BALANCED THREE-PHASE

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS II

Engr. Jonas S. De Castro, REE

Revised by: Engr. Judith P. Marasigan, REE, RME
 CONTENTS
01 WHAT IS POLYPHASE ?

02 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM

03 PHASE SEQUENCE

04 BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 INTRODUCTION
So far in our journey, we have dealt with single-
phase circuits. A single phase ac power system
consists of a generator connected through a pair
of wires (a transmission line) to a load.
POLYPHASE
 INTRODUCTION
What is more common in practice is a single-
phase three-wire system, it contains two identical
sources (equal magnitude and the same phase)
which are connected to two loads by two outer
wires and the neutral.
POLYPHASE
 INTRODUCTION
For example, the normal household system is a
single-phase three-wire system because the
terminal voltages have the same magnitude and
the same phase. Such a system allows the
connection of both 120-V and 240-V appliances.
POLYPHASE
 POLYPHASE

WHAT IS POLYPHASE?

WHAT IS
JD’s Channel POLYPHASE ?
 WHAT IS POLYPHASE?

Circuits or systems
in which the ac sources
operate at the same
frequency but different
phases are known as
polyphase. Figure shows a
two-phase three-wire
system. WHAT IS
JD’s Channel POLYPHASE ?
 WHAT IS POLYPHASE?
In addition, this figure shows a
three-phase four wire system. As
distinct from a single-phase system,
a two-phase system is produced by
a generator consisting of two coils
placed perpendicular to each other
so that the voltage generated by one
lags the other by 90◦.
WHAT IS
JD’s Channel POLYPHASE ?
 WHAT IS POLYPHASE?
By the same token, a three-phase
system is produced by a generator
consisting of three sources having
the same amplitude and frequency
but out of phase with each other by
120◦. Since the three-phase system
is by far the most prevalent and
most economical polyphase system.
WHAT IS
JD’s Channel POLYPHASE ?
 CONTENTS
01 WHAT IS POLYPHASE ?

02 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM

03 PHASE SEQUENCE

04 BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM

Three-phase voltages are

often produced with a three-
phase ac generator (or
alternator) whose cross-
sectional view is shown in
figure.

BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM
The generator basically consists
of a rotating magnet (called the
rotor) surrounded by a 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.
BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM
As the rotor rotates, its magnetic
field “cuts” the flux from 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◦ as figure shows.
BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM

Since each coil can be regarded as a single-phase generator

by itself, the three-phase generator can supply power to both
single-phase and three-phase loads.

BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 THREE PHASE SOURCE

Three-Phase Source

THREE PHASE
JD’s Channel SOURCE
 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). (Three phase current sources are very
scarce.) A three-phase system is equivalent to three single-
phase circuits.

BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM
The voltage sources can be either wye-connected as shown in
figure (a) or delta-connected as in figure (b).

BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM

Let us consider the wye-

connected voltages in figure
(a) . The voltages Van, Vbn, and
Vcn are respectively between
lines a, b, and c, and the neutral
line n.

BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM
These voltages are called
phase voltages. If the voltage
sources have the same
amplitude and frequency ω
and are out of phase with each
other by 120◦, the voltages are
said to be balanced.
BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM

This implies that

Balanced phase voltages are

equal in magnitude and are out
of phase with each other by 120◦.
BALANCED THREE -
JD’s Channel PHASE SYSTEM
 CONTENTS
01 WHAT IS POLYPHASE ?

02 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM

03 PHASE SEQUENCE

04 BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 PHASE SEQUENCE
Since the three-phase voltages are
120◦ out of phase with each other,
there are two possible combinations.

Vp is the effective or rms value. This

is known as the abc sequence or
positive sequence. In this phase
sequence, Vbn lags Van. This
sequence is produced when the rotor
rotates clockwise.

JD’s Channel PHASE SEQUENCE

 PHASE SEQUENCE
The other possibility is shown in
figure. This is called the acb sequence
or negative sequence. For this phase
sequence, Van leads Vcn, which in
turn leads Vbn. The acb sequence is
produced when the rotor rotates in
the clockwise direction.

