Introduction

Three phase system

• uses three wires for generation, transmission and distribution
• line currents in the 3-phase system is equal to zero
• phases are differentiated at an angle of 120°

Figure 1: Three Phase Supply

 THE THREE-PHASE SYSTEM

 Has four wires

 Three are conductors and one is neutral
 To GENERATE, TRANSMIT and DISTRIBUTE  
 Instantaneous power is constant
 More economical than single phase – less wire for the same
power transfer.
 Diagram 1 :THREE-PHASE WAVEFORM

Phase 2 lags Phase 1 by 120° Phase 2 leads Phase 3 by 120°

Phase 3 lags Phase 1 by 240° Phase 1 leads Phase 3 by 240°
 Types of Connections in Three-Phase System

Connected in two ways:

1. star connection / wye (Y)
 line current equals phase current but phase
voltage is not equal to line voltage.

2. delta connection (Δ)

 phase voltage equals line voltage but phase
current is not equal to line current.
 Star Connection

• requires four wires - three phase conductors and one neutral

conductor
• used for long distance transmission because it has a neutral
point
• line voltage is √3 times of phase voltage

• Formula:
i) Line Current = Phase Current ( IL = Iph )
ii) Line Voltage , VL = √3 x Vph
 Delta Connection

• has three wires - no neutral point

• preferred for short distance due to the problem of
unbalanced current
• the line voltage is the same as that of phase voltage
Line voltage = Phase voltage
• the line current is √3 times of phase current.
Line current = √3 x I ph