Concept of Three Phase

AC power supply is the most common type of electricity supply for houses and commercial buildings. It
enables frequent change of direction in the current. There are two types of power supply systems – single-
phase and three-phase. The primary difference between the single-phase and 3-phase transformer is that
the former is used in homes and residential buildings for low and medium power applications while the
latter is used in factories and commercial buildings for high power applications. Single phase transformers
are used to step
𝑖𝑆 up or step down input voltage. The waveform for secondary voltage is as shown in figure.

The instantaneous secondary voltage is given by, 𝒗𝒔 = 𝑽𝒎 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝝎𝒕

𝑣𝑆
+𝑉𝑚 Waveform of
Single phase
230V/ 𝑣𝑆
𝑣
50Hz 𝑃 𝜔t
𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋

−𝑉𝑚
Single-phase power supply

The most common type of small-scale power supply, single-phase supplies power through one conductor. There is a
simultaneous modification in all the supply voltages. The major benefit of using a single-phase power supply that it
can effectively handle the load of home appliances that have a heat and lightning motor.

In a single-phase electric transformer, there is no rotating magnetic field. It requires an extra circuit for operation. The
direct power doesn’t offer any stability in the single-phase power supply system. It can carry a

voltage of 230V, most common in houses. The design of the power supply is less complex because there is no
magnetic rotation. It also costs less to install but has minimum power transfer capability. The power supply is
excellent to run motors up to 5 horsepower(hp).
Three-phase power supply

The three-phase power supply is mostly used in industrial spaces and factories that have heavy power requirements. It has 4
wires – 3 conductor wires and one neutral wire. The 3 conductors have a 120- degree phase angle from each other.

The major benefit is that for a small-load, 1 phase AC power supply can be used from the 3-phase transformer. It provides a
constant power supply and does not drop to zero value. For the most part, the 3-phase power supply is used in industrial
motors, electric grids, aircraft, data centres, shipboards, and system which have to load more than 1000 watts.

If you want to convert single phase into the three-phase power supply, it doesn’t have to be much hassle. You can use a static
converter, rotary phase converter, or variable frequency drive converter. For higher power requirements, it is recommended to
use 3-phase transformers for efficient results.

R PHASE a

Y PHASE b

B PHASE c
Neutral
N
The three phase power supply has three phases available simultaneously. Phase A, phase B and phase C with
common line or neutral line. It is called phase voltage or line voltage. Thus there are three line voltages 𝑣𝑎𝑛 , 𝑣𝑏𝑛 and
2𝜋
𝑣𝑐𝑛 . The phase difference between two phases is or 1200 . The instantaneous voltages of three phases are given
3

as,
𝑣𝑎𝑛 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡
𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 3𝑉𝑎
𝑣𝑏𝑛 = 𝑉𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡
2𝜋
− 3) 𝑉ഥ𝑐 −𝑉𝑏

4𝜋 2𝜋
𝑣𝑏𝑛 = 𝑉𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 − ) or 𝑣𝑐𝑛 = 𝑉𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + )
3 3
1200
The phaser diagram of three phase is as shown. 1200 300

Because the line–line voltage leads the phase voltage by n 𝑉ഥ𝑎

30°, the instantaneous line–line voltages can be described 1200
by
𝜋
𝑣𝑎𝑏 = 3𝑉𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + )
6 𝑉𝑏
𝜋
𝑣𝑎𝑏 = 3𝑉𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 − )
2
7𝜋
𝑣𝑎𝑏 = 3𝑉𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 − )
6
 The three phase load and voltage waveforms for three phases are as shown in figure. Three phase connection of
load is two types: Wye connected and delta connected load. Three phase transformer can have delta connected
primary and wye connected secondary.

𝑎
𝑣𝑎𝑏
𝑎 𝑣𝑎𝑛

𝑣𝑎𝑏

𝑣𝑐𝑎
𝑛

𝑏 𝑣𝑏𝑛

𝑣𝑏𝑐 𝑣𝑐𝑛
𝑏
𝑐 𝑣𝑐𝑎
Delta connected three-phase load 𝑣𝑏𝑐
𝑐
Y(Wye)-connected three-phase load
 Three Phase Transformer

𝑎
𝑣𝑎𝑏 𝑣𝑎𝑛
𝑎

𝑣𝑐𝑎
𝑛

𝑣𝑏𝑛
𝑏
𝑣𝑐𝑛
𝑣𝑏𝑐 𝑏
𝑣𝑐𝑎
𝑐 𝑣𝑏𝑐
Delta connected Primary 𝑐
Y(Wye)-connected
Secondary
 Three Phase voltage waveforms

van vbn vcn van vbn vcn

Vm

𝜋 2𝜋 4𝜋 5𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 𝜔t
𝜋 4𝜋
3 3 3 3
-Vm