EE 103 CIRCUITS 3

BALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM

Cesar G. Manalo, Jr.

 OBJECTIVES

Construct the circuit and phasor diagram of a three-

phase system with a balanced wye- and/or delta-
connected load.

Solve for the phase and line current/voltage of a three-

phase system with balanced wye- and/or delta-
connected load.
 Introduction
In the figure below,
a) Find Vab, Vbc, Vca
b) The phasor diagram of the above voltages.

Van  Vp 0o V
Vbn  Vp  120o V
+ -
Vcn  Vp 120 V
o

-
+

- +
 Introduction

Solution

+ - Van  Vp 0o V
Vbn  Vp  120o V

- Vcn  Vp 120o V
+

Vab  3 Vp 30o V
- + Vbc  3 V p   90o V
Vbc  3 V p 150o V
 Introduction

Solution Van  Vp 0o V Vab  3 Vp 30o V

Vbn  Vp  120o V Vbc  3 V p   90o V
Vcn  Vp 120o V Vbc  3 V p 150o V
Vcn Vab
+ Vca
-
120o 3 Vp

- 120o
Van
+
120o
Vp
120o
120o 120o
- +
Vbn

Vbc
 Introduction
 The three sets of voltages in the
example is produced by a single
machine called the three-phase (3-φ)
generator or 3-phase alternator. a
 The 3-φ alternator has 3 sets of c’
N S
armature windings called phase b’ b
c a’
windings.
 Each of the 3 windings develop exactly
the same sinusoidal voltages (same 3-phase 2-pole alternator
magnitude and frequency) called
phase voltage but are 120 electrical
degrees apart.
 Introduction

Eaa’ Ebb’ Ecc’

120 e 120 e
deg deg

Eaa’

a’ a
c’
b N S
c’ b’ E b
bb’ b’
c a’
Ecc’

c
 Introduction
 The 3 sets of windings can be wired together to form either a
wye(Y) connection or a delta(Δ) connection.

Eaa’ Eaa’ Ebb’ Ecc’

a’
b
c’ b’ E
bb’

Ecc’ 120 e 120 e

deg deg

c
 Introduction
Y-connected alternator
a
a

Eaa’
a’ b a a
c’ b’ b c’
Ecc’ Ebb’ N S
b’ b
c a’
b
c c

3-phase 2-pole Y-connected alternator

 Previous example shows a Y-connected 3-phase alternator.

 Introduction
Y-connected alternator
a
a

Eaa’
a’ b
c’ b’ b
Ecc’ Ebb’

c c
 Introduction
Y-connected alternator
A A
a a

Eaa’ Ea
a’ B n B
c’ b’ b b
Ecc’ Ebb’ Ec Eb

c C c C

Y-connected alternator with

common point called neutral (n)
 Line-to-line Voltage in 3-Phase Y-connected
Alternators A
A
a +
Ea EAN EAB
N - B
b B ECN N EBN ECA
Ec Eb -
-
+ + EBC
c C C
3-phase alternator with the phases replaced by
Wye-connected 3-phase alternator 3 single-phase alternators
ECN
In a balanced system, each of
120o
the three instantaneous
voltages a,b, & c have equal 120o EAN
amplitudes but are separated
from the other voltages by a
120o
phase angle of 120o.
Phasor diagram of
EBN phase voltages
Line-to-line Voltage in 3-Phase Y-connected
Alternators
ECN -EBN
A
EAN

a 60o
EAB
ENB 120o
B EAN
c b ECA
N 120o
EBC 120o

C
EBN

E AB  E AN  ENB  E AN  ( EBN )

where EAN is the phase voltage of alternator a

Line-to-line Voltage in 3-Phase Y-connected
Alternators
A -EBN
EAN

a EAB
ENB
B
c b ECA 30o
60o EAN
N
EBC

C
E AB  E AN  ENB  E AN  ( EBN )
E AB  3 E AN  1.73 E AN
EBC  3 EBN  1.73 EBN
ECA  3 ECN  1.73 ECN

Therefore, the line-to-line voltages of a wye-connected alternator is 1.73

times its phase voltage.
 Line-to-line Voltage in 3-Phase Y-connected
Alternators
ECN EAB
A ECA
120o

a EAB
B 120o
c b ECA EAN
N
120o
EBC
120o
120o 120o Phasor diagram of
C
phase and line
voltages of a 3-phase
EBN Y-connected
alternator

EBC
Therefore, the line-to-line voltages of a wye-connected alternator is 1.73
times its phase voltage, and they are 120o out of phase from each other.
 Illustrative Problem 1
• The line-to-line voltage of a 3-phase alternator is 230 V as measured by an AC
voltmeter. What is the phase voltage if measured by the same voltmeter if
the alternator is connected in wye ? Write the polar form of all line-to-line
and phase voltages.
AC
OUTPUT
Solution:
Let: EAB = line-to-line voltage between A & B
EAN = phase voltage of phase AN. ECA ECN
EAB
120o
E AN  132.90 V (reference)
E AB  1.73 E AN
120o
E AB 230 EBN  132.9  120 V
EAN
E AN   120o
1.73 1.73 ECN  132.9120 V 120o
120o 120o
E AN  132.9 V E AB  23030 V
EBC  230  90 V EBN
ECA  230150 V
EBC
Line Current in 3-Phase Y-connected Alternators
ECN
A
IA
Ia a VAB
B EAN
c b VCA
N IB
VBC
Ic Ib
IC Phase and line current
C phasor diagram of a
Alternator balanced-loaded 3-phase
EBN
alternator

