Introduction to Three-Phase Systems
Three-phase system preferred over single-phase system
➢ A three-phase system can transmit more power as compared to a single-phase system.
➢ When power is transmitted over long distances, the three-phase system is more
economical than the single-phase system.
➢ Amount of wire required for a three-phase system is less than that required for an
equivalent single-phase system.
➢ The efficiency of three phase operated devices and appliances is higher than the single-
phase operated machines.
➢ Three phase machines are less costly and more efficient.
INTRODUCTION
Single-Phase Systems:
• Single phase system consists of a generator connected through a pair of
wires (a transmission line) to a load.
• Vp is the rms magnitude of the source voltage.
• ϕ is the phase angle.
Single-phase two-wire system
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INTRODUCTION
Polyphase Systems:
• Circuits or systems in which the AC sources operate at the same
frequency but different phases are known as polyphase.
• Examples:
• Two-phase systems.
• Three-phase systems, etc…
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DISADVANTAGES OF THE SINGLE-PHASE SYSTEM
• Initial application of AC supply was used for heating the filaments of
electric lamps. For this, single-phase system was perfectly satisfactory.
• Few years later, AC motors were developed, and it was found that for this
application the single-phase system was not very satisfactory.
• For example, single-phase induction motor is not self-starting unless it is
fitted with an auxiliary winding.
• The single-phase induction motor is not self-starting and has poor
efficiency and power factor than the corresponding three-phase machine.
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DISADVANTAGES OF THE SINGLE-PHASE SYSTEM
Single-phase induction motor Three-phase induction motor
• Not self-starting • Self-starting
• Poor efficiency and power factor • Better efficiency and power factor
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INTRODUCTION
Three-Phase Systems:
• A generator consisting of three sources having the same amplitude and
frequency but out of phase with each other by 120°.
Three-phase four-wire system
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GENERATION OF BALANCED THREE-PHASE VOLTAGES
The generator basically consists of a
• Rotating magnet
(called the rotor).
• Stationary winding
(called the stator).
• Three separate windings or
coils with terminals a-a′, b-b′,
and c-c′ are physically placed
120° apart around the stator.
Three-phase generator
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GENERATION OF BALANCED THREE-PHASE VOLTAGES
• As the rotor (magnet) rotates, its magnetic field creates time-varying flux in
the three coils and induces voltages in the coils.
• Because the coils are placed
120°apart, the induced
voltages in the coils are equal
in magnitude but out of phase
by 120°.
The generated voltages are
120° apart from each other 10
BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
• A typical three-phase system consists of three voltage sources connected
to loads by three or four wires (or transmission lines).
• The voltage sources can be either wye connected or delta-connected.
Y-connected source Δ-connected source 21
BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
• Phase voltages: voltages between lines R, Y, and B and the neutral line
N (VRN, VYN, and VBN).
• If the voltage sources have the same amplitude, frequency ω and are out
of phase with each other by 120°, then the system is said to be balanced.
i.e. VRN +VYN +VBN = 0
|VRN |=|VYN |=|VBN |
Y-connected source 12
Relationship of Line, Phase Voltages and Currents in a Balanced Star Connected System
In the balanced star connected system, the magnitude of
phase voltage is Vph.
∴ VR = VY = VB = Vph
In the star connection, line current is same as phase current.
The magnitude of this current is same in all three phases and
say it is IL.
∴ IR = I Y = I B = I L
IY
Where, IR is line current of R phase, IY is line current of Y phase
and IB is line current of B phase. Again, phase current, Iph of
each phase is same as line current IL in star connected system.
∴ IR = IY = IB = IL = Iph.
VPh In general, three phase power is given as
Φ
P = 3 VL IL Cos Ф
IPh Three phase power in a star connected system is given as
P = 3 Vph IphCos Ф 13
Relationship of Line, Phase Voltages and Currents in a Balanced Delta Connected System
In a delta connected power system, the phase
voltage is equal to the line voltage or VPh = VL
VRY ∴ VRY = VYB = VBR = VL
IL = Iph.
VBR
In general, three phase power is given as
P = 3 VL IL Cos Ф
VYB Three phase power in a Delta connected system is given as
P = 3 Vph IphCos Ф
VPh
Φ
IPh 14
Comparison between Star and Delta Connected Systems
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Phase Sequence:
• The phase sequence is the time order in which the voltages pass through
their respective maximum values.
1) abc sequence (or) positive sequence
2) acb sequence (or) negative sequence
Importance of Phase Sequence:
• It is important in three-phase power distribution because, it determines
the direction of the rotation of a motor connected to the power source.
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
abc Sequence or Positive Sequence:
• This sequence is produced when the rotor rotates
counterclockwise.
• Van leads Vbn, which in turn leads Vcn.
Van = V p 0
i.e. Vbn = V p −120 abc or positive sequence
Vcn = V p − 240 = V p +120
where Vp is the effective or rms value of the phase voltages.
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
acb Sequence or Negative Sequence:
• It is produced when the rotor rotates in the
clockwise direction.
• Van leads Vcn, which in turn leads Vbn.
Van = V p 0
i.e. Vcn = V p −120
Vbn = V p − 240 = V p +120
acb or negative sequence
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Possible Three-Phase Load Configurations:
• Depending on the end application, a three-phase load can be either
• Wye-connected (or)
• Delta-connected.
• A balanced load is one in which the phase impedances are equal in
magnitude and phase angle.
Impedance
• However, a wye or delta-connected load is said to be unbalanced if the phase impedances
are not equal in magnitude or phase angle.
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Possible Three-Phase Load Configurations:
For a balanced wye-connected load,
Z1 = Z2 = Z3 = ZY
where ZY is the load impedance per
phase.
Y-connected load
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Possible Three-Phase Load Configurations:
For a balanced delta-connected load,
Z a = Zb = Zc = Z
where ZΔ is the load impedance per
phase.
Impedance relation between Y and Δ
connected load:
Δ-connected load
1
Z = 3 ZY or ZY = Z
3 21
BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Possible Connections:
There exists four possible connections because, the three-phase source and
the three-phase load can be either Y or Δ-connected.
• Y-Y connection (i.e., Y-connected source with a Y-connected load).
• Y-Δ connection.
• Δ-Δ connection.
• Δ-Y connection.
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Balanced Wye-Wye Connection:
A balanced Y-Y system is a three-
phase system with a balanced
Y-connected source and a balanced
Y-connected load.
Source Load
A balanced Y-Y system, showing the
source, line, and load impedances 23
BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Balanced Wye-Delta Connection:
Source Load
Balanced Y-Δ connection
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Balanced Delta-Delta Connection:
Source Load
Balanced Δ -Δ connection
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BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Balanced Delta-Wye Connection
Source Load
Balanced Δ-Y connection
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Different Types of AC power
1. Active Power ,
2. Reactive Power and
3. Apparent Power
Active Power:
➢ Active power is the real power consumed in an electrical circuit. It is the useful power which can
be converted into other form of energy like heat energy in heater, light energy in bulb etc.
➢ It is also known as true or real power and measured in terms Watt, kW (Kilo Watt) or MW (1 Mega
Watt = 106 Watt)
Significance: It is required to perform different kind of useful work. Every appliance or loads require
active power to run like Television, Motor, Refrigerator etc.
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Reactive Power:
➢ Reactive power does not perform any real work. This power cannot be utilized for heating,
lighting or other useful purposes. It only pulsates back and forth in the circuit.
➢ It is measured in terms of kVAR (Kilo Volt Ampere Reactive) or MVAR (Mega Volt Ampere
Reactive).
Significance:
➢ It does not perform any useful work, still it is necessary for the satisfactory operation electrical
machine.
➢ It is required to build up magnetic field in the air gap of machine without which active power
can neither be generated in generator nor consumed in motor.
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Apparent Power:
➢ Apparent power is Volt Ampere of an electrical appliance or machine. If a machine is supplied
with voltage V (rms) and current I (rms) is flowing through the machine, then it is the
multiplication of rms voltage and current i.e. VI. It is measured in kVA or MVA.
➢ Apparent Power, S = VI
Significance:
The losses in an electrical machine only depend on the voltage and the current. Therefore, apparent
power gives an idea of losses in the machine.
Power Triangle
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Power Factor (PF) in AC circuits,
It is the ratio of the real power that is used to do work and the apparent power that is
supplied to the circuit.
PF = P(W) / |S(VA)|
PF - power factor
P - real power in watts (W).
|S| - apparent power - the magnitude of the complex power in volt⋅amps (VA).
PF= V I Cos Ф/ V I
V and I are the RMS value of voltage and Current
PF = | Cos Ф |
Φ is the angle between the voltage and current
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Introduction to Electric Grid
An electrical grid is an interconnected network for electricity delivery from producers to consumers.
A basic representation of a power grid 31
Introduction to Electric Grid
Electricity grids comprise generation, transmission, and distribution
An electrical grid t consists of:
Power Stations (Generating Station) : Often located near available energy source (Hydro, wind, Solar) and
away from heavily populated areas.
Electrical Substations (Step up /Down Transformer): To step up/step down the voltage
Electric Power Transmission(Transmission Lines) : To carry power for long distances
Electric Power Distribution : To individual customers, where voltage is stepped down again to
the required service voltage(s).
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Introduction to Electric Grid
In India, there are five power grids which include
1. Northern Region,
2. Eastern Region,
3. Western Region,
4. Southern Region and
5. Northeastern Region grids
Types of Electrical Grid
Regional Grid – The Regional grid is formed by interconnecting
the different transmission system of a particular area through
the transmission line.
National Grid – It is formed by interconnecting the different
regional grid.
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