Chapter 12

Three-Phase Circuit

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Three-Phase Circuits
Chapter 12
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5
12.6

What is a Three-Phase Circuit?

Balanced Three-Phase Voltages
Balanced Three-Phase Connection
Power in a Balanced System
Unbalanced Three-Phase Systems
Application Residential Wiring

 Structure of Power System

Energy
Source
Fossil
Fuel

Power Plant

Ther
mal

Mecha
nical

Electri
cal

Mecha
nical

Electri
cal

Mecha
nical

Electri
cal

Substation

Hydro
Power

Atom
Fuel

Ther
mal

Prime Mover

Transf
ormati
on
Transf
ormer

Power
Transmission
Line

High
Voltage
Transmis
sion

Power
Distribution
Line

Substation

Netwo
rk

Trans
format
ion
Transf
ormer

Distribu
tion
Station

Transformer
for Distribution

Small
Consu
mption

Transf
ormati
on

Ho
me

Small
Consu
mer

Generator
Large

Fac
tory

Consu
mer

: 10~20kV

: 154, 66kV

: 380V

: 154, 345, 765kV

: 6.6, 11.4, 22.9kV

: 120/220V

Motor
Heater
Light
and Etc.

L
O
A
D

12.1 What is a Three-Phase Circuit?

Single Phase vs. Three Phase
a

a
n

magneto

Vp0
a

Vpf

Vp-120
ZL

Vp+120

ZL

ZL

ZL

12.1 What is a Three-Phase Circuit?

It is a system produced by a generator consisting of

three sources having the same amplitude and
frequency but out of phase with each other by 120.

Three sources
with 120 out
of phase

Four wired
system

neutral line

12.1 What is a Three-Phase Circuit?

Advantages:
1. Most of the electric power is generated and
distributed in three-phase.
2. The instantaneous power in a three-phase system
can be constant.
3. The amount of power of the three-phase system
is more economical than that of the single-phase.
4. In fact, the amount of wire required for a threephase system is less than that required for an
equivalent single-phase system.

12.2 Balanced Three-Phase Voltages

Balanced three-phase voltages are defined as the voltages

equal in magnitude and are out of phase with each other by
120 o.
Sinusoidal form of the balanced three-phase voltages

12.2 Balanced Three-Phase Voltages

Two possible configurations:

Three-phase voltage sources:

(a) Y-connected configuration; (b) -connected configuration

12.2 Balanced Three-Phase Voltages

Three-phase voltage configuration has two possible combinations
with different phase sequence.
abc or positive sequence
(clockwise direction)

acb or negative sequence

(counterclockwise direction)

effective or rms

Van V p 0 V

Van V p 0 V

Vcn V p - 120 V

Vbn V p - 120 V
Vcn V p - 240 V V p 120 V
Van leads Vbn , which in turn leads Vcn

In both cases,

van + vbn + vcn 0

van vbn vcn

Vbn V p - 240 V V p 120 V

Van leads Vcn , which in turn leads Vbn
9

12.2 Balanced Three-Phase Voltages

Balanced phase voltages are equal in

magnitude and are out of phase with each other
by 120.

The phase sequence is the time order in which

the voltages pass through their respective
maximum values.

Graph in the time domain for the positive sequence

10

12.2 Balanced Three-Phase Voltages

Example 1
Determine the phase sequence of the
set of voltages.

van 200 cos(t + 10)

vbn 200 cos(t - 230)
vcn 200 cos(t - 110)
11

12.2 Balanced Three-Phase Voltages

Solution:
The voltages can be expressed in phasor form
as

Van 20010 V
Vbn 200 - 230 V
Vcn 200 - 110 V
We notice that Van leads Vcn by 120 and Vcn in
turn leads Vbn by 120.
Hence, we have an acb (negative) sequence.
12

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

Balanced Load Configuration
a
b

a
Zc

Z2

Zb

Z1
Z3

b
Za
c

Y connected Load

D connected Load

- A balanced load is one that in which the phase impedance are equal in
magnitude and phase.

ZY Z1 Z2 Z3 , ZD = Z a Zb Zc
- Y-connected Load can be interchangeable with D connected load each other.

