Three Phase System

Generation of three phase system: Consider following 3 phase simple loop generator shown in
figure 1a. Its generated voltage will be as shown in figure 1b.

c2 2400 b1 1.5

1
a1
ω
1200 a2 0.5
ea1a2
0 eb1b2
b2 c1 0 2 4 6 8 10 ec1c2
-0.5

S -1
1200 2400
-1.5

Fig.1a Fig.1b: 3-Phase wave from

ea1a 2  Em Sin(t ) -----(1) Eb1b2

ec1c 2  Em Sin (t  1200 ) -----(2)

1200
eb1b 2  Em Sin(t  2400 ) -----(3) 1200
1200 Ea1a2
Ea1a2, Eb1b2 & Ec1c2 are RMS values.
Ec1c2

Fig.1c: Phasor Diagram

Double Subscript notation:

VAB
-VAB=+VBA A B
IAB
IBA=-IAB
Fig. 2
VAB=VA-VB

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Phase Sequence: It is the sequence in which current or voltages in different phases attain their
maximum values.

Phase sequence may be R-Y-B or R-B-Y as shown bellow

1.5

0.5
ea1a2
0 eb1b2
0 2 4 6 8 10
Fig.2a: Phase Sequence R-Y-B
ec1c2
-0.5

-1
1200 2400
-1.5

1.5

0.5
ea1a2
0 eb1b2
0 2 4 6 8 10
Fig.2b: Phase Sequence R-B-Y
ec1c2
-0.5

-1
1200 2400
-1.5

Interconnection of 3-phase supply: The six terminals of three phase winding can be connected
to form any of the below.

1. Star or WYE (Y) connected 3-ϕ System

2. Mesh or Delta(∆) connected 3- ϕ System

Star or WYE (Y) connected 3-ϕ System:

Line Current
IR R

ER Phase Line Voltage

Voltage (ERY)

N
EY EBR
IB EB Y
IY
EYB
B
Fig.3a

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ER, EY & EB are called phase voltages.
IR, IY & IB are called phase currents.
ERY, EYB & EBR are called line voltages.
From figure it is clear that
IR+IY+IB=0
Line current (IL) = Phase Current (IP)
EB - EY
EBR ERY

600

-ER 1200
1200 ER

EY -EB

EYB
Fig.3b:
Line voltage from above phasor diagram

ERY  ER  EY  ER  ( EY )

Its magnitude

ERY  ER  EY  2 ER EY cos 600

2 2

For balanced 3-phase system

ER = EY = EB =EP (Phase Voltage)

1
E RY  E P  E P  2 E P E P cos 60 0  E P  E P  2 E P 
2 2 2 2 2
So
2

E RY  3E P

Similarly

EYB  EY  ( E B )  EY  E B  2 EY E B cos 600  3E P

2 2

E BR  E B  ( E R )  E B  E R  2 E B E R cos 600  3E P
2 2

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 Hence for balanced system
ERY = EYB = EBR = √3EL = EL
If ϕ is the angle between phase voltage and phase current then

EL
Active power of 3 phase =3 EPIPCos ϕ =3 I L Cos ϕ = √3ELIL Cos ϕ W
3

EL
Reactive power of 3 phase =3 EPIPSin ϕ =3 I L Sin ϕ = √3ELIL Sin ϕ VAR
3

EL
Apparent power of 3 phase =3 EPIP =3 IL = √3ELIL VA
3

Mesh or Delta (∆) connected 3- ϕ System

IR
R
IRY ERY

Line Voltage
Phase
Voltage EBR
IBR IYB IY
Y
EYB Line Voltage

IB B
Fig.4a
ERY, EYB & EBR are called phase voltages.
IRY, IYB & IBR are called phase currents.
From figure it is clear that
ERY+EBR+EBY=0
Line Voltage (EL) = Phase Voltage (EP)
I IBR - IYB IY
R

600

-IRY 1200 1200 IRY

IYB -IBR

IB
Fig.4b
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 Apply KCL at node R

I R  I BR  I RY  I BR  ( I RY )

Its magnitude from above phasor diagram

I R  I BR  I RY  2 I BR I RY cos 60 0
2 2

For balanced 3-phase system

IRY = IYB = IBR =IP (Phase Current)

1
I R  I P  I P  2 I P I P cos 60 0  I P  I P  2 I P 
2 2 2 2 2
So
2

I R  3I P

Similarly

I Y  I RY  ( I YB )  I p  I P  2 I p I P cos 60 0  3I P
2 2

I Y  I YB  ( I BR )  I p  I P  2 I p I P cos 60 0  3I P
2 2

Hence for balanced system

IR = IY = IB = IL = √3IP
If ϕ is the angle between phase voltage and phase current then

IL
Active power of 3 phase =3 EPIPCos ϕ =3 E L Cos ϕ = √3ELIL Cos ϕ W
3

IL
Reactive power of 3 phase =3 EPIPSin ϕ =3 E L Sin ϕ = √3ELIL Sin ϕ VAR
3

IL
Apparent power of 3 phase =3 EPIP =3 E L = √3ELIL VA
3

Example 1: If the phase voltage of a three phase star connected alternator is EP. What will be the
line voltage?
i. When the phases are correctly connected?
ii. When the connection to one phase is reversed?
Solution:
i. Line voltage (EL) = Phase Voltage (EP)

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 ii. Let connation of phase R is reversed

EB - EY EB=ERY - EY=EBR
EBR ERY

600

-ER 1200 ER -ER

1200 ER

EY -EB EY -EB

EYB EYB
Fig.5a: Phasor Diagram when phases Fig.5b: Phasor Diagram when connection of
are correctly connected phase R is reversed

Line voltage from above phasor diagram

ERY  ER  EY  ER  ( EY )

Its magnitude

E RY  E R  EY  2 E R EY cos 120 0
2 2

1
E RY  E P  E P  2 E P E P cos120 0  E P  E P  2 E P  
2 2 2 2 2

ERY  EP

Similarly

EYB  EY  ( E B )  EY  E B  2 EY E B cos 600  3E P

2 2

E BR  E B  ( E R )  E B  E R  2 E B E R cos 120 0  E P
2 2

Example 2: Three identical of 20 ohm are connected in star to a 415 V, 3-phase, 50 Hz supply.
Calculate

i. Total power taken by load

ii. Power consumed in the resistance if they are connected in delta to same supply.
iii. If one of the resistance is open circuited in each case calculated the power consumed.
Solution:

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 i. Power in star
VL=415 V, VL=√3VP=415 V ⇒VP=415/√3 Volts
IL=IP= VP/RP =415/20√3 Amp
Total power consumed (Resistive load⇒ PF=1)
P=3VPIPCos ɸ = 3*(415/√3)*(415/20√3)*1=8611.25 Watts

ii. Power in Delta

VL=415 V, VL=VP=415 V
IL=IP= VP/RP =415/20 Amp
Total power consumed
P=3VPIPCos ɸ = 3*(415)*(415/20)*1=25833.75 Watts
iii. Power when one resistance is open circuit
Star Connected Delta Connected

20Ω

415V
415 V
RP=20Ω

20Ω
RP=20Ω
415V
415 V

Fig.6a
Fig.6a
V 2 415 2
P   4305.625 Watt
Req 40 V 2 V 2 415 2 415 2
P   
Rp Rp 20 20
 17222.5 Watt

Measurement of power in 3-phase load: There are three methods

1. One wattmeter method CC
2. Two wattmeter method M L
R
3. Three wattmeter method V
COM PC
1. One wattmeter method : RP
It is used only for balanced load
Total power consumed by 3-ϕ load N
RP
P=3x Power consumed by one phase load RP Y
B
=3x Reading of one wattmeter (W)
Fig.7: 3-ϕ Star Connected Balanced Load

Note: if load is delta connected, voltage terminal (V) of PC will be connected to ground.

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2. Three wattmeter method:
W1
For balanced or unbalanced load total power CC
P=W1+W2+W3 M L
R
V
COM PC
RP

N
RP
W2
CC RP Y
M L
B
V
COM PC

W3
CC
M L

COM PC V
Fig.7

Note: If load is delta connected, voltage terminal (V) of PC of all wattmeters will be connected
to ground.
3. Two Wattmeter method:
a. When load is star connected:
W1
CC
M L
1
i1
V
COM PC v1

v3
i2
v2 2
i3
3

W2
CC
M L

COM PC V
Fig.7

Instantaneous power given by wattmeter 1

p1=i1.(v1-v3) ---(1)
Instantaneous power given by wattmeter 2
p2=i2.(v2-v3) ---(2)
Adding (1) & (2)
p1+p2= i1.(v1-v3)+ i2.(v2-v3)
=v1i1-v3i1+v2i2-v3i2
=v1i1+v2i2-v3 (i1+i2)
=v1i1+v2i2+v3i3  i1  i2  i3  0  i1  i2  i3 
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 = Total instantaneous power in 3-phase load
b. When load is delta connected:
W1
CC i1-i3
M L

V i1
COM PC
v1
v3

i3
i2

v2

W2
CC i2-i1
M L

COM PC V
Fig.7
Instantaