Three Phase Circuits

Generation of Three Phase Alternating Voltage

✓ The three sets of coils are mounted within the slots of a
cylindrical structure called armature winding.
✓ Let us assume that armature is now rotating in anticlockwise
direction.
✓ Since the three coils are identical, the maximum values of
induced emf in each coil are same and are expressed as:

Phase Sequence RYB - anticlockwise rotation

Phase Sequence RBY - clockwise rotation
Generation of Three Phase Alternating Voltage
Advantages of Three Phase System over Single Phase System
A three phase system is universally adopted due to following advantages.
✓ The amount of conductor material required is less for three phase system.
✓ Three phase induction motors are self starting while single phase motors are not.
✓ A three phase system can be used for high power transmission using EHV towers.
✓ The voltage regulation and efficiency is better than single phase system.

If three individual loads are connected across three independent phases R, Y and B
with neutral wire as the return path, it needs six conductors for the loads to receive
power. But in three phase system, this can be accomplished by either three or four
wires for balanced and unbalanced loads respectively.
Advantages of Three Phase System over Single Phase System
 Phase Sequence
• By phase sequence is meant the order in which the three
phases attain their peak or maximum values.
• Hence, the order in which the e.m.fs. of phases a, b and c
attain their maximum values is a b c. It is called the phase
order or phase sequence abc → → as illustrated in Fig. 6
(a).
• If, now, the rotation of the field structure is reversed i.e.
made anticlockwise, then the order in which the three
phases would attain their corresponding maximum
voltages would also be reversed as shown in Fig. 6(b).

Fig: 6
 Phase Sequence at Load
• The phase sequence can be reversed by interchanging
any pair of lines.
• In the case of an induction motor, reversal of sequence
results in the reversed direction of motor rotation.
• In the case of 3-phase unbalanced loads, the effect of
sequence reversal is, in general, to cause a completely
different set of values of the currents.
• Hence, when working on such systems, it is essential
that phase sequence be clearly specified otherwise
unnecessary confusion will arise.
• Incidentally, reversing the phase sequence of a 3-phase
generator which is to be paralleled with a similar
generator can cause extensive damage to both the
machines. Fig: 7
 DELTA (Δ) or MESH CONNECTION
• In this connection, the dissimilar ends of the three phase winding are joined together i.e. the
‘starting’ end of one phase is joined to the ‘finishing’ end of the other phase and so on as showing
in Fig. (a).
• In other words, the three windings are joined in series to form a closed mesh as shown in Fig. (b).
• Three leads are taken out from the three junctions as shown and outward directions are taken as
positive.
• It is to be noted that at any instant, the e.m.f. in one phase is equal and opposite to the resultant of
those in the other two phases.
(i) Line Voltages and Phase Voltages
• One phase winding completely included between any pair of terminals.
• In Δ-connection, the voltage between any pair of lines is equal to the phase voltage of
the phase winding connected between the two lines considered.
• Consider the voltage between lines 1 and 2 as VRY and that between lines 2 and 3 as
VYB
• VRY lead VYB by 120°, similarly, VYB leads VBR by 120º.
• Let VRY = VYB = VBR = VL (line voltage)

• In Δ-connection , VL = Vph.
(ii) Line Currents and Phase Currents
• From Fig. (b) current in line No. 1 is found by compounding IR and IB reversed and its value is given by
the diagonal of the parallelogram of Fig. 6. The angle between IR and IB reversed (i.e. – IB) is 60°.
• If IR = IY = phase current Iph (say), then current in line 1 is
I1 = 2  Iph  cos(60 / 2) = 2  I ph 3 / 2 = 3 I ph

• Current in line 2 is I 2 = I B − I Y = 3 I ph
• Current in line 3 is I3 = I Y − I R = 3 I ph
• Since all currents are equal in magnitude I L = 3 I ph

Fig: 6
(iii) Power
With reference to Fig: 6, it should be noted that
• line currents are 120º apart ;
• line currents are 30º behind the respective phase currents ;
• the angle between the line currents and the corresponding
line voltages is (30 + φ ) with the current lagging.

