Lecture 7 and 8 (Polyphase Circuits)

Three-Phase Circuits
Our discussion on polyphase circuits will be confined to 3-phase circuits only. Three-
phase systems are either configured in star or delta. In balanced star or delta connected system,
the currents and voltages are out of phase by 120°. However, irrespective whether loads are
unbalanced the supply voltages are considered balance with phase difference between them of
120°. In practice the transmission system is always 3-phase, whereas the distribution system can
be either single-phase or 3-phase. In Pakistan the distribution system comprising of primary (HT)
is based on 11kV and is delta connected, whereas the secondary (LT) is star 4-wire 380/ 230
volts system with three phases and a common neutral. It must be remembered that the 380 volts
is the line voltage and 230 volts (actually, 220 – 230 volts) is the line to neutral (phase) voltage
value. The 3-phase system comprise of two set of voltages; line and phase. Each set comprise of
three voltages. The line voltages are between any two line terminals, and the phase voltages are
between line terminal and a common terminal. However, in 3-phase system, there are two basic
configurations, namely; star (Y) and delta (Δ). In star the line and phase voltages are different
whereas in delta they are the same. On the other hand the phase and line currents are same in star
whereas they are different in delta configuration.

Line voltage: Measured between any two line terminals with a system containing a, b and c
terminals.

Line current: The current that flows in the line connecting the load system and the supply.

Phase voltage: Measured across an individual load irrespective of whether connected in delta or
star.

Phase current: The current that flows in the individual load irrespective of whether connected in
star or delta.

Load: Load is either specified by impedance or may be in terms of its power ratings; real power
(W) reactive power (VAR) or apparent power (VA).

The Delta System

The delta connected loads are shown in Figure (1) in a 3-phase, 3-wire system. The loads
are in the form of impedances and termed as Zab, Zbc and Zca, connected respectively between
terminals ab, bc and ca. The line and phase voltages are the same in delta configuration whereas
the line and phase currents differ. The relation between line current IL and phase current Ip is:

IL
Ip  1
3

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 Figure (1)

The line currents are Ia, Ib and Ic. The phase currents are Iab, Ibc and Ica. The line and phase
voltages are the same and are Vab, Vbc and Vca

The Star System:

The star connected loads are shown in Figure (2) in a commonly used 3-phase, 4-wire
configuration in electrical distribution system. The loads are in the form of impedances and
termed as Za, Zb and Zc, connected respectively between terminals a, b and c with common
neutral n. The line and phase currents are the same in star configuration whereas the line and
phase voltages are different. The relationship between line voltage VL and phase voltage Vp is:

VL
Vp  2
3

Figure (2)

The line voltages are Vab, Vbc and Vca. The phase voltages are Van, Vbn and Vcn. The line and
phase currents are the same and are Ia, Ib and Ic.

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Phase Sequence:

Phase sequence is referred to the voltage or current phasor sequence when rotated in counter
clockwise direction (CCW) past an observation point. Generally phase sequence is determined
from the voltage phasors (line voltages). Phase sequence is formed from the combination of a, b
and c with one of the line voltages as reference (with zero phase angle). The stepwise procedure
is as follows, for example, when computing phase angles of the remaining voltages for sequence
acb, with Vab as reference.

Step 1: Draw a straight horizontal line ab with arrow pointing from left to right as shown below.
This represents the voltage Vab.

Step 2: Place the missing point c either on top of the line or below the line in step 1 to complete
an equilateral triangle; either upright or inverted as shown below:

Step 3: Now imagine the inverted triangle rotating in CCW past a point P, in which case a will
pass first, followed by c and then b, which makes a sequence acb (correct). Now consider the
upright triangle in the same way, rotating CCW past P. The sequence will be that a, followed by
b and then c, resulting in sequence abc (wrong). Thus the inverted triangle qualifies for the phase
sequence formation. Mark the arrows in the remaining sides, which should be “running arrows”.

