EE 181

Alternating Current(AC) Circuits : Lecture 5

Saddam H. Razo
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology

January 22, 2019

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Three Phase Circuits

Figure: 1-φ Two-wire system

Figure: 1-φ Three-wire system

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Figure: 3-φ Three-wire system
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Why 3 −φ circuits are important?

I Nearly all electric power is generated and distributed in

three-phase. When one-phase or two-phase inputs are
required, they are taken from the three-phase system rather
than generated independently
I Instantaneous power in a three-phase system can be constant
(not pulsating)
I For the same amount of power, the three-phase system is more
economical than the single-phase. The amount of wire
required for a three-phase system is less than that required for
an equivalent single-phase system

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3 −φ Generation

Three-phase voltages are often produced with a three-phase ac

generator (or alternator) whose cross-sectional view is shown below.
The generator basically consists of a rotating magnet (called the
rotor) surrounded by a stationary winding (called the stator). Three
separate windings or coils with terminals a − a0 , b − b0 , and c − c 0
are physically placed 120o apart around the stator.

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Y and ∆ Connection

Figure: a) Y connected sources b) Delta connected sources

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Balanced phase voltages

Balanced phase voltages are equal in magnitude and are out of

phase with each other by 120o .

For Y connected balanced systems:

V an + Vbn + Vcn = 0

|Van | = |Vbn | = |Vcn |

For ∆ connected balanced systems:

V ab + Vbc + Vca = 0

|Vab | = |Vbc | = |Vca |

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Phase sequence: The time order in which the voltages pass through their
respective maximum values

Figure: acb sequence or negative CUET

Figure: abc sequence or positive sequence 7 / 15
Balanced load

A balanced load is one in which the phase impedances are equal in

magnitude and in phase.
For a balanced wye-connected load, Z1 = Z2 = Z3 = ZY
For a balanced delta-connected load, Za = Zb = Zc = Z∆
Also,
Z∆ = 3ZY

Figure: a) Y ocnnected load, b) ∆ connected load CUET

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Balanced Wye-Wye Connection

Phase voltages:
o o
Van = Vp ∠0 , Vbn = Vp ∠ − 120 , cn = Vp ∠ + 120o
V

Line-to-line voltage:
Vab = Van + Vnb = Van − Vbn =
Vp ∠0o − Vp ∠ − 120o √ 
⇒ Vab = Vp 1 + 12 + j 23 =
√
3Vp ∠30o
Similarly,
Vbc =
√
Vbn − Vcn = 3Vp ∠ − 90o
Vca =
√
Vcn − Van = 3Vp ∠ − 210o

So,
√ CUET
V L= 3 Vp
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Problem

Calculate the line currents in the three-wire Y-Y system:

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Balanced Wye-Delta Connection
o o cn = Vp ∠ + 120o
V
√p ∠0 , Vobn = Vp ∠ − 120 ,
an = V V

Vab =
√3Vp ∠30 =o VAB
Vbc =
√ 3Vp ∠ − 90 o= VBC
Vca = 3Vp ∠ − 150 = VCA
Currents:
V AB , I V BC , I = V CA
AB =
I BC = CA
Z∆ Z∆ Z∆

a = IAB −ICA , Ib = IBC −IAB , Ic = ICA −IBC

I

Since ICA = IAB ∠ − 240o ,

√
Ia = IAB − ICA = IAB 3∠ − 30o

So, √
L=
I 3IP CUET
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Balanced Delta-Delta Connection

Self-study

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Balanced Delta-Wye Connection

Self-study
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Power in a Balanced System

For a Y-connected load, the phase voltages are

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Problem

In the balanced three-phase Y − ∆ system nd the line current IL

and the average power delivered to the load.

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