Three-phase systems

[Q1] The windings of a small 3-phase generator produce the following voltages:

(time domain representation)

which
(a) The operating frequency of the generator in Hz. [f = 50 Hz]
(b) The peak and RMS values of the winding voltages. [Vm = 212.132 V, Vrms = 150 V]
(c) The phase and line RMS voltages if the windings are star-connected.
[Vphase = 150 V, Vline = 259.8 V]
(d) The phase and line RMS voltages if the windings are delta-connected.
[Vphase =150 V, Vline =150 V]
The generator is connected to a 3-phase load via a 3-wire system, if the system line current is set to 10 A in each case,
determine:
(e) The generator phase current if the windings are star-connected. [Iphase = 10 A]
(f) The generator phase current if the windings are delta-connected. [Iphase = 5.77 A]
[Q2] In the balanced 3-phase system of Fig. Q.2, determine the RMS phase and line voltages and currents in the
resistors, the average power dissipated per phase and the total average power dissipated.

(time domain representation)

[120 V, 207.8 V, 4 A, 4 A, 480 W, 1440 W]

N
vc
ic

Fig. Q.2. A simple 3-phase, 3- or 4-wire system. (Wye Wye Circuit).

[Q3] In the balanced 3-phase system of Fig. Q3, determine the RMS phase and line voltages and currents in the
resistors, the average power dissipated per phase and the total average power dissipated.

(time domain representation)

[212 V, 212 V, 4.2 A, 7.3 A, 900 W, 2700 W]

vb

Fig. Q.3. A simple three-phase, 3-wire system. Delta Delta Circuit.

[Q4] In a balanced star-star 3-phase system the RMS line voltage is 230 V. The average power dissipated per phase
is 5 kW. If the power factor is 0.7 and lagging, find the load impedance per phase.
[Z = 1.75+1.76 ]

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 1 of 12

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Three-phase systems

[Q5] A balanced star-star 3-phase system has a load impedance of (14+j6) per phase and a line impedance of (3+j4)
-phase load impedance is (120 30 )V. Calculate each of the source phase
voltages, i.e.
[ ]

[Q6] In question [Q6] a -phase source and the complex power dissipated in
the load impedance connected to that source.
[ , ]
[Q7] In the balanced 3-phase system of Fig. Q.7, determine the total apparent power, average power, reactive power
and power factor.
[11520 VA, 6912 W, 9216 VAR, 0.6*]

12 12

Fig. Q.7.

* Note: From the given and calculated data it is not possible to state whether the power factor is lagging or leading.
However, when the load constituent elements are known, as in Fig. Q.7., it is possible to specify that the
power factor is lagging.

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 2 of 12

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Three-phase systems

[Q1] The windings of a small 3-phase generator produce the following voltages:

(time domain representation)

which
(a) The operating frequency of the generator in Hz. [f = 50 Hz]
(b) The peak and RMS values of the winding voltages. [Vm = 212.132 V, Vrms = 150 V]
(c) The phase and line RMS voltages if the windings are star-connected.
[Vphase = 150 V, Vline = 259.8 V]
(d) The phase and line RMS voltages if the windings are delta-connected.
[Vphase =150 V, Vline =150 V]
The generator is connected to a 3-phase load via a 3-wire system, if the system line current is adjusted to
10 A (magnitude) in each phase, determinate:
(e) The generator phase current of the windings are star-connected [Iphase = Iline = 10.0 A]
(f) The generator phase current if the windings are delta connected [Iphase = 5.77 A]

[Q1] Solution

The voltage equation follows the form: , as a consequence, using direct inspection:
a) Using the angular speed :
Answer (a)

b) The peak voltage is: , as a consequence, the RMS voltage is:

Answer (b)

c) In a star connection the phase voltage is:

Vphase = VP = 150 V (magnitude)
The line voltage is calculated as:

Vline = (magnitude) Answer (c)

d) In a delta connection the phase (VP) and line voltages (VL) are the same as a consequence:
Vphase = Vline = VP = VL = 150 V (magnitude) Answer (d)
e) The generator is connected to a load:

In a star connection, the phase (IP) and the line (IL) current are the same, as a consequence:
Iphase = Iline = (magnitude) Answer (e)
f) Considering the generator as a star-connected:

150 120

The phase (IP) and the line (IL) current are related by:
Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 3 of 12
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Three-phase systems

Iphase = (magnitude) Answer (f)

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 4 of 12

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Three-phase systems

[Q2] In the balanced 3-phase system of Fig. Q.2, determine the RMS phase and line voltages and currents in the
resistors, the average power dissipated per phase and the total average power dissipated.

