Basics of Electrical Engineering
MODULE-3
THREE PHASE SYSTEM
Single phase circuits contain a single alternating current and voltage wave. System
with more than one phase are called a poly phase system each phase having a single
alternating voltage of equal magnitude and frequency but displaced from one another by
equal electrical angles. Although several poly phase systems are possible the three phase
system is the most popular one. A three phase system may be considered as three separate
single phase winding displaced from each other by 120o or 2 3 .
Advantages of Three Phase System over single phase System
1. For a given size of frame, a three phase generator has greater output.
2. Amount of conductor material needed to transmit power lesser for 3 system. Thus it
is more economical.
3. Three phase motors possess uniform torque whereas single phase motors possess a
pulsating torque.
4. Poly phase motors are self starting whereas single phase motors are not self starting.
5. Transmission and distribution of power by 3 system is more economical and efficient.
6. Voltage regulation of 3 system is better.
7. Two types of voltages are available for 3 system. a)Neutral and Phase b) Phase and
Phase.
8. Poly phase motors are compact.
9. Domestic and industrial / commercial power can be provided from 3 system.
Generation of a Three-Phase System
When three identical coils are placed with their axes at 120° apart from each
other and rotated in a uniform magnetic field, a sinusoidal voltage is generated across
each coil. It has three sets of coils aa', bb' and cc' symmetrically mounted on a rotor
such that their axes are at 120 0 from each other. When the rotor is rotated in
anticlockwise direction at a constant angular velocity radians per second, a sinusoidal
voltage is generated across each coil. Since the three coil at the constant angular velocity
(= 2 f), the generated voltages have the same frequency. Also, since are identical, the
generated voltages have the same magnitudes, but there is a phase difference of 120 0
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between these voltages. The generated voltages in the coils are given by
vaa' = Vm sin t
vbb' = Vm sin( t − 1200 )
vcc ' = Vm sin( t − 2400 )
In polar form
vaa' = V00
vbb' = V − 1200
vcc ' = V − 2400
In rectangular form
vaa' = V + 0 j
vbb' = V (− 0.5 − 0.866 j )
vcc' = V (− 0.5 + 0.866 j )
Sum of three emf’s at any instant is zero, ie
vaa' + vbb' + vcc' = 0
V + V (− 0.5 − 0.866 j ) + V (− 0.5 + 0.866 j ) = 0
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Phase sequence
The order in which the voltages in the three phases or coils reach their maximum or
any instantaneous value is called the phase sequence or the phase order.
(R)
A (R)
ACB or RBY ABC or RYB
C (B) (Y) C (B) (Y)
Thus in figure the three coils A, Band C are producing voltages that are displaced by
120° (electrical) from one another. By the anticlockwise movement, coil A attains maximum
positive value first, next coil B and then coil C. Hence the phase sequence is ABC or RYB. If
the direction of rotation is clock wise, then the order in which the three phases attain their
max positive value would be ACB. Hence the phase sequence is ACB or RBY
Symmetrical and balanced three phase systems
A system is said to be symmetrical when the various voltages are equal in
magnitude and are displaced from one another by equal angles. The system is balanced
when the various voltages are equal in magnitude, the various currents are equal in
magnitude and the phase angle is the same for each phase.
Double subscript notation
In this notation two letters are placed at the foot of the symbol for voltage or current.
The two letters indicate the two points between which voltage or current exists and the
order of the letters indicates the relative polarity of voltage or current during positive half
cycle. Thus V RY indicates a voltage V between points Rand Y with point R being
positive w.r.t. Y during its positive half cycle.
ie. VRY = -V YR
Advantage of using double subscript notation is that the subscripts and the order of the
subscripts describe the quantity completely.
Methods of connection of 3 system
Star or wye connection
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In Y connection, similar ends (start or finish) of the three phases are joined together and the
three lines are run from the other free ends as shown in figure. The common point N may or
may not be brought out. If a neutral conductor is present it is called a three phase four wire
system else three phase three wire system
Delta or mesh connection
In delta connection, dissimilar ends (start or finish) of the phases are joined to form
a closed mesh and the three lines are run from the junction points as shown in figure. In ∆
connection no neutral point exists and hence only a three phase three wire system can be
formed
Star or wye connection
In this method, similar ends of the three phases are joined together to form a
common junction N called star or neutral point. The three line conductors are run from
the three free ends and are designated as R, Y and B. The voltage between any line and
the neutral point ie. Voltage across each winding is called phase voltage while the
voltage between any two lines is called the line voltage.
The currents flowing in the phase are called phase currents and those flowing in
the lines are called the line currents. Phase sequence is RYB
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+ -
-
+
- +
Relation between line and phase voltages
In a balanced 3 phase Y connected system in which the r.m.s. values of the emfs
generated in the three phases are E RN , EYN , EBN .The potential difference between any
two line terminals ie the line voltage is the phasor difference between the potential of
these terminals w.r t. neutral point.
R
+
ERN
VR
Y
EYN
-
Y
Applying KVL in the above loop
Similarly from other two loops
Consider the phasor diagram, in a balanced system E YN = ERN = EBN = EPh and line
voltage VRY = V YB = V BR = VL.
VRY = E ph
2
+ E ph
2
+ 2E ph
2
cos 600 = 3E ph
Similarly,
VYB = 3E ph
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V BR = 3E ph
In a balanced 3 phase Y connection
1. Line Voltage, V L = 3E ph
2. Line voltages are equal in magnitude but displaced by 120 ⁰ from one another.
3. Line voltages are 30⁰ ahead of their respective phase voltages
Relation between line and phase currents
In Y connection each line conductor is connected in series to a separate phase as shown in
figure Therefore current in a line conductor is the same as that in the phase to which the line
conductor is connected
Line current, IL = Iph.
In a balanced 3 phase Y connection
• Line current , IL.= Iph
• line currents are equal in magnitude but displaced by 120 ⁰ from one another
• Angle between line currents and corresponding line voltages 30+ , ‘+’ for lagging and
‘-‘ for leading
Power in a Star or wye connection
Total power in a 1 system = V ph I ph cos
Total power in a 3 system = 3 x power in each phase
= 3 V ph I ph cos
VL
= 3 I L . cos
3
= 3VL I L . cos
In a balanced load IN, ie neutral current is zero
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DELTA OR MESH CONNECTION
In this method of interconnection the dissimilar ends of the three phase windings are joined
together ie. finishing end of one phase is connected to the starting end of the other phase and
so on, to obtain mesh or delta .
Relation between line and phase voltages
Since the system is balanced the three phase voltages are equal in magnitude but
displaced by 120' from each other. From Figure it is clear that only one phase winding is
included between any pair of lines. ie phase voltages EYN = ERN = EBN = EPh and line
voltages VRY = V YB = V BR = VL. Hence in delta connection VL =Eph
Relation between line and phase currents
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Since the system is balanced, the three phase currents I R, Iy and IB are equal in
magnitude and displaced from each other by 120°. An examination of current shows that
current in any line is equal to the phasor difference of the currents in the two phasors
attached to that line
60
I L = 2 I ph cos = 3I ph
2
1. Line current I L = 3I ph
2. All line currents are equal in magnitude but displaced by 120 o from one another.
3. Line currents are 30° behind their respective phase currents.
Power in a Delta /mesh connection
Total power in a 1 system = V ph I ph cos
Total power in a 3 system = 3 x power in each phase
= 3 V ph I ph cos
VL
= 3 I L . cos
3
= 3VL I L . cos
Relation between power in delta and star
P = 3P
Proof: Power consumed by three identical single phase loads connected in delta is equal to
three times the power consumed when the phase loads are connected in star
VL = Line voltage
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V ph = Phase voltage
I ph = Phase current
R = Resistance of each phase load
Z = Impedance of each phase load
Star connection
V ph R
V L = 3V ph I ph = cos =
Z Z
2
V
2 3 L R
= 2
V ph R 3V ph R 3
P = 3 V ph I ph cos = 3 V ph = 2
Z Z Z Z
2
V R
P = L 2
Z
Delta connection
V ph R
VL = V ph I ph = cos =
Z Z
2
R 3V ph R 3VL2 R
V ph
P = 3 V ph I ph cos = 3 V ph = =
Z Z Z2 Z2
3V 2 R
P = L2
Z
P = 3P
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