ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS-2 (AC)

Polyphase Systems
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12/4/2022 Polyphase Systems Sadia Yasmin: [sadia@aiub.edu]; Room # D0619

Poly means many and phases mean windings or coils so a polyphase alternator or generator has many phases or windings.

Polyphase System: Circuits or systems in which AC sources operate at the same frequency but different phases are
known as polyphase.
A polyphase alternator (synchronous generator) has two or more separate but identical windings (called phases) displaced
from each other by equal electrical angle and acted upon by the common uniform magnetic field.
Three-Phase System
Single-Phase System

The phase difference between two adjacent phases is 120o

The instantaneous equations of induced emfs are given by:

The instantaneous equation of induced

2 emf in the coil is given by:
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Connection of Three Phase System

Y (or STAR or T) Connection ∆ (or MESH or ∏) Connection

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Phase Order or Phase Sequence
The order or sequence in which the voltages in three phases reach their maximum positive values is called phase order
or phase sequence.
There are two-phase order or sequence: abc/bca/cab (positive) sequence and acb/bac/cba (negative) sequence.

abc (Positive) Sequence [a-b-c-a-b-c] acb (Negative) Sequence [a-c-b-a-c-b]

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Importance of Phase Sequence or Phase Order

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 Phase Voltage and Line Voltage Phase Current and Line Current
Phase voltages: Phase voltage refers to the voltage Phase currents: Phase current is referring to the current
measured across any one source winding or load through any one source winding or load impedance in a
impedance in a balanced three-phase source or load. balanced three-phase source or load.
Line voltages: Line voltage refers to the amount of Line currents: Line current is referring to the current
voltage measured between any two line conductors in a through any one line conductor which is connected
poly phase system. between source and load.

For Y: Line voltages  Phase voltages For Y: Line Currents = Phase Currents

For ∆: Line voltages = Phase voltages For ∆: Line Currents  Phase Currents
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Balanced and Unbalanced Source
Condition for Balanced Source:
1. A set of three phase quantities (phase voltages or phase currents or line voltages or line currents), all the same amplitude
and frequency.

2. The three-phase quantities shifted (or displaced) successively by 120o.

According to Condition (1): According to Condition (2):

If both of the above conditions or any one of the conditions is not satisfied, the source is called unbalanced source.

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Line Voltage for Three Phase Y-Connected Source 𝑬𝑨𝑩 = 𝑬𝑨𝑵 + 𝑬𝑵𝑩 = 𝑬𝑨𝑵 + (−𝑬𝑩𝑵 ሻ

ECN

120°

120° EAN
120°

EBN For three-phase Y-connection, the magnitude of line voltage

is 3 time of the magnitude of phase voltage.

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Line Current for Three Phase ∆-Connected

Source

For three-phase  connection,

the magnitude of line current is
3 time of the magnitude of
phase current.

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Power Calculation
The average power delivered to each For Y Connection:
phase can be determined by:

So,

The total power delivered can be Reactive Power :

determined by:

For ∆ Connection: Apparent Power:

𝑰𝑳
𝑽∅ = 𝑬𝑳 and 𝑰∅ =
√3

𝑰𝑳 Power Factor:
𝑷𝑻 = 3𝑷∅ = 3𝑬𝑳 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽𝑽∅,𝑰∅ = √3𝑬𝑳 𝑰𝑳 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽𝑽∅,𝑰∅
√3

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Three Phase Power Measurement
Three-phase power is measure by the following methods: Three Wattmeter Method
In this method three watt meters are in each phase of three-
 One wattmeter method
phase system then take readings of watt meters. The total
 Three wattmeter method power is the summation of three readings.
 Two wattmeter method

One Wattmeter Method

Balanced System: In a balanced system the power is
measured of a phase then the total power is calculated by
multiply 3 with the reading of watt meter.
Unbalanced System: In an unbalanced system first the
power is measured of phase a by connecting wattmeter in
phase a, then open the wattmeter and measure the power of
phase b by connect wattmeter in phase b. Further, the
wattmeter is opened and measure the power of phase c by
connect wattmeter in phase c. Finally, the total power is
calculated by adding the taken three readings of wattmeter.

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Two Wattmeter Method
The power delivered to a three-phase, three-wire, delta- or wye-connected, balanced or unbalanced load can be found using
only two wattmeters if the proper connection is employed and if the wattmeter readings are interpreted properly. The basic
connections of this two-wattmeter method are shown in the following figure.

Two-wattmeter method for a ∆- Alternative hookup for the two-wattmeter

or a Y-connected load method

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With vector diagram show that the power of three phase

system can be measured by using only two watt meters

For Wattmeter, Wa: 𝑽𝑨𝑪 = 𝑽𝑨𝑵 + 𝑽𝑵𝑪

The readings of two watt meters are:

For Wattmeter, Wb:

𝑽𝑩𝑪 = 𝑽𝑩𝑵 + 𝑽𝑵𝑪

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Active Power using Two Phase Wattmeter Reactive Power using Two
Let,
Phase Wattmeter

So,
The total power is the
algebraic sum of the
readings of two watt meters
under any conditions of wave
Therefore, form or power factor.

Since,
It is clear from above equation that the
three-phase power can be measured by
using only two watt meters. So,

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Advantages of Two Wattmeter Method

1. The method is applicable for balanced as well as unbalanced loads.
2. Neutral point for star connected load is not necessary to connect the wattmeters.
3. The delta connected load, need not be opened for connecting the wattmeters.

4. Only two wattmeters are sufficient to measure total three-phase power.

5. If the load is balanced not only the power but power factor also can be determined.
6. Total reactive power can be obtained using two wattmeter reading for balanced loads.

Disadvantages of Two Wattmeter Method

1. Not applicable for three-phase four-wire system.
2. The sign of wattmeters must be identified and noted down correctly otherwise it may lead to the wrong results.

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 REFERENCES

[1] Chapter V, Russell M Kerchner, George F Corcoran,

Alternating-Current Circuits, Fourth Edition

[2] PROFESSOR DR. ABDUL MANNAN SIR’S SLIDE

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