JD’s Channel PHASE SEQUENCE

Phase sequence
● It is the order in which the generated voltages in the phase windings
of an alternator reach or attain their peak or maximum values.
a. Positive phase sequence (ABC, BCA, CAB)
b. Negative phase sequence (ACB, CBA, BAC)
Note:
If the phase sequence is not given, assume a positive phase sequence.
For a positive sequence: Voltage (V) leads current (i) by angle Φ.
For negative sequence: Voltage (V) lags current (i) by angle Φ.
Phase sequence is determined by the rotation from a reference phasor.
THREE PHASE AC SYSTEMS
EXAMPLE 1:
Draw the phasor diagram indicating Va and Vc if Vb = 265.6∠37° and the
phase sequence is; (a) ABC (b) ACB
THREE PHASE AC SYSTEMS
SOLUTION

Va Vb
120°
37°

120° 120°

SEQUENCE ABC
Vc
 THREE PHASE AC SYSTEMS
SOLUTION
Vc Vb
120°
37°

120° 120°

SEQUENCE CBA
Va
 PHASE SEQUENCE

The phase sequence is the time order in which the

voltages pass through their respective maximum values.

JD’s Channel PHASE SEQUENCE

 PHASE SEQUENCE

The phase sequence is important in three-phase power

distribution. It determines the direction of the rotation of a
motor connected to the power source.

JD’s Channel PHASE SEQUENCE

 CONTENTS
01 WHAT IS POLYPHASE ?

02 BALANCED THREE - PHASE SYSTEM

03 PHASE SEQUENCE

04 BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 BALANCED LOAD

Like the generator connections, a three-phase load

can be either wye-connected or delta-connected, depending
on the end application.

BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 BALANCED LOAD
Figure (a) shows a wye-connected
load, and figure (b) shows a delta-
connected load. The neutral line in
figure (a) may or may not be there,
depending on whether the system is
four- or three-wire. (And, of course, a
neutral connection is topologically
impossible for a delta connection.)

BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 BALANCED LOAD
A wye- or delta-connected load is said to be unbalanced
if the phase impedances are not equal in magnitude or phase.

A balanced load is one in which the phase impedances

are equal in magnitude and in phase.

BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 BALANCED LOAD
For a balanced wye-connected load,

where
ZY is the load impedance per phase.

BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 BALANCED LOAD
For a balanced delta-connected load,

where Z∆ is the load impedance per phase in this case.

BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
Delta to wye transformation

Delta to Wye transformation

ҧ 𝑍𝐶𝐴
𝑍𝐴𝐵 ҧ
𝑍𝐴ҧ =
ҧ + 𝑍𝐵𝐶
𝑍𝐴𝐵 ҧ + 𝑍𝐶𝐴 ҧ
ҧ
𝑍𝐴𝐵 𝑍𝐵𝐶 ҧ
𝑍𝐵ҧ =
𝑍𝐴𝐵 ҧ + 𝑍𝐵𝐶 ҧ + 𝑍𝐶𝐴 ҧ
ҧ 𝑍𝐵𝐶
𝑍𝐶𝐴 ҧ
𝑍𝐶ҧ =
𝑍𝐴𝐵ҧ + 𝑍𝐵𝐶 ҧ + 𝑍𝐶𝐴 ҧ
For the balanced case:
1
𝑍𝐴ҧ = 𝑍𝐵ҧ = 𝑍𝐶ҧ = 𝑍𝚫ҧ
3
Note:
When mentioned in the problem, the loads are reconnected, it is
understood that the resulting connection has the same value for
each phase as the previous connection.
wye to delta transformation

Wye to Delta transformation

𝑍𝐴ҧ 𝑍𝐵ҧ + 𝑍𝐵ҧ 𝑍𝐶ҧ + 𝑍𝐶ҧ 𝑍𝐴ҧ

ҧ =
𝑍𝐴𝐵
𝑍𝐶ҧ
𝑍ҧ 𝑍ҧ + 𝑍𝐵ҧ 𝑍𝐶ҧ + 𝑍𝐶ҧ 𝑍𝐴ҧ
ҧ = 𝐴 𝐵
𝑍𝐵𝐶
𝑍𝐴ҧ
𝑍ҧ 𝑍ҧ + 𝑍𝐵ҧ 𝑍𝐶ҧ + 𝑍𝐶ҧ 𝑍𝐴ҧ
𝑍𝐶𝐴ҧ = 𝐴 𝐵
𝑍𝐵ҧ
For the balanced case:
ҧ = 𝑍𝐵𝐶
𝑍𝐴𝐵 ҧ = 𝑍𝐶𝐴 ҧ = 3𝑍𝑌ҧ
Note:
When mentioned in the problem, the loads are reconnected, it
is understood that the resulting connection has the same
value for each phase as the previous connection.
 BALANCED LOAD
A wye-connected load can be transformed into a delta
connected
load, or vice versa, using this formula

BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
 BALANCED LOAD
Since both the three-phase source and the three-phase load
can be either wye- or delta-connected, we have four possible
connections:
• Y-Y connection (i.e., Y-connected source with a Y-connected
load).
• Y-∆ connection.
• ∆-∆ connection.
• ∆-Y connection.
BALANCED LOAD
JD’s Channel
Balanced delta (Δ) or mesh connected system

IØ=IL/√3
VL=VØ
Note:
1. Line currents are situated 120° apart.
2. Line currents are 30° ahead of their
respective phase current.
3. The angle between the line currents and
corresponding line voltages is 30°+ θ with
current lagging.
Balanced wye (y) or star connected system

IL=IØ
VØ=VL/√3
Note:
1. Line voltages are situated 120° apart.
2. Line voltages are 30° ahead of their
respective phase voltage.
3. The angle between the line currents and
corresponding line voltages is 30°+ θ with
current lagging.
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

1. A balanced three-phase load is wye-connected and has an impedance of

Zp=4-j3 ohms per phase. Find the line current if the load is connected
across a 220 volts three-phase source.
● A balanced three-phase load is wye-connected and has an
impedance of Zp=4-j3 ohms per phase. Find the line current
if the load is connected across a 220 volts three-phase
source.
2. A Three phase, three wire, 110∠120 °V, ABC system supplies a delta connection of three equal
impedances of 5∠45° ohms. Determine the line current Ia, Ib and I c and draw the phasor diagram.

SOLUTION
𝑉𝑎𝑏 110∠120°
𝐼𝑎𝑎𝑏 = = = 22∠75°𝐴 𝐵𝑦 𝐾𝐶𝐿
𝑍𝑎𝑏 5∠45°
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑎𝑏 − 𝐼𝑐𝑎
𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑏𝑐 − 𝐼𝑎𝑏
𝑉𝑏𝑐 110∠0°
𝐼𝑏𝑐 = = = 22∠ − 45°𝐴 𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝑐𝑎 − 𝐼𝑏𝑐
𝑍𝑏𝑐 5∠ 45°
𝑉𝑐𝑎 110∠ − 120°
𝐼𝑐𝑎 = =
𝑍𝑐a 5∠45°
𝐼𝑐𝑎 = 22∠ − 165°𝐴
 THREE PHASE AC SYSTEMS
SOLUTION 𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑎𝑏 − 𝐼𝑐𝑎
𝐼𝑎 = 22∠75° − 22∠ − 165°
𝐵𝑦 𝐾𝐶𝐿 𝐼𝑎 = 38.1∠45°
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑎𝑏 − 𝐼𝑐𝑎
𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑏 𝑐 − 𝐼 𝑎 𝑏
𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑏𝑐 − 𝐼𝑎𝑏
𝐼𝑏 = 38.1∠ − 75°
𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝑐 𝑎 − 𝐼𝑏 𝑐
𝐼𝑏 = 22∠ − 45° − 22∠75°
𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝑐𝑎 − 𝐼𝑏𝑐
𝐼𝑐 = 22∠ − 165° − 22∠ − 45°
𝐼𝑐 = 38.1∠165°
3. A 3 phase motor is rated 400 hp, 4600V, 0.87 pf and eff of 89% . Solve for the
rated current. What is the equivalent impe of the motor if it is connected in
a. delta b. wye
4. A 200 v, 3 phase source is supplied to a balanced delta connected load of Z=10+j12 ohms
Find
a. the phasor current in each line
b. the power connected in each phase
c. the phasor sum of the three line currents
THANK YOU !
TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY !