Prof.
Saied Mansour Phys 204(2024)
CHAPTER3
WYE-DELTA TRANSFORMATIONS
Situations often arise in circuit analysis when the resistors are neither in parallel nor in series. For example,
consider the bridge circuit in Fig.1. How do we combine resistors R1 through R6 when the resistors are neither
in series nor in parallel? Many circuits of the type shown in Fig. 1can are simplified by using three-terminal
equivalent networks. These are the wye (Y) or tee (T) network shown in Fig.
2 and the delta (Δ) or pi (Π) network shown in Fig. 3. These networks occur by
themselves or as part of a larger network. They are used in three-phase
networks, electrical filters, and matching networks. Our main interest here is
in how to identify them when they occur as part of a network and how to apply
wye-delta transformation in the analysis of that network.
Figure1, The bridge network.
Figure2 Two forms of the same network: (a) Y, (b) T. Figure3 Two forms of the same network: (a)Δ, (b)Π.
Delta to Wye Conversion
To transform a Δ network to Y, we create an extra node n as shown in Fig. 4 and follow this conversion rule:
Each resistor in the Y network is the product of the resistors in the two adjacent Δ branches, divided by the
sum of the three Δ resistors.
Figure 4 Superposition of Y and Δ networks as an aid in transforming one to the
other.
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Prof. Saied Mansour Phys 204(2024)
Wye to Delta Conversion
To obtain the conversion formulas for transforming a wye network to an equivalent delta network, the
conversion rule for Y to Δ is as follows:
Each resistor in the Δ network is the sum of all possible products of Y resistors
taken two at a time, divided by the opposite Y resistor.
The Y and Δ networks are said to be balanced when
R1 = R2 = R3 = RY, Ra = Rb = Rc = RΔ
Under these conditions, conversion formulas become
EXAMPLE1
Convert the Δ network in Fig. 5(a) to an
equivalent Y network.
Figure 5
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Prof. Saied Mansour Phys 204(2024)
The equivalent Y network is shown in Fig. 5(b).
PRACTICEPROBLEM1
Transform the wye network in Fig. 6 to a delta network.
Figure 6
PRACTICEPROBLEM2
Convert the circuits in Fig. 7 from Y to Δ.
Figure 7
Application of Δ and Y Conversion
A prime application for Δ-Y conversion is in the solution of unbalanced
bridge circuits, such as the one below:
If we were to treat resistors R 1, R2, and R3 as being connected in a Δ
configuration (Rab, Rac, and Rbc, respectively) and generate an equivalent
Y network to replace them, we could turn this bridge circuit into a
(simpler) series/parallel combination circuit:
After the Δ-Y conversion . . .
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Prof. Saied Mansour Phys 204(2024)
Analysing the circuit now as a series/parallel combination, we arrive at
the following figures:
EXAMPLE2
Obtain the equivalent resistance Rab for the circuit in Fig.8 and use it to find
current i.
Figure 8
Solution:
In this circuit, there are two Y networks and one Δ network. Transforming just one of these will simplify the
circuit. If we convert the Y network comprising the 5Ω, 10 Ω, and 20Ω resistors, we may select
R1 = 10 Ω, R2 = 20 Ω, R3 = 5 Ω
Thus from the above Eqs., we have
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Prof. Saied Mansour Phys 204(2024)
With the Y converted to Δ, the equivalent circuit (with the voltage source removed for now) is shown in Fig.
9(a). Combining the three pairs of resistors in parallel, we obtain
so that the equivalent circuit is shown in Fig. 9(b). Hence, we find
Then
Figure 9
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Prof. Saied Mansour Phys 204(2024)
PRACTICEPROBLEM3
For the bridge network in Fig.10, find Rab and i.
Figure 10
PRACTICEPROBLEM4
Find the equivalent resistance between the top and bottom terminals.
R equivalent=2.33+1.66=4Ω