Power measurement in Three Phase Systems

Various methods are used measurement of three phase power in three phase circuits on the
basis of number of wattmeter used.
1. Three wattmeter method
2. Two wattmeter method
3. Single wattmeter method.
.
1) Measurement of Three Phase Power by Three Wattmeter Method

Here, it is applied to three phase four wire systems, three wattmeters are connected in such a way,
current coil of all the three wattmeters in one line, and its potential coil between that line and
some common point at neutral line. Clearly each wattmeter will give reading as product of phase
current and line voltage which is phase power. The algebraic sum of all the readings of three
wattmeter will give the total power of the circuit whether the load is balanced or not.
Mathematically we can write,

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2 + 𝑃3

2) Measurement of Three Phase Power by Two Wattmeters Method

a) In this method, the current coils are of the two wattmeters are connected in any two lines and
the potential coil of ach s joined to the third line whether its star or delta connection. It can be
proven that mathematically, that the algebraic sum of the two wattmeter readings give the
total power consumed whether the load is balanced or not.

Star Connected Systems Delta Connected Systems

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2
b) If the three phase load is balanced (star or delta), it can also be determined the power factor
of the load from the wattmeter readings. It can be proven mathematically that,

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2 = √3𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝐿 cos ∅

Also
𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = 𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝐿 sin ∅

𝑃2 − 𝑃1
tan ∅ = √3
𝑃1 + 𝑃2
Since the load is balanced,
𝑃1 = 𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝐿 cos(30° + ∅)

𝑃2 = 𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝐿 cos(30° − ∅)

Which is higher-reading wattmeter?

1) For lagging power factor,

Since the value of load power factor can vary from 0 to 1 (∅ can vary from 900 to 00 ), it is clear
that wattmeter whose deflection is proportional to 30-∅ is always positive and always the higher
reading wattmeter (except the case when load p.f is unity at which the two wattmeters have equal
readings), P2 in this case.

2) For leading power factor,

As same above, the p.f angle ∅ becomes −∅, thus the readings of two wattmeters are
interchanged, P1 is higher now.

3) Measurement of Three Phase Power by One Wattmeter Method

Limitation of this method is that it cannot be applied on unbalanced load. So only if the three
phases are balanced, one wattmeter is sufficient to measure the power consumed by the load. The
current coil of the wattmeter is connected in any one line and the pressure coil is connected
alternately between this and the other two lines. The algebraic sum of the two readings gives the
total power.

As the diagram, two switches are given and by closing one switch, we get reading of wattmeter.
Similarly, the reading of wattmeter when switch 1-2 is closed