LECTURE 14. 3 PHASE CIRCUITS. 3 PHASE ALTERNATOR.

STAR
CONNECTION. BALANCED SOURCE. BALANCED LOAD. VOLTAGE AND
CURRENTS IN BALANCED AND UNBALANCED SUPPLY SYSTEMS.
Three phase circuits
Basic concepts
Although several polyphase systems are possible, the 3-phase system is by far
the most popular because it is the most efficient of all the supply systems.
Fig. 15.1 (iii) shows an elementary 3-phase alternator.

It has three identical windings or coils A, B and C displaced 120 electrical degrees
from each other and rotating in anticlockwise direction with an angular velocity w
in the 2-pole field. Note that the corresponding terminals a1, b1 and c1 are 120°
apart. Likewise the terminals a2, b2 and c2 are 120 electrical degrees apart. Since
the three coils are identical and have the same angular velocity, the e.m.f.s induced
in them will be of the same magnitude and frequency.
However, the three e.m.f.s will be displaced from one another by 120°. Note that
e.m.f. in coil B will be 120° behind that of coil A and the e.m.f. in coil C will be
240° behind that of coil A. This is shown in the wave diagram in Fig. 15.1(iii). The
equations of the three e.m.f.s can be represented as :

The following are the advantages of 3-phase system over the single phase system :
1. Constant power. In a single-phase circuit, the instantaneous power varies
sinusoidally from zero to a peak value at twice the supply frequency. This
pulsating nature of power is objectionable for many applications.
However, in a balanced 3-phase system, the power supplied at all instants of time
is constant.
2. Greater output. The output of a 3-phase machine is greater than that of a single-
phase machine for a given volume and weight of the machine. In other words, a 3-
phase machine is smaller than a single-phase machine of the same rating.
3. Cheaper. The three-phase motors are much smaller and less expensive than
single-phase motors because less material (copper, iron, insulation) is required.
4. Power transmission economics. Transmission of electric power by 3-phase
system is cheaper than that of single-phase system, even though three conductors
are required instead of two. For example, to transmit the same amount of power
over a fixed distance at a given voltage, the 3-phase system requires only 3/4th the
weight of copper than that required by the single-phase system. This means a
saving in the number and strength of transmission towers.

Elementary Three-Phase Alternator

In an actual 3-phase alternator, the three windings or coils are stationary and the
field rotates.
Fig. 15.2 (i) shows an elementary 3-phase alternator.

The three identical coils A, B and C are symmetrically placed in such a way that
e.m.f.s induced in them are displaced 120 electrical degrees from one another.
Since the coils are identical and are subjected to the same uniform rotating field,
the e.m.f.s induced in them will be of the same magnitude and frequency. Fig. 15.2
(ii) shows the wave diagram of the three e.m.f.s whereas Fig.15.2 (iii) shows the
phasor diagram. Note that r.m.s. values have been used in drawing the phasor
diagram. Thus EA is the r.m.s. value of the e.m.f. induced in coil A. The equations
of the three e.m.f.s are :

The order in which the voltages in the three phases (or coils) of an alternator reach
their maximum positive values is called phase sequence or phase order.
The phase sequence is determined by the direction of rotation of the alternator.
Thus in
Fig. 15.2 (i), the three coils A, B and C are producing voltages that are displaced
120
electrical degrees from one another. Referring to the wave diagram or phasor
diagram in Fig. 15.2, it is easy to see that voltage in coil A attains maximum
positive value first, next coil B and then coil C. Hence the phase sequence is ABC.