• The current on a line is equal to the current through the phase

to which that line is connected. That is, IA = Ia, IB = Ib, IC = Ic.
• When the external load on a 3-phase alternator is “balanced”,
the line and phase currents are all 120o out of phase from each
other.
 Line-to-line Voltage in 3-Phase Δ-connected
A
Alternators
ECA
EC
- + EAB 120o
EC EA B
- ECA
+ 120o EA
EBC EAB
- +
EB C
120o

Δ-connected 3-phase alternators EB Phasor diagram

EBC

• In a Δ-connected 3-phase alternator, there is no neutral pt.

• The phase windings are connected one after the other forming a
delta or closed loop.
• The line-to-line voltages equals the phase voltages both in
magnitude and in direction because the phases are connected
directly to the lines.
 Line-to-line Current in 3-Phase Δ-connected
A
Alternators I A
ECA
EC ICA
IA
- + EAB 120o
IAB IB
EC EA B
- ECA
+ ICA IB 120o EA
IBC
EBC EAB
- +
EB C IBC IAB
120o
IC EB
Δ-connected 3-phase alternators Phasor diagram
EBC

IC
E AB  E A I A  I CA  I AB  3I AB
E BC  E B I B  I AB  I BC  3I BC
ECA  EC I C  I BC  I CA  3I CA

• In a Δ-connected balanced 3-phase alternator, the line-currents

are 1.73 times the phase currents.
 Phase Sequence

Side view of armature

N S N S

Perspective view of armature

 Phase Sequence

Side view of armature (turned 90o)

N S N S

Perspective view of armature

 Phase Sequence

Side view of armature

N S N S

Perspective view of armature

A B C

120 e
deg
 Phase Sequence

N S N S

A B C

120 e
deg
 Phase Sequence

N S N S

PHASE SEQUENCE = ABC = BCA = CAB

Vc A B C

Va

Phasor representation of 120 e

ABC sequence deg
Vb
 Phase Sequence

ARMATURE WINDINGS YELLOW N S

AND RED INTERCHANGED

PHASE SEQUENCE = ACB = CBA = BAC

Vb A C B

Va

Phasor representation of 120 e

ACB sequence deg
Vc
 Phase Sequence
 A phase sequence defines
which of the three phase
voltages or line voltages
comes in sequence.
N S
 There are only two possible
phase sequence in three-
phase system: phase
sequence ABC or phase
A C B
sequence ACB.
 Phase sequence ABC is called
positive phase sequence while
phase sequence ACB is called 120 e
negative phase sequence. deg
 Phase Sequence
POSITIVE PHASE SEQUENCE Van  Vp0o V Vab  3 Vp 30o V
Vbn  Vp  120o V Vbc  3 V p   90o V
+ - Vcn  Vp 120o V Vbc  3 V p 150o V
Vcn Vab
- Vca
120o
+

120o
Van
- + 120o

120o
120o 120o
In a 3φ balanced system, when the phase
voltages of a 3φ alternator or load is Vbn
positive sequenced, the corresponding
line voltages is also positive sequenced
Vbc
 Phase Sequence
POSITIVE PHASE SEQUENCE Van  Vp0o V Vab  3 Vp 30o V
Vbn  Vp  120o V Vbc  3 V p   90o V
+ - Vcn  Vp 120o V Vbc  3 V p 150o V
Vcn Vab
- Vca
120o
+

120o
Van
- + 120o

120o
120o 120o
In a 3φ balanced system, when the
phase or line voltages are positive Vbn
sequenced, the corresponding phase or
line currents will be positive sequenced
Vbc
 Phase Sequence
NEGATIVE PHASE SEQUENCE Van  Vp0o V Vab  3 V p   30o V
Vbn  Vp 120o V Vbc  3 V p 90o V
+ - Vcn  Vp  120o V Vca  3 V p   150o V
Vbc
-
+
Vbn
120o
- +
120o
Van
120o

120o
120o 120o

Vca
Vcn Vab
 Balanced 3-Phase Loads
• A load is said to be balanced, if all phase impedances are equal or
the load is drawing
A
balanced currents.
IA
Ia a VAB ZA
B
c b
IB ZC ZB
N VCA
VBC
Ic Ib
IC
3-phase
C rectifier
3-phase Y-connected Balanced Load, ZA = ZB = ZC
A
IA
Ia a VAB
B ZA ZC
c b
N IB
VCA
VBC
Ic Ib ZB
IC
C 3-phase induction motor
3-phase Δ-connected balanced load, ZA = ZB = ZC
 Balanced 3-Phase Loads