1
Z D 3ZY , ZY Z D ,
3

13

Delta-Y Conversion
Similarly

Rbc = Rb + Rc

R3 ( R1 + R2 )
(2)
R1 + R2 + R3

Rca = Rc + Ra

R1 ( R2 + R3 )
R1 + R2 + R3

(3)

From (1), (2), (3)

Delta to Y
Y to Delta

Delta to Y
conversion

Ra

R1 R2
(4)
R1 + R2 + R3

R2 R3
Rb
(5)
R1 + R2 + R3
Rc

R3 R1
(6)
R1 + R2 + R3

Y to Delta

R1

Ra Rb + Rb Rc + Rc Ra
Rb

R2

Ra Rb + Rb Rc + Rc Ra
Rc

R3

Ra Rb + Rb Rc + Rc Ra
14
Ra

conversion

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

Four possible connections

1. Y-Y connection (Y-connected source with a

Y-connected load)
2. Y- connection (Y-connected source with a
-connected load)
3. - connection

4. -Y connection

15

 Three Line (Wire) System

Three Phase
Signal Source

Three Phase
Load

Ia

Ib

Ic

Ia

I L I a , Ib , I c

- Line Voltage

- Phase Current

I P1 I AN , I BN , I CN Y-connected

IAB
ZY

IAN
N

ZY

ZD

Ic

ICA

Ib
B

IBN

ICN

Ic

I P 2 I AB , I BC , I CA -connected

ZD

ZY

Ib

wrt the
interconnection

vL vab , vbc , vca

Ia

- Line Current

IBC

In Y-connected system
phase current = line current
phase voltage line voltage

ZD

- Phase Voltage

vL1 vAN , vAN , vCN Y-connected

vL 2 vAB , vBC , vCA -connected

In -connected system
phase current line current
phase voltage = line voltage

Need to find phase (line) current & phase (line) voltage

16

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

A balanced Y-Y system is a three-phase system with a balanced yconnected source and a balanced y-connected load.
balanced three-phase
voltages

Assuming positive sequence,

balanced loads

Van V p 0 V

phase voltages

Vbn V p - 120 V
Vcn V p 120 V
The line - to - line voltages or line voltages
Vab , Vbc , and Vca are
Vab Van - Vbn V p 0 - V p - 120
1
3
3V p 30
V p 1 + + j
2
2
similarly,
Vbc Vbn - Vcn 3V p - 90
Vca Vcn - Van 3V p - 210

VL 3V p , where
phase voltage magnitude

V p Van Vbn Vcn

line voltage magnitude

VL Vab Vbc Vca

17

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

Phasor diagram illustrating the relationship between line and phase voltages in
a balanced Y-Y system.

Van V p 0 V
Vbn V p - 120 V
Vcn V p 120 V
The line - to - line voltages or line voltages
Vab , Vbc , and Vca are
Vab Van - Vbn V p 0 - V p - 120

Vca

Vab

Vcn

1
3
3V p 30
V p 1 + + j

2
2

similarly,

Van

Line voltage:
abc sequence

Vbc Vbn - Vcn 3V p - 90

Vca Vcn - Van 3V p - 210

Vbn

Vbc

The line voltages lead their corresponding phase voltage by 30o.

18

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

- Find line currents, which are phase currents in Y-configuration

by KVL

Applying KVL to each phase,

we obtain line currents

Ia

Van
ZY

Vbn Van - 120 o

Ib

I a - 120o
ZY
ZY
Vcn Van - 240o
Ic

I a - 240o
ZY
ZY
Ic + Ic + Ic 0

I n -I c + I c + I c 0
or

Line current:
abc sequence

VnN Z n I n 0

The voltage across the neutral line is zero, so the neutral line can be removed
without affecting the system.

- Only three wires are needed in the balanced three phase system

19

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

An alternative way of analyzing a balanced Y-Y system is to do so on
a per phase basis.

Van
Ia
ZY

From Ia, we use the phase sequence to obtain other line currents. Thus, as long
as the system is balanced Y-Y connected, we need only analyze one phase.
20

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

Example 2
Calculate the line currents in the three-wire Y-Y
system shown below:
line impedance

Balanced Y-Y system ? OK. Then,

load impedance

Ia

Van
ZY

Z Y 5 - j 2 + 10 + j8 15 + j 6 16.15521.8o
1100o
Ia
6.81 - 21.8o A
o
16.15521.8
Ib I a - 120o 6.81 - 141.8o A
I c I a - 240o 6.81 - 261.8o 6.8198.2o A

21

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

A balanced Y- system is a three-phase system with a balanced
y-connected source and a balanced -connected load.
Assuming positive (abc) sequence,