Interconnection of Three Phases

In a 3-phase alternator, there are three windings or phases. Each phase has two
terminals viz. start and finish. If a separate load is connected across each winding
as shown in Fig. 15.4, 6 conductors are required to transmit power. This will make
the whole system complicated and expensive. In practice, the three windings are
interconnected to give rise to two methods of connections.
(i) Star or Wye (Y) connection
(ii) Mesh or Delta (D) connection
While dealing with 3-phase circuits, it is very essential that the reader has clear
understanding about the following terms :
1. Balanced 3-phase supply system. A balanced 3-phase supply system (star or
delta connected) is one in which the three phase voltages are equal in magnitude
and frequency but displaced 120° from one another. The same is true with regard
to line voltages. In this chapter, we shall deal with balanced 3-phase supply system
only. Therefore, the “wordings” 3-phase supply, 3-phase voltages etc. mean
balanced 3-phase supply. In fact, all electric supply companies make efforts to
ensure the availability of 3-phase balanced supply at all times.
2. Types of 3-phase loads. There are two types of 3-phase loads viz (i) star-
connected load (ii) delta-connected load as shown in Fig. 15.8. The 3-phase load
(star or delta connected) is said to be balanced if load in each phase is the same
(i.e. load in each phase has the same impedance and power factor). If a 3-phase
load (star or delta connected) does not meet any one of the above requirements, it
is said to be unbalanced.
A 3-phase star-connected alternator may be connected to a star-connected or
deltaconnected load. Similarly, a 3-phase delta-connected alternator may be
connected to a starconnected or delta-connected load.
3. Balanced 3-phase system. A balanced 3-phase system is one which meets the
following requirements :
(i) It should have balanced 3-phase supply.
(ii) It should have balanced 3-phase or single phase loads on the balanced 3-phase
supply.
(iii) It should have equal active power and equal reactive power flow in each
phase.

Star or Wye Connected System

In this method, similar ends (start or finish) of the three phases of the alternator are
joined together to form a common junction N as shown in Fig. 15.6. The common
junction N is called the *star point or neutral point.
The three line conductors are run from the three ends (finish ends F in this case)
and are designated as R, Y and B. This constitutes a 3-phase, 3-wire star-connected
system. The voltage between any line and the neutral point (i.e., voltage across
each winding) is called the phase voltage while the voltage between any two lines
is called the line voltage. The currents flowing in the phases are called the phase
currents while those flowing in the lines are called the line currents. Note that the
phase sequence is RYB.
Sometimes, a 4th wire, called neutral wire, is run from the neutral point as shown
in Fig. 15.7. This gives 3-phase, 4-wire star-connected system.

The 3-wire star-connected system is used for balanced loads (i.e. load in each
phase of
the alternator has the same impedance and power factor) because then current in
the neutral conductor is zero and no neutral conductor is required. However, 4-wire
star-connected system is used for unbalanced loads because in that case, neutral
current exists and the neutral conductor provides the return path as shown in Fig.
15.7.
The following points may be noted :
(i) The three phase voltages (i.e. ERN, EYN, and EBN) are equal in magnitude but
displaced 120° from each other. The same is true for line voltages (i.e. VRY, VYB
and VBR). Such a supply system is called balanced supply system.
(ii) It can be shown (See Art. 15.8) that in case of balanced star-connected supply
system, the magnitude of line voltage is 3 times the magnitude of phase voltage i.e.
Line voltage = 3 × Phase voltage ... in magnitude
Thus Y-connected balanced supply system enables us to use two voltages viz.
phase voltage and line voltage.
(iii) In star connection, the lines are in series with their respective phases.
Therefore, magnitude of line current is equal to the magnitude of phase current i.e.
Line current = Phase current ... in magnitude
(iv) For balanced loads, all line currents (or phase currents) are equal in magnitude
but displaced 120° from each other.
(v) For 3-phase, 4-wire star-connected system, the current IN in the neutral wire is
the phasor sum of the three line currents. For a balanced load, IN = 0. If the load is
not balanced, the neutral wire will carry current equal to the phasor sum of the
three line currents.
Voltages and Currents in Balanced Y-Connected Supply System
Fig. 15.9 shows a balanced 3-phase, Y-connected supply system in which the
r.m.s. values of the e.m.f.s generated in the three phases are ERN, EYN and EBN.
Since the supply system is balanced, these e.m.f.s will be equal in magnitude (say
each equal to Eph, the phase voltage) but displaced 120° from one another as
shown in the phasor diagram in Fig. 15.10. It is clear from the circuit diagram (See
Fig. 15.9) that p.d. between any two line terminals (i.e. line voltage) is the phasor
difference between the potentials of these two terminals w.r.t. the neutral i.e.
Relation between line voltage and phase voltage. Considering the lines R and Y,
the line voltage VRY is equal to the phasor difference of ERN and EYN. To
subtract EYN from ERN, reverse the phasor EYN and find its phasor sum with
ERN as shown in the phasor diagram in Fig. 15.10. The two phasors ERN and –
EYN are equal in magnitude (= Eph) and are 60° apart.

