THREE PHASE AC CIRCUITS

09-10-2025
 CONTENTS

THREE PHASE AC CIRCUITS:

1. THREE PHASE AC SYSTEM & ADVANTAGES

2. GENERATION OF THREE PHASE VOLTAGE
3. TYPES OF CONNECTION - STAR AND DELTA
4. VOLTAGE & CURRENTS
5. LINE & PHASE VALUES
 Why three phase supply?

Higher Efficiency

Lower Cost

Size Reduction

Less amount of power-conductor material for transmission

Unidirectional torque production in 3 phase motor

 Three phase supply… Merits
3 phase motors are self starting

Parallel operation of 3 phase generators

Better operating power factor of 3 phase motors

Lighter, efficient and cheaper 3 Phase transformer

Two different levels of voltages can be obtained

 Generation of three phase voltages
rotation
R
•eR = Em Sin (ωt)
Y B •eY = Em Sin (ωt -120˚)
•eB = Em Sin(ωt-240˚)
N S
= Em Sin (ωt+120˚)
B
Y
R
e

2π/3 π

Phase sequence: Is the order in which three phase voltages (currents)

attain their maximum values -RYB
 Three phase windings with six terminals
At any instant,
eR + eY + eB = Em [Sin(ωt) + sin (ωt-120o) + sin (ωt-240o)] = 0
Sum of the instantaneous values of the voltages is zero
R

emfs are assumed to be positive when acting

R' from R| to R,Y| to Y and B| to B respectively
Y

emf of each winding is called a phase emf

Y'

B'
 Types of 3 phase connections

The six terminals can be inter connected to form 2 types of 3 phase connections.

➢ DELTA connection

➢ STAR connection
 DELTA connected system

R Y B
R
B R

R
B Y
' Y Y
Y '
R' B
B

There is no neutral wire

At any instant, eR+eY+eB=0
 Delta connected system
In phasor form, the phase e.m.f.s are
E BB '
ERR' = EPh0,
120˚
EYY ' = E ph  − 120 ,
E RR '

E BB' = E ph  − 240  = E ph  + 120 120˚

E YY'

Phase sequence: - R-Y-B

Balanced system:
Magnitude of phase emf ’s are equal and mutually displaced by 120 degrees
 Types of 3 phase connections
In DELTA connected system R
B
The voltage between lines R & Y,

E RY
Y & B and B & R 
E BR
R
are called Line Voltages

Y
Y

ERY = ERR' , EYB = EYY ' , EBR = EBB'


E YB

B
In a delta connected system the line and phase emfs are the same

ERY = EL = ERR' = E ph00

EYB = E L = EYY ' = E ph − 1200
EBR = EL = EBB' = E ph + 1200
 THREE PHASE DELTA CONNECTED SYSTEM WITH BALANCED LOAD
(Relation between Line and Phase currents)
Phase voltage is equal to the line voltage.
Currents flowing in each phase are called Phase Currents
I RY = I ph0 , I YB = I ph − 120 , I BR = I ph + 120
Phase currents are balanced. 
R IR
The currents in each line from 
I RY
supply are the currents are

I R = I RY − I BR V RY Z
Z
 
I Y = I YB − I RY V BR  I BR
Y
IY
I B = I BR − I YB 
Z

 I YB
IR + IY + IB = 0 V YB 

B IB
(I R = I Y = I B = I L )
 Delta Connected – Balanced Load


I R = I RY − I BR IB

I Y = I YB − I RY  
I BR − I YB
I B = I BR − I YB


− I RY I RY
30
I R + IY + I B = 0 120

I L = 2 I ph cos (30) = 3I ph 
 
IY 
− I BR IR
I YB
 Delta Connected – Balanced Load
The line voltages are given by
VRY = VL 0, VYB = VL  − 120, VBR = VL  + 120
(Let line voltage VRY be the reference)
VRY V 0 VL
I RY = = L =  − φ = I ph − φ
Phase currents Zφ Zφ Z
I YB = I ph − (120 + φ)
I BR = I ph(120 − φ)
Conclusion: - Phase Currents are also balanced
I R = I RY − I BR = I ph (− φ ) − I ph (120 − φ)
= 3 I ph  − (30 + φ ) = I L  − (30 + φ )

I Y = I YB − I RY = 3 I ph  − (150 + φ ) = I L  − (150 + φ )
I B = I BR − I YB = 3 I ph 90 − φ = I L (90 − φ )
 Delta Connected – Balanced Load

Line currents V BR 
IB

I BR
I R = I RY − I BR = I L  − (30 +  ) −I
RY
−I
I Y = I YB − I RY = I L  − (150 + φ )
YB

IY


I B = I BR − I YB = I L (90 − φ ) V RY
120  30  
 I RY
I YB

−I
BR

Line Currents are also balanced 

V YB

IR
 Delta Connected – Balanced Load
Active power = 3 Vph I ph cos ()
IL
= 3 VL cos ()
3
= 3 VL I L cos ()
Reactive power = 3 VL I L sin ()

Note: Φ is the phase angle between phase voltage and

phase current = angle of impedance
 Summary
Delta connected balanced load line currents are also balanced

Line current IL= 3 Iph

I R = I RY − I BR = I L  − (30 +  )

I Y = I YB − I RY = I L  − (150 + φ )

I B = I BR − I YB = I L (90 − φ )

Summary : In a balanced delta connected load,

The line voltages and phase voltages magnitudes are equal
The line voltages are 120 deg. apart
The line current is 3 times the phase current.
STAR 3 phase connection
 STAR 3 phase connection
In STAR connected system
The voltage between lines R & Y,
Y & B and B & R
are called Line Voltages
Phasor diagram
Example 1

Three equal impedances, each of (8 + j10) ohms, are connected in star. This is further connected to a 440 V, 50 Hz, three-
phase supply. Calculate,

(a) phase voltage, (b) phase angle, (c) phase current, (d) line current, (e) active power, and (f ) reactive power.

Solution
Solution …
Example 2

A balanced delta-connected load of impedance (8 − j6) ohms per phase is connected to a three-phase, 230 V, 50 Hz
supply. Calculate,

(a) power factor, (b) line current, and (c) reactive power.

Solution
Solution …
Example 3

Three coils, each having a resistance and an inductance of 8 W and 0.02 H respectively, are connected in star across a
three-phase, 230 V, 50 Hz supply. Find the,

(a) power factor, (b) line current, (c) power, (d) reactive volt-amperes, and (e) total volt-amperes.

Solution
Solution …
Example 4

Three coils, each having a resistance of 8 W and an inductance of 0.02 H, are connected in delta to a three-phase, 400 V,
50 Hz supply. Calculate the,

(a) line current, and (b) power absorbed.

Solution
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