Van V p 0 V
Vbn V p - 120 V
Vcn V p 120 V
The line - to - line voltages or line voltages
VAB , VBC , and VCA are
VAB Vab Van - Vbn V p 0 - V p - 120
1
3
3V p 30
V p 1 + + j

2
2

similarly,

The voltage part

is the same
as the Y-Y system

VBC Vbc Vbn - Vcn 3V p - 90

VCA Vca Vcn - Van 3V p - 210
The line voltages are equal to the phase
voltages across the connected load
impedances

I AB

V
V
VAB
, I BC BC , I CA CA
ZD
ZD
ZD

( phase currents
22 )

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

The line currents are obtained from the phase currents.

I a I AB - I CA, Ib I BC - I AB , I c ICA - I BC ,
abc

I AB I m 0 , I BC I AB - 120 , I CA I AB - 240 sequence

Since I CA I AB - 240
I a I AB - I CA I AB 10 - 1 - 240

I AB 1 + 0.5 - j 0.866 I AB 3 - 30
similarly , Ib I BC 3 - 30, I c ICA 3 - 30

Phasor diagram illustrating the

relationship between phase
and line currents in delta
connection.

I L 3I p , where
I L I a Ib Ic

line current

I p I AB I BC ICA

phase current

An alternative way of analyzing the Y- circuit is to

transform the connected load to an equivalent Y
connected load. Using Y- transformation formula
Each line current lags the
corresponding phase
current by 30o.

ZY

ZD
3

23

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

Example 3
A balanced abc-sequence Y-connected source with
( Van 10010 ) is connected to a -connected load (8+j4)
per phase. Calculate the phase and line currents.
Solution
Using single-phase analysis,

Ia

Van
10010

33.54 - 16.57 A
ZD / 3 2.98126.57

Other line currents are obtained using the abc phase

sequence

Ib I a - 120 33.54 - 136.57 A

I c I a + 120 33.54103.43 A

I a I AB 3 - 30

24

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

A balanced - system is a three-phase system with a
balanced -connected source and a balanced -connected
load.
Assuming positive sequence,

Vab V p 0 V
Vbc V p - 120 V
Vca V p 120 V

Hence, the phase currents are

In this configuration, line voltages are same as
phase voltages.

I AB

VAB Vab

,
ZD
ZD

If there is no line impedance, the phase voltages

of the delta-connected source are equal to the
voltages across the impedances;

I BC

VBC Vbc

,
ZD
ZD

I CA

VCA Vca

ZD
ZD

Vab VAB , Vbc VBC , Vca VCA

25

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

A balanced - system is a three-phase system with a balanced connected source and a balanced -connected load.
The line currents are obtained from the phase currents by
applying KCL. (same w/ balanced Y- system)

I a I AB - I CA, I b I BC - I AB , I c I CA - I BC ,
Since I CA I AB - 240

I a I AB - I CA I AB 10 - 1 - 240
Phasor diagram illustrating the
relationship between phase
and line currents.
Each line current lags the
corresponding phase
current by 30o.

I AB 1 + 0.5 - j 0.866 I AB 3 - 30
similarly , I b I BC 3 - 30, I c I CA 3 - 30
I L 3I p , where
I L I a Ib Ic

Each line current lags the

corresponding phase current
by 30o.

I p I AB I BC ICA
An alternative way of analyzing the - circuit is to convert both the source and the load to their Y equivalents.
26
ZD
see the next section.

ZY

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

A balanced - system is a three-phase system with a balanced connected source and a balanced -connected load.
The line currents are obtained from the phase currents by
applying KCL. (same w/ balanced Y- system)

I a I AB - I CA, I b I BC - I AB , I c I CA - I BC ,
Since I CA I AB - 240

I a I AB - I CA I AB 10 - 1 - 240
Phasor diagram illustrating the
relationship between phase
and line currents.
Each line current lags the
corresponding phase
current by 30o.

I AB 1 + 0.5 - j 0.866 I AB 3 - 30
similarly , I b I BC 3 - 30, I c I CA 3 - 30
I L 3I p , where
I L I a Ib Ic

Each line current lags the

corresponding phase current
by 30o.

I p I AB I BC ICA
An alternative way of analyzing the - circuit is to convert both the source and the load to their Y equivalents.
27
ZD
see the next section.