By geometrical method. We have used graphical method and phasor algebra to

prove the relation: VL = 3 Eph . The same result can also be obtained by
geometrical method as shown in Fig. 15.11. The distance of the neutral N to any
line R, Y or B represents the phase voltage Eph.
The triangle RYB will be an equilateral triangle with N at the centre of the triangle.
The sides of this triangle represent the three line voltages. It is clear that if we
produce RN, it will bisect the 120° angle as well as the base BY.
Hence in a balanced 3-phase Y-connected supply system :
(i) Line voltage, VL = 3Eph ... in magnitude
(ii) All line voltages are equal in magnitude (i.e. = 3Eph ) but displaced 120° from
one
another (See phasor diagram in Fig. 15.10).
(iii) Line voltages are 30° ahead of their respective phase voltages.
2. Relation between line current and phase current. In Y-connected supply system,
each line conductor is connected in series to a separate phase as shown in Fig.
15.12. Therefore, current in a line conductor is the same as that in the phase to
which the line conductor is connected.
For a balanced load, all the phase currents are equal in magnitude but displaced
120° from one another. Fig. 15.13 shows the phasor diagram for a balanced
lagging load ; the phase angle being φ.
Note that φ is the angle between phase voltage and the corresponding phase
current. However, the angle between the line current and the corresponding line
voltage (say IR and VRY) is 30° + φ. If the balanced load has a leading power
factor of cos φ, then the angle between the line current and the corresponding line
voltage will be 30° – φ .
Hence in a balanced 3-phase Y-connected supply system :
(i) Line current, IL = Iph
(ii) All the line currents are equal in magnitude (i.e. = Iph) but displaced 120° from
one another.
(iii) The angle between the line currents and the corresponding line voltages is 30°
± φ ; + if p.f. is lagging and – if it is leading.
3. Power. The total power in the circuit is quite logically, the sum of powers in the
three phases. For a balanced load, the power consumed in each load phase is the
same

It may be noted that φ is the phase difference between a phase voltage and the
corresponding phase current and not between the line current and corresponding
line voltage.

The relationship between active power (P), reactive power (Q) and apparent power
(S) is the same for balanced 3-phase circuits as for single-phase circuits
Lets determine currents values in the cases of balanced and unbalanced loads.

Balanced load is one in which the phase impedances are equal in magnitude
and in phase:
Z a  Z b  Z c  Z ph .
In this case:
Va  V A , Vb  VB , Vc  VC .
I A V a / Z a , I B V b / Zb, IC V c / Zc .
I  I B  I C  I ph  I L
The effective values of the currents are also equal: A .
If the load is unbalanced ( Z a  Z b  Z c ) the voltage between the neutral
points of source and consumer appears – V nN (fig.3.3). This voltage is called the
bias neutral and can be calculated by using the method of two nodes:
 V AY a  V B Y b  V C Y c
V nN 
Ya Yb YC ,
where Y a  1 / Z a  I a / U a , Y b  1/ Z b  Ib / U b , Y c  1/ Z c  Ic / U c .
In that case the consumer phase voltages are calculated according to the
following expressions:
V a  V A  V nN , V b  V B  V nN , V c  V C  V nN ,
Phase currents complexes are:
I A V a / Z a , I B V b / Zb, IC V c / Zc .
There is also a neutral wire at three-phase four-wires circuits, which
connects neutral points of source N and consumer n (fig.3.5). In this case V nN  0 .
The following is true according to the Kirchhoff`s first law for node n :
I A  I B  I C  IN .

When the load is balanced ( Z a  Z b  Z c ): I A  I B  I C  0 , I N  0 , V nN  0 .

Therefore, for balanced loads, current in the neutral wire is zero and no neutral
conductor is required, resulting in the saving of conductor material. For this reason,
we use 3-phase, 3-wire star connected system for balanced loads.