Total power, P = 3Vph Iph cos φ

But, VL = Vph and IL = √3Iph

So, in terms of line values P = √3 VL IL cos φ

Fig: 6
 STAR (Y) CONNECTION
• In this connection, the similar ends of the three phase winding are joined together
• Three conductors meeting at point N are replaced by single conductor known as neutral
conductor.
• The voltage induced in each winding is the phase voltage. This is denoted by ER,EY and EB .
• The voltage available between any pair of terminals is called the line voltage . This is indicated by
VRY,VYB,VBR.
(i) Line Current and Phase Current
• In Fig. , it is seen that each line is in series with the individual phase winding.
• In Y-connection, the line current in each line is the same as the phase winding to
which the line is connected.
• In Y-connection , IL = Iph.
(ii) Line voltage and Phase voltage
• The potential difference between line 1 and 2 is VRY = ER − EY
VRY is found by compounding ER and EY reversed and its value is given by the diagonal of the
parallelogram.
If ER = EY = Vph (say) then,

VRY = 2  Vph  cos(60 / 2) = 2  Vph 3 / 2 = 3 Vph

• Similarly, VYB = E Y − E B = 3 Vph

VBR = E B − E R = 3 Vph
• Since all line voltages are equal

VL = 3 Vph
(iii) Power
With reference to Fig, it should be noted that
• Line voltages are 120º apart ;
• line voltages are 30º ahead the respective phase voltages ;
• the angle between the line voltages and the corresponding
line current is (30 + φ ) with the current lagging.

Total power, P = 3Vph Iph cos φ

But, IL = Iph and VL = √3Vph

So, in terms of line values P = √3 VL IL cos φ

POWER AND POWER FACTOR MEASUREMENT IN

THREE PHASE CIRCUITS

• The various methods employed for the measurement of power in three phase
circuit are:

1. One Wattmeter Method

2. Two Wattmeter Method

3. Three Wattmeter Method

Out of these three method, the most widely used or preferred method is Two
Wattmeter Method since this method gives the measurement of true power
regardless of whether the load is balanced or unbalanced.

In case of unbalanced load, the neutral of load must be isolated from the neutral
of the source.
• Let’s consider a Star Connected Balanced Inductive Load (shown below)
• The three load phase voltages are Van, Vbn and Vcn respectively. Since the
inductive load is considered, so, the corresponding phasor currents Ia , Ib and
Ic are drawn lagging the respective phase voltages by a power factor angle θ.
Let’s draw the phasor diagram:
Since we are considering a balanced load

Ia = Ib = Ic = IL (line current)

And

Vab = Vbc = Vca = VL (line voltage)

Reading of Wattmeter W1 • Reading of Wattmeter W2
Current through its current coil = Ia Current through its current coil = Ib
Potential difference across the voltage Potential difference across the voltage
coil = Vac coil = Vbc
Now, Now,
Vb c = Vbn + Vnc
Vac = Van + Vnc
= Vbn + (− Vcn )
= Van + (− Vcn )

So, reverse phasor Vcn and add to phasor So, reverse phasor Vcn and add to phasor
Van to obtain Vac; this is shown in the Vbn to obtain Vbc; this is shown in the
phasor diagram. phasor diagram.
From the phasor diagram, it is clear From the phasor diagram, it is clear
that – that –
Phase angle between Vac and Ia = (30 – θ) Phase angle between Vac and Ia = (30 + θ)
So, Reading of Wattmeter W1 = So, Reading of Wattmeter W2 =
Vac and Ia cos (30 – θ) Vbc and Ib cos (30 + θ)
So, Reading of Wattmeter W1 = VL IL cos (300 – θ)

And, Reading of Wattmeter W2 = VL IL cos (300 + θ)

Sum of two wattmeter readings:

W1 + W2 =VL IL cos (300 – θ) +VL IL cos (300 + θ)
=VL IL [cos30cosθ + sin30sinθ + cos30cosθ – sin30sinθ]
Effect or Variation of Load Power Factor on Wattmeter Readings
So, Reading of Wattmeter W1 = VL IL cos (300 – θ)

And, Reading of Wattmeter W2 = VL IL cos (300 + θ)

Sum of two wattmeter readings:

W1 + W2 =VL IL cos (300 – θ) +VL IL cos (300 + θ)
=VL IL [cos30cosθ + sin30sinθ + cos30cosθ – sin30sinθ]