ZY

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

A balanced -Y system is a three-phase system with a
balanced -connected source and a balanced Yconnected load.
Assuming positive sequence,
Vab Vp 0 V, Vbc Vp - 120 V, Vca Vp 120 V
These are also the line voltages and phase voltages.
We can obtain the line currents in many ways.
Method1.
Apply KVL to loop aANBba, writing

- Vab + ZY I a - ZY I b 0 or
ZY I a - I b Vab V p 0 I a - I b
o

o
Since, I b I a - 120

1
3
I a - I b I a 1 - 1 - 120o I a 1 + + j
I a 330o

2
2

Ia

V p 0o
ZY

in abc sequence,

/ 3 - 30o
ZY

, I b I a - 120o , I c I a 120o

12.3 Balanced Three-Phase Connection

Balanced -Y system

Method2.
To replace the delta-connected source with its equivalent Yconnected source.

Vab Vp 0 V

Van

Vp
3

- 30

Recalling
Line voltages of a Y-connected source lead their corresponding
phase voltage by 30o. Therefore, we obtain each phase voltage of
the equivalent Y-connected source by 3 and shifting its phase -30o.

Vab Vp 0 V, Vbc Vp - 120 V, Vca Vp 120 V

positive
sequence

Van

Vp
3

- 30 , Vbn

Vp
3

- 150, Vcn

single phase equivalent circuit

Ia

Vp
3

/ 3 - 30
ZY

+ 90

Same result
from the KVL
method

12.4 Power in a Balanced System

Lets examine the instantaneous power observed by the load.

In the time domain, for a Y-connected load, the phase voltages are

v AN 2Vp cos t , vBN 2Vp cos t - 120o , vCN 2Vp cos t + 120o

necessary because Vp has been defined as the rms value of the phase voltage.

If ZY Z ,

ia 2I p cost - , ib 2I p cos t - - 120o , ic 2 I p cos t - + 120o

The total instantaneous power in the load is the sum of the instantaneous powers in the three phases

p pa + pb + pc v AN ia + vBN ib + vCN ic

2V p I p cos t cost - + cos t - 120o cos t - - 120o + cos t + 120o cos t - + 120o

Applying the trigonometric identity

cos A cos B

1
cos A + B + cos A - B
2

30

12.4 Power in a Balanced System

Lets examine the instantaneous power observed by the load.

p V p I p 3 cos + cos 2t - + cos 2t - - 240o + cos 2t - + 240o

V p I p 3 cos + cos + cos cos 240o + sin sin 240o + cos cos 240o - sin sin 240o

( where 2t - )

1
V p I p 3 cos + cos + 2 - cos 3V p I p cos
2

Total instantaneous power in a balanced three-phase system is constant !

The average power per phase Pp for either Y-connected or -connected load is p/3 or Pp
and the reactive power per phase is
The apparent power per phase is
The total average/reactive power:

V p I p cos

Qp V p I p sin

S p Vp I p

, the complex power per phase is

S p Pp + jQ p Vp I*p

phase voltage and phase current, respectively.

P Pa + Pb + Pc 3Pp 3V p I p cos 3VL I L cos , Q 3V p I p sin 3Q p 3VL I L sin

(Y - connected load : I L I p but VL 3V p , D - connected load : I L 3I p but VL V p )
The complex power:

S 3S p 3Vp I*p 3I 2p Z p P + jQ 3VL I L

31

12.5 Unbalanced Three-Phase Systems

An unbalanced system is due to unbalanced voltage sources or an

unbalanced load.
(1) The source voltages are not equal in magnitude and/or differ in phase by angles are unequal, or (2)
load impedances are unequal.

Unbalanced three-phase Y-connected load

Ia

VAN
V
V
, Ib BN , I c CN ,
ZA
ZB
ZC

Neutral line can not be removed.

I n -( I a + I b + I c ) 0

To calculate power in an unbalanced three-phase system requires that we find the

power in each phase.

The total power is not simply three times the power in one phase but the sum of
32
the powers in the three phases.

12.5 Unbalanced Three-Phase Systems

Example 7
Consider the - system shown below. Take Z1=8+6j ,
Z2=4.2-2.2j , Z3=10+0j . (a) Find the phase current IAB, IBC,
and ICA. (b) Calculate the line currents IaA, IbB, and IcC.

33

Problems
12.8

12.10
12.13
12.18

12.21
12.25
12.31

12.40
12.42
12.54
34