The University of British Columbia | Okanagan

School of Engineering

APSC 255 Electric Circuits and Power

Lab #5 Manual and Report

– Three-Phase AC Circuits

Due Date: 5pm one week after the lab is performed

Lab Section:
EA
Date:

Student #1 name (last, first) & student number:

Un Kili , Thi la K 38057022

Student #2 name (last, first) & student number:

Student #3 name (last, first) & student number:

​Objective:

1. Investigate currents and voltages in three-phase AC circuits.

2. Measuring active, reactive, and apparent powers.

Related Document:

This document provides combined lab manual and lab report. Review this document before coming to the lab.
You will record the data, which you will collect during the lab. Three students from the same lab section can
form one lab group. One lab report (this document) per group must be submitted to Canvas using pdf file format
before the due date. In order for each member in a lab group to receive the mark, the lab group members will
need to join one lab group on Canvas. Please also ensure that the name and student number for each group
member are listed in this document. To save time in the lab, it is highly recommended that you perform all
possible calculations prior to your lab class.

What to do before attending the Lab Section:

1- Prior to everything in the lab, please read and follow the “safety rules” down here.

2- Please do the required calculations, questions, and sketches in steps 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, and 12 before attending the
lab.

Safety Rules:

• Ask TA or technical staff to check circuit before powering it on.

• Ensure power is OFF before performing circuit modifications.
• NEVER connect the function generator and DC power supply to the same point in a circuit.
• Ensure all grounds clips of the function generator and oscilloscope are at the ground point in your
circuit.
• Make sure the voltage of the DC power supply is ALWAYS set to ZERO before turning it on.
• Set the voltage amplitude and frequency of the function generator before connecting it to the circuit,
and check the voltage amplitude after connecting it to the circuit too. It may change due to effects
of the 50Ω output impedance of the function generator and the impedance of the circuit under test.
• If you are unsure about any circuit setup or how to use the equipment ask your TA or the
technical staff.

CAUTION!!

The voltages used in this lab could results in significant injury if you come into
contact with them. Ensure that the power is OFF before making changes to your
 circuits.

Also ensure that your circuit connections are checked by the instructor, technical
staff or a TA before turning on the power.
Procedure:

1. Using the DAI and the power supply, measure and record the following voltages:

Table 1 Source Voltages

E1-N E2-N E3-N RMS Value

116-6 118.2
117.9V V V 117 V

E1-2 E2-3 E3-1 RMS Value

200^8202-7
199.9V V V 200 V

2. Recall that VL-L=√3 Vphase for a Y-connected source. Is that the case here?

Yes □r ​ ​ ​No □

3. Make a sketch below of a balanced Y-connected resistive load, having a resistance of 300 Ω per phase,
connected to the power supply, with an ammeter connected in each line/phase, and a voltmeter across each
phase. Knowing that VL-L is 208 V, determine the expected current- and volt-meter readings, and insert the
values in the table below. Please use the actual components in the lab.

'
¥ :¥¥¥¥ño
a•afG③✓① A Table 2 Y-connected resistive load

Quantity Theoretical Value Lab Result

E1-N 120 V 116 V

E2-N 116
120 V V

E3-N 120 V 116.7 V

I1 0.4 0.4
 A A

I2 0.4 A 0.39 A

I3 0.4 A 0.4 A
4. Add a balanced Y-connected inductive load (in parallel with the resistive load), having an inductance of 1.6 H
per phase, to the previous circuit. Sketch o one-line diagram for the circuit in the space below. Determine the
expected current- and volt-meter readings, and insert the values in the table below. Please use the actual
components in the lab.
20820
y
¥ÉH
Table 3 Y-connected resistive load in parallel with the inductive load

Quantity Theoretical Value Lab Result

E1-N 120 V 116.8 V

E2-N V 115 I
.

V
120

E3-N 120 V 116.9 V

I1 0.45 A 0.46 A

I2 0.45 A 0.448 A
I3 0.45 A 0.455 A

5. Use the oscilloscope tool to examine the three voltages. If possible, obtain a printout of the screen to attach to
this report, ensuring that you indicate what the printout shows. Is the phase difference between phase voltages
120 degrees?

​ ​ ​No □

:
Yes □

6. Use the phasor analysis tool to examine the three phase voltages and three line currents. If possible, obtain a
printout of the screen to attach to this report, ensuring that you indicate what the printout shows (If not, make a
sketch of the phasors and attach it to this report.). What is the phase angle (Between the phase voltages and
current)?

Phase angle: ___________________

 Is the phase angle approximately equal for each phase?

✓
Yes □ ​ ​ ​No □

7. Using the metering tool, complete the following table:

Table 4 Active and reactive powers for Y-connected R-L load

Quantity Theoretical Value Lab Result

P1 53 W 52.98W
P2 47 W 46.83 W
P3 98.5 W 48-31 W

Ptotal 148.5 W 148.1 W

Q1 22 VAR 22.24 VAR
Q1 22 VAR 22.02 VAR
Q1 22 VAR 21.87 VAR
Qtotal 66 VAR66.13 VAR

8. Power Factor Correction (PFC) is a method where capacitors are installed in parallel with inductive loads to
bring the power factor closer to unity. In the space below, determine what value of capacitance will bring the
power factor to unity for the R-L load being studied.

9. Using the value found in the previous steps find the closest available capacitance value with the Lab-Volt
equipment and connect a Y-connected capacitive load to the R-L load. Complete the table below.

Table 5 Current, active, and reactive power following PFC.

Quantity Theoretical Value Lab Result

I1 A A
 I2 A A
I3 A A
P1 W W
P2 W W
P3 W W
Q1 VAR VAR
Q1 VAR VAR
Q1 VAR VAR
Qtotal VAR VAR

10. Complete the following table from the measurements taken:

Table 6 Comparison of current, active, reactive, and apparent power before and after PFC.

Quantity Before PFC After PFC

Average I A A

Ptotal W W
Stotal VA VA
Qtotal VAR VAR

11. Based on the values observed above, summarize the benefits of PFC to a utility in a few sentences.

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