Step 4: Determine the angles of other voltages from the triangle that qualifies that passes the
sequence as desired. Extend projections horizontally from point a and c as illustrated below and
determine the angle of other voltages.

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In this case the voltages Vbc and Vca have phase angles of 120 and 240 respectively. In most
books on circuits, the 240 is considered as –120. We will also follow the same rule. This applies
to a delta acb system.

Line and Phase Voltages: Vab0 Vbc120 Vca  120

In the case of star configured system, there are phase voltages (line to neutral) in addition to line
voltages, the angles are determined as illustrated in the figure below for phase sequence acb:

Thus the voltages are:

Line Voltages: Vab0 Vbc120 Vca  120

Phase Voltages: Van30 Vbn150 Vcn  90

Example 1: Delta connected loads as shown in Figure (1) are connected to 3-phase, 400 volts
supply system with acb phase sequence and Vab as reference. The Loads are: Zab = 10Ω, Zbc =
10 + j20 and Zca = 10 – j10. Find the line and phase currents and the power consumed by each
load, the reactive power in each load and the overall power factor of the system.

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Solution: It must be remembered that the voltage given in question on 3-phase circuits, is always
line to line voltage (unless otherwise stated to be the phase voltage). We will go step by step as
follows:

Step 1: List the line and phase voltages with magnitude and angles according to the given phase
sequence and reference voltage in question. We have already obtained the angles of voltages
according to the given phase sequence in question as illustrated in one of the previous sections.
In delta system, the line and phase voltages are the same: therefore the line and phase voltages
are as follows:

Line Voltages (volts): Vab  4000 Vbc  400120 Vca  400  120

Phase Voltages (volts): Vab  4000 Vbc  400120 Vca  400  120

Step 2: The phase current must be found first, which are: Iab, Ibc and Ica. This is accomplished
by using simple Ohms law. Thus:

Vab 4000
Iab    400 A
Zab 10

Vbc 400120 400120

Vca 400  120 400  120

Step 3: The line currents can now be determined by applying KCL at nodes a, b and c in the
circuit of Figure (1) as follows:

Node a: Ia  Ica  Iab

Or Ia  Iab  Ica  400  28.28  75  32.68  j27.31  42.5839.88 A

Node b: Ib  Iab  Ibc

Or Ib  Ibc  Iab  17.8856.57  400  30.15  j14.92  33.63153.67 A

Node c: Ic  Ibc  Ica

Or Ic  Ica  Ibc  28.28  75 17.8856.57  2.53 j42.23  42.3  93.43 A

Step 4: The power dissipated in each load can be calculated by considering the basic definition
of power loss: I2R or square of current magnitude multiplied by the real part of the load
impedance.

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Therefore the power consumed by the load Zab is:

Pab  Iab 2 (10)  (40) 2 10  16000 Watts or 16kW

Power consumed by the load Zbc is:

Pbc  Ibc 2 (10)  (17.88) 210  3197 Watts or 3.197 kW

Power consumed by the load Zca is:

Pca  Ica 2 (10)  (28.28) 210  7997 Watts or 7.997 kW

Step 5: The reactive power can be calculated using the definition: I2 (imaginary part of load
impedance). Therefore:

Reactive Power content of load Zab is:

Qab  Iab 2 (0)  0

Reactive Power content of load Zbc is:

Qbc  Ibc 2 ( j 20)  (17.88) 2 ( j 20)  j 6394 VAR or 6.394 kVAR (inductive)

Reactive Power content of load Zca is:

Qca  Ica 2 ( j10)  (28.28) 2 ( j10)   j 7997 VAR or 7.997 kVAR (capacitive)

Step 6: The overall power factor can now be determined as follows:

Σ P = 16 + 3.197 + 7.997 = 27.194 kW

And Σ Q = 0 + j6.394 – j7.997 = –j1.603 = 1.603 kVAR (leading or capacitive)

Remember: The sum of real powers is a straight arithmetical sum whereas the sum of reactive
power is phasor sum. +j is imparted with inductive VARS and –j is imparted with capacitive
VARS. If the resultant sum is with +j, then the resultant VARS are lagging otherwise they are
leading. The leading or lagging nature of power factor is governed by the nature (leading or
lagging of the resultant VARS.

