two lines
is equal to the phase voltage of the phase winding which is connected between two lines. Since the phase
sequence is R → Y → B, therefore, the direction of voltage from R phase towards Y phase is positive
(+), and the voltage of R phase is leading by 120°from Y phase voltage. Likewise, the voltage of Y phase
is leading by 120° from the phase voltage of B and its direction is positive from Y towards B.
If the line voltage between;
Line 1 and Line 2 = VRY ; Line 2 and Line 3 = VYB : ; Line 3 and Line 1 = VBR
Then, we see that VRY leads VYB by 120° and VYB leads VBR by 120°.
Let‟s suppose,
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VRY = VYB = VBR = VL ....................... (Line Voltage)
Then VL = VPH
I.e. in Delta connection, the Line Voltage is equal to the Phase Voltage.
2. Line Currents and Phase Currents in Delta Connection
It will be noted from the below (fig-2) that the total current of each Line is equal to the vector difference
between two phase currents flowing through that line. i.e.;
• Current in Line 1= I1 = IR – IB
• Current in Line 2 =I2 = IY – IR
• Current in Line 3 =I3 = IB – IY
The current of Line 1 can be found by determining the vector difference between IR and IB and we can do
that by increasing the IB Vector in reverse, so that, IR and IB makes a parallelogram. The diagonal of that
parallelogram shows the vector difference of IR and IB which is equal to Current in Line 1= I1. Moreover,
by reversing the vector of IB, it may indicate as (-IB), therefore, the angle between IR and -IB (IB, when
reversed = -IB) is 60°. If,
IR = IY = IB = IPH …. The phase currents
Then;
The current flowing in Line 1 would be;
IL or IL = √(IR2+IY2 +[Link]*IY C0S 60 o)
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i.e. In Delta Connection, The Line current is √3 times of Phase Current
Similarly, we can find the reaming two Line currents as same as above. i.e.,
I2 = IY – IR … Vector Difference = √3 IPH
I3 = IB – IY … Vector difference = √3 IPH
As, all the Line current are equal in magnitude i.e.
I1 = I2 = I3 = IL
Hence
IL = √3 IPH
It is seen from the fig above that;
The Line Currents are 120° apart from each other
Line currents are lagging by 30° from their corresponding Phase Currents
The angle Ф between line currents and respective line voltages is (30°+Ф), i.e. each line current is
lagging by (30°+Ф) from the corresponding line voltage.
3. Power in Delta Connection
We know that the power of each phase
Power / Phase = VPH x IPH x CosФ
And the total power of three phases;
Total Power = P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ ….. (1)
We know that the values of Phase Current and Phase Voltage in Delta Connection;
IPH = IL / /√3 ….. (From IL = √3 IPH)
VPH = VL
Putting these values in power eq……. (1)
P = 3 x VL x ( IL/√3) x CosФ …… (IPH = IL / /√3)
P = √3 x√3 x VL x ( IL/√3) x CosФ …{ 3 = √3x√3 }
P = √3 x VLx IL x CosФ …
Hence proved;
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Power in Delta Connection,
P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ …. or
P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ
Good to Know: Where Cos Φ = Power factor = the phase angle between Phase Voltage and Phase
Current and not between Line current and line voltage.
Good to Remember:
In both Star and Delta Connections, The total power on balanced load is same.
I.e. total power in a Three Phase System = P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ
Good to know:
Balanced System is a system where:
• All three phase voltages are equal in magnitude
• All phase voltages are in phase by each other i.e. 360°/3 = 120°
• All three phase Currents are equal in magnitude
• All phase Currents are in phase by each other i.e. 360°/3 = 120°
• A three phase balanced load is a system in which the load connected across three phases are
identical.
Analysis of Balanced Three Phase Circuits:
It is always better to solve the balanced three phase circuits on per phase basis. When the three phase
supply voltage is given without reference to the line or phase value, then it is the line voltage which is
taken into consideration.
The following steps are given below to solve the balanced three phase circuits.
Step 1 – First of all draw the circuit diagram.
Step 2 – Determine XLP = XL/phase = 2πfL.
Step 3 – Determine XCP = XC/phase = 1/2πfC.
Step 4 – Determine XP = X/ phase = XL – XC
Step 5 – Determine ZP = Z/phase = √R2P + X2P
Step 6 – Determine cosϕ = RP/ZP; the power factor is lagging when XLP > XCP and it is leading when XCP
> XLP.
Step 7 – Determine V phase.
For star connection VP = VL/√3 and for delta connection VP = VL
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Step 8 – Determine IP = VP/ZP.
Step 9 – Now, determine the line current IL.
For star connection IL = IP and for delta connection IL = √3 IP
Step 10 – Determine the Active, Reactive and Apparent power.
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