If a balanced 3-phase source is impressed upon a balanced 3-

phase load, the line currents can be determined by analyzing the
system on a per-phase basis.
If a balanced 3-phase source is impressed upon a balanced 3-
phase load, the line currents (and the phase currents) are
themselves balanced, which means that their phasor sum is a
zero.
If a Y-connected balanced 3-phase source is impressed upon a Y-
connected balanced 3-phase load with neutral line installed, the
current through the neutral line is zero. This means that if the
neutral line is disconnected, there will be no effect on the line
and phase currents.
Illustrative Problem 2
 Illustrative Problem 3
What is the phase sequence of the circuit below? Obtain the following;
a) Line currents in phasor form.
b) The voltage between pts. n an N (VnN).
c) The line and phase voltages of the load in phasor form.

VAN

Vab

b B

c C
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions:
a) Method 1: Using mesh analysis

+
I1
VAN

b I2 B

c C
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions:
a) Method 1: Using mesh analysis
440  120o  4400o  2(6  j8) I1  (6  j8) I 2  0 Eq. 1
440120o  440  120o  2(6  j8) I 2  (6  j8) I1  0 Eq. 2

I1  4453.13o A
+
I 2  44  6.87o A I1
VAN

I a  I1  4453.13o A -

I c   I 2  44173.13o A
I b  I 2  I1  44  66.87 o A I2 B
b
c C
What is the phase sequence of the line currents?
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions:
a) Method 2: Per phase analysis

4400o
Ia   4453.13o A
6  j8
Since the system is balanced and positive sequenced:
I b  44(53.13o  120o )  44  66.87 o A
I c  44(53.13o  120o )  44173.13o A
Giving the same result as method 1.
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions:
b) +
VAN

+ VnN - -

b B
c C

 VnN  4400o  I a (6  j8)  0

VnN  4400o  (4453.13)(6  j8)
VnN  0
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions:
b) +
VAN
In = 0
-

b B
c C

VnN  0

• Points “n” and “N” has the same potential and connecting them
with a wire does not alter the circuit.
• Current is zero in the wire connecting between the pts.
• This condition is true for all balanced 3-phase systems.
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions:
b) +
VAN
In = 0
-

b B
c C

• In a balanced 3-phase system, the phasor sum of the line currents is

a zero since Ia + Ib + Ic = In = 0. So, where did the currents go???
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions:
b) 50

40

30

20

10
I a  I1  4453.13o A
0
I c   I 2  44173.13 A
o
-10
I b  I 2  I1  44  66.87 A
o
-20

-30

-40

-50

Ia Ib Ic In = Ia+Ib+Ic

• Based on the above waveforms, the sum of the instantaneous

currents at any given time is always zero.
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions: Van  Vp 0o V Vab  3 Vp 30o V
c) Vbn  Vp  120o V Vbc  3 V p   90o V
+ - Vcn  Vp 120o V Vbc  3 V p 150o V
Vcn Vab
- Vca
120o
+

120o
Van
- + 120o

120o
120o 120o

Vbn

Vbc
 Illustrative Problem 3
Solutions: Vab
c) Vab  3 V p 30o VAN   4400o
3
Vab  762.1 30o VBN  440  120o
Vbc  762.1(30o  120o )  762.1  90o V VCN  440120o
Vca  762.1(30o  120o )  762.1150o V

+ -
VAN

Vab
Vca

-
+
b Vbc + B
-
c C
Illustrative Problem 4
 Illustrative Problem 4
Solution:
In a balanced 3-phase system, the line voltage VL is equal to the
magnitude of the voltage between any 2 lines while the line current is
the magnitude of the current on any of the lines. For Y-connected:
VL | Vab || Vbc || Vca | 3 | V p | 3 (240)  415.69 V

I L | I a || I b || I c | Ia A
+ -
Vab Iab
Vca Ib
-
B
+
Vbc
Ic Ibc
- + Ica
C
Illustrative Problem 5
 Illustrative Problem 5
Solution:

Alternator Transmission Line Load

(Power plant) (Distribution)
 Illustrative Problem 5
Solution:

Za
Zb
N
B
Zc

C
Illustrative Problem 6
Illustrative Problem 7
Illustrative Problem 8

Fig. 12.44
 Illustrative Problem 9

Prove that it is more economical to send a unit of power using a

3-phase system than a single-phase system. Assume the
following:
• The balanced load with PL watts and power factor PFL is
located D meters away from the source.
• The line voltage is VL volts.
• The cost Cc of power cable is per cubic meter.
• The size Sc of power cable in square meters to be used is
proportional the current drawn by the load.
 Illustrative Problem 10

Determine the phase voltage of the load.

 Illustrative Problem 11

A delta connected load is connected to a 300 V line drawing a

power of 5 kW at 0.85 pf. Find:
a) The line current drawn by the load.
b) The phase current through the loads.
 Illustrative Problem 12

Also determine the voltage across ZY. VZy

I I
 Illustrative Problem 13

3.0 KW, 210 V, 0.8 PF lagging

Y-connected motor
thank you