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Chapter 3. Three-Phase Power

Preprint · December 2019

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22586.54725

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 Chapter

3
Three-Phase Power
F. Gonzalez-Longatt

3.1 Objective
This chapter presents a general summary of three-phase power and its aspects of AC circuit’s analysis in steady-state.
3.2 Three-phase power
In the system of Fig. 3.1 the three voltage sources supply power to the system and this power is dissipated in the
three resistors.
iA

A iB
B
vb + Ra irb
ia + + ira vrb +
ib iN Rb vra
va
n N
vc iC Rc vrc
+ C +
ic
irc
Fig. 3.1. A simple 3-phase, 3- or 4-wire system. (Wye – Wye Circuit).

The instantaneous power in each resistor (Pra, Prb and Prc) is:
pra = vra  ira
prb = vrb  irb (3.1)
prc = vrc  irc
Substituting the time-domain representation of the voltages (vra, vrb and vrc) and currents (ira, irb and irc):
V
pra = vra  ira = Vm cos t  m cos (t )
Ra
Vm
prb = vrb  irb = Vm cos (t − 120 )  cos (t − 120 ) (3.2)
Rb
Vm
prc = vrc  irc = Vm cos (t − 240 )  cos (t − 240 )
Rc
Finally,
Vm2
pra = cos2 (t )
Ra
Vm2
prb = cos2 (t − 120 ) (3.3)
Rb
Vm2
prc = cos2 (t − 240 )
Rc
The total power dissipated by the three resistors (Ptotal) is the sum of the individual powers:
ptotal = pra + prb + prc (3.4)
V2 V2 V2
ptotal = m cos2 t + m cos2 (t − 120 ) + m cos2 (t − 240 )
Ra Rb Rc
Considering the following trigonometry identity:
1
cos A cos B = cos ( A − B ) + cos ( A + B ) 
2
As a consequence,
V2 V2 V2 V2 V2 V2
ptotal = m + m + m + m cos ( 2t ) + m cos ( 2t − 240 ) + m cos ( 2t − 480 )
2Ra 2Rb 2Rc 2Ra 2Rb 2Rc
which, using the identity
cos ( ) + cos ( − 120 ) + cos ( − 240 ) = 0
Chapter 3

reduces to
Vm2  1 1 1 
Ptotal =  + + 
2  Ra Rb Rc 
when in a balanced system where Ra = Rb = Rc = Rphase
2
V   1 1 1 
Ptotal =  m   + + 
 2   Ra Rb Rc 
2
3Vphase
Ptotal = (3.5)
Rphase
Please, keep in mind:
Vm
V phase = V p = (magnitude)
2
where Vphase is the RMS voltage of the source.
Even though the individual powers in the three resistors are time-varying at double frequency the total power is
constant. This is found to be true in any balanced three-phase system.
3.3 General power relationships
In any single-phase electrical system or any single phase of a three-phase system:
Apparent power (S):
S = V  I volt-amps (VA) or S = V phase  I phase VA (magnitude) (3.6)
Active power (P):
P = V  I  cos watts (W) or P = V phase  I phase  cos  W (3.7)
Reactive power (Q):
Q = V  I  sin  volt-amps-reactive (VAr) or Q = V phase  I phase  sin  VAr
(3.8)
where V and I or Vphase and I phase are respectively the RMS voltage and current and  is the phase angle between
them; the cosine of  is the power factor.
In any balanced three-phase electrical system the total three-phase power is three times the phase power, so that
S = 3  V phase  I phase (magnitude) (3.9)
In a star-connected system Vline = 3  Vphase and I line = I phase , so that
Vline
S = 3  I line = 3  Vline  I line
3
In a delta-connected system Vline = V phase and Iline = 3  I phase , so that
I line
S = 3  Vline  = 3  Vline  I line
3
In general,
S = 3  Vphase  I phase = 3  Vline  I line VA (magnitude)
P = 3  Vphase  I phase  cos  = 3  Vline  I line  cos  W (3.10)
Q = 3  Vphase  I phase  sin  = 3  Vline  I line  sin  VAr
where  is still the phase angle between the phase current and phase voltage and the cosine of  is the power factor.
In all cases
S = P 2 + Q 2 (magnitude)
P (3.11)
power factor = cos  =
S
3.4 End notes
[1] If it was required to display the voltage VAB on an oscilloscope then the outer (ground) connection of
the probe should be connected to line B and the centre of the probe to line A, the display would then
be the voltage of line A relative to line B. If the probe connections were reversed the voltage displayed
would be VBA.
It should be noted, however, that connecting the ground of an oscilloscope directly to the line of a real 3-phase
system would usually produce catastrophic results. Considerable care should be taken to ensure that the
oscilloscope is suitably isolated.

Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt Chapter_3_three-phase_power_v1.docx Page 2 of 3

 Three-Phase power

3.5 Appendix 1– Why Three phases?

Single-phase systems are common, but...
✓ Two wires are required to transmit the voltage and current.
 Single-phase systems produce time-varying power.
 Single-phase systems cannot produce a rotating magnetic field.
(they can do a version of it but it is not very good)
 Single-phase motors are not very efficient.
 Single-phase motors produce a time-varying torque.
 Single-phase motors are not inherently self-starting.
What about the two phases?
✓ A two-phase system of voltages and currents can be transmitted with three wires.
 A two-phase system does not have a true neutral.
(the common wire carries about 1.4 times the phase current)
✓ A two-phase system produces constant power.
✓ A two-phase system can produce a rotating field.
✓ Two-phase motors are more efficient than single-phase.
✓ Two-phase motors produce constant torque.
✓ Two-phase motors are inherently self-starting.
... but are three phases any better?
✓ A three-phase system of voltages and currents can be transmitted with three wires.
✓ A three-phase system does have a true neutral.
(the phase currents sum to zero in a balanced system)
✓ A three-phase system produces constant power.
✓ A three-phase system can produce a rotating field.
✓ Three-phase motors are quite efficient.
✓ Three-phase motors produce a constant torque.
✓ Three-phase motors are inherently self-starting.
Three is the lowest number of phases that ticks all of the boxes. Four-phase systems and above also do but the
additional phases cost money to produce and transmit.

Page 3 of 3 Chapter_3_three-phase_power_v1.docx Dr. F. Gonzalez-Longatt

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