Power factor angle is:

 Q 
  tan 1    tan 1  1.603   3.37
 P 
  27.194 

Power factor: cos  cos(3.37)  0.998 (leading)

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Example 2: Loads connected in a star 4-wire system as shown in Figure (2) are connected to 3-
phase, 400 volts supply system with acb phase sequence and Vab as reference. The Loads are: Za
= 10Ω, Zb = 10 + j20 and Zc = 10 – j10. Find the line and phase currents, neutral current, power
consumed by each load, the reactive power in each load and the overall power factor of the
system.

Solution: It must be remembered that the voltage given in question on 3-phase circuits, is always
line to line voltage (unless otherwise stated to be the phase voltage). We will go step by step as
follows:

Step 1: List the line and phase voltages with magnitude and angles according to the given phase
sequence and reference voltage in question. We have already obtained the angles of voltages
according to the given phase sequence in question as illustrated in one of the previous sections.
In star, 4-wire system, the line and phase voltages are different (phase voltage magnitude is
obtained by dividing the line voltage by 3 or 1.732). Therefore the line and phase voltages are
as follows:

Line Voltages (volts): Vab  4000 Vbc  400120 Vca  400  120

Phase Voltages (volts): Van  23030 Vbn  230150 Vcn  230  90

Step 2: The phase and line current are the same and must be found first, which are: Ia, Ib and Ic.
This is accomplished by using simple Ohms law. Thus:

Van 23030
Ia    2330 A
Za 10

Vbn 230150 230150

Vcn 230  90 230  90

Step 3: The current in the neutral wire is:

In  (Ia  Ib  Ic)  (2330  10.2886.57  16.25  45)

Or In  (19.91 j11.5  0.61 j10.26  11.5  j11.5)

Or In  (32.02  j10.26)  32.02  j10.26  33.6317.76 A

Step 4: The power dissipated in each load can be calculated by considering the basic definition
of power loss: I2R or square of current magnitude multiplied by the real part of the load
impedance.

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Therefore the power consumed by the load Za is:

Pa  Ia 2 (10)  (23) 2 10  5290 Watts or 5.29kW

Power consumed by the load Zb is:

Pb  Ib 2 (10)  (10.28) 2 10  1057 Watts or 1.057 kW

Power consumed by the load Zc is:

Pc  Ic 2 (10)  (16.25) 2 10  2640 Watts or 2.64 kW

Step 5: The reactive power can be calculated using the definition: I2(imaginary part of load
impedance). Therefore:

Reactive Power content of load Za is:

Qa  Ia 2 (0)  0

Reactive Power content of load Zb is:

Qb  Ib 2 ( j 20)  (10.28) 2 ( j 20)  j 2113 VAR or 2.113 kVAR (inductive)

Reactive Power content of load Zc is:

Qc  Ic 2 ( j10)  (14.14) 2 ( j10)   j1999 VAR or 1.999 kVAR (capacitive)

Step 6: The overall power factor can now be determined as follows:

Σ P = 5.29 + 1.057 + 2.64 = 8.987 kW

And Σ Q = 0 + j2.113 – j1.999 = j0.114 = 0.114 kVAR (lagging or inductive)

Power factor angle is:

 Q 
  tan 1    tan 1  0.114   0.68
 P 
  8.987 

Power factor: cos  cos(0.68)  0.999 (lagging) or almost unity power factor.

Dear students please go through the solutions and correct any calculation mistakes. Good Luck.

Dr. Muhammad Naeem Arbab