(time-domain representation)

[120 V, 207.8 V, 4 A, 4 A, 480 W, 1440 W]

ic

Fig. Q.2. A simple 3-phase, 3- or 4-wire system. (Wye Wye Circuit).

[Q2] Solution
The time-domain representation must be transformed into phasor-domain representation, where:
(rms value) Answer

The phasor-representation results:

(rms, phasor-representation)

Initially, a graphical representation of the situation is presented:

IA

VBC
VC

ic
I rc
It is a three-phase system, 120 V (line-to-neutral RMS voltage).
Start from the supplier and find the voltages.
The supply is a balanced three-phase system, star connected, where the voltages follows:
Vphase = Van = Vbn = Vcn = 120V (magnitude) Answer
Remember, there are a 120 degree in each phase when phasor representation is used.
The line voltages as calculated as:

Vline = (magnitude) Answer

The resistor voltage is calculated as:

(magnitude) Answer
Now, go back to the supplier finding the currents.

(magnitude) Answer

In a star connection, line (IL) and phase (IP) current are the same as a consequence,
(magnitude) Answer
Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 5 of 12
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Three-phase systems

And the supply current also:

(magnitude) Answer
The power dissipated by each resistor (e.g. phase A, Pra) is calculated as:

Three different equations are using above to demonstrate the power dissipated by one resistor has the same
value. Remember, the power factor of a resistor is one.
Finally, the total three phase power (PT) is calculated:
PT 3Pra 3 480W Answer

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 6 of 12

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Three-phase systems

[Q3] In the balanced 3-phase system of Fig. Q3, determine the RMS phase and line voltages and currents in the
resistors, the average power dissipated per phase and the total average power dissipated.

(time domain representation)

[212 V, 212 V, 4.2 A, 7.3 A, 900 W, 2700 W]

Fig. Q.3. A simple three-phase, 3-wire system. Delta Delta Circuit.

[Q3] Solution
The domain representation must be transformed into phasor representation, where:
(rms value) Answer

The phasor representation results:

Initially, a graphical representation of the situation is presented:

212 120 V 212 0 V

The three-phase system under consideration is balanced, as a consequence, only need to calculate one value for each
voltage and current and the RMS values in each phase will be the same. (remember there is three-phase symmetry
as a consequence, the values have the same value but a phase angle of 120 degree is needed for the phasor
representation).
The solution of this problem is very easy, it starts from the supplier side and find the voltages:
In delta connection supply, the voltages are:
VAB = VL = Vline = VP = 212 V (magnitude) Answer
In the delta connected resistors, the voltages are:
Vab = Vra = VP = VL = 212 V (magnitude) Answer
The resistor current (Ir) is calculated using the Ohms law:
(magnitude) Answer

The line current (IL) are calculated as:

(magnitude) Answer
The power dissipated by each resistor is calculated as:
Answer
Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 7 of 12
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Three-phase systems

Finally, the total three phase power (PT) is calculated:

Answer
[Q4] In a balanced star-star 3-phase system the RMS line voltage is 230 V. The average power dissipated per phase
is 5 kW. If the power factor is 0.7 and lagging, find the load impedance per phase.
[Z = (1.73 + j1.76) ]

[Q4] Solution
The load is a 3-phase balanced star, where the magnitude of the rms voltage is 230 V:
VL = 230 (magnitude)
The average power dissipated per phase is:
Pphase = 5,000 Watt (per-phase)
as the power factor is known: cos = 0.7 (lagging), the reader must remember this angle represents the angle between
the voltage (VP) and current (IP). = acos(0.7) = 45.5729.
The total complex power (S) per phase (Sphase) is defined as:

(magnitude, per-phase)
The reactive power (Q) per phase (Qphase) is defined as:

(per-phase)
Finally, the apparent power (Sphase) is defined as a complex quantity:

(per-phase, rectangular-form)
(per-phase, polar-form)
Now, it is well-known the apparent power (S) is related with the current and voltage:

So,

(per-phase, polar-form)
Z = 1.728 + j 1.763 (per-phase, rectangular-form) Answer

Q4_3phase.m

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 8 of 12

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Three-phase systems

[Q5] A balanced star-star 3-phase system has a load impedance of (14+j6) per phase and a line impedance of (3+j4)
-phase load impedance is (120 30 )V. Calculate each of the source phase
voltages, i.e.
[ ]

[Q5] Solution
It is easy to recognise the three-phase connection of the Generator and the Load from the Figure Q5.

IA

Figure Q5.
Both, the generator and the load are Y-connected. The series impedance Zseries = (3.00 + 4.00j) is used to connect each
phase between the Generator and the Load.
It is easy to construct a per-phase equivalent circuit.
The single equivalent model is created considering the closed loop between phase a and the neutral points (n-N). The
single-phase equivalent model is shown in Figure A.

Figure A.

REMARK: Y-connected sources and loads always have line voltages greater than phase voltages, and line currents
equal to phase currents (IP = IL).
The voltage across the load can

(phase a)

(rms, line-current, polar form)

(rms, line-current, polar form)
Calculating the line current in phase "b" and "c". NOTE: The calculations of the currents on phase b and c are shown
below (for illustrative purposes):
The current on phase b (Ib) is calculated based on the line current on phase a (Ia ) and three-phase symmetry:

(rms, line-current, polar form)

(rms, line-current, polar form)
I cc ' I aa ' 1 120 I aa ' 1 240

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 9 of 12

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Three-phase systems

(rms, line-current, polar form)

(rms, line-current, polar form)
Now, using the single-phase equivalent model (see Figure A), Kirchhoff voltage law (KVL) is used to calculate the
current (IP = IL) in this circuit.
where Zseries = (3+4j) , and Zload = (14+6j)
ZEQ = Zseries + Zload
ZEQ = (3 + 4j) + (14 + 6j)
ZEQ = (17.000 + 10.000j)
ZEQ = (19.723 30.466 )
The phase voltage at the load can be calculate using the (KVL), using the single-phase
equivalent model as shown in Figure A.
The phase voltage (Van) laws across the terminals (an) of the load:

(123.660 + 94.091j) V (line-to-neutral, rectangular form)

(Line to Neutral, polar form) Answer
Calculating the line current in phase "b" and "c".

The line voltage or line-to-line voltage (VLL) across the terminals of the load (e.g. c -a ):

(Line to line, polar form)

VLL 104.005 + 248.229j V (Line to line, rectangular form)
Q5_3phase.m

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 10 of 12

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Three-phase systems

[Q6] In question [Q6], find the complex power generated by a -phase source and the complex power dissipated in
the load impedance connected to that source.
[ , ]
[Q6] Solution
The complex power generated by the a -phase source is:
(complex power)
where VP = Van and IP = Ia (phasors, i.e. magnitude and angle)
Sphase = 1055.172 W + 620.690j var (rectangular form)
Sphase = (1224.191 30.466 ) VA (polar form)
Similarly, the complex power dissipated in the load impedance connected to that source
(complex power)
where VP = VAN and IP = IA (phasors, i.e. magnitude and angle
Sphase = (868.966 W + 372.414j var) (rectangular form)
Sphase = (945.406 23.199 ) VA (polar form)

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 11 of 12

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Three-phase systems

[Q7] In the balanced 3-phase system of Fig. Q.7, determine the total apparent power, average power, reactive power
and power factor.
[11520 VA, 6912 W, 9216 VAR, 0.6*]

12 12

Fig. Q.7.

*Note: From the given and calculated data it is not possible to state whether the power factor is lagging or leading.
However, when the load constituent elements are known, as in Fig. Q.7., it is possible to specify that the
power factor is lagging.
[Q7] Solution
The single equivalent model is created considering the closed loop between phase a and the neutral points (n-N). The
single-phase equivalent model is shown in Figure B.
A

+ +
Van 24 0 0

- -
N
Figure B
The line current (Ia) is calculated using Ohms law:

(phase a)

(9.600 -12.800j) A (line current, rectangular form)

(16.000 -53.130 ) A (line current, polar form)
The complex power generated by the a -phase source is:
(complex power)
where VP = Van and IP = Ia (phasors, i.e. magnitude and angle)
Sphase = (2304.000 + 3072.000j) (rectangular form)
Sphase = (3840.000 53.130 ) VA (polar form)
Finally, the total 3-phase power (ST) is calculated as:
(three-phase complex power)
ST = (6912.000 W + 9216.000j var) (rectangular form)
ST = (11344.876 < 23.199) VA (polar form)
Q7_3phase.m

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt TUTORIAL 3-phase systems- Page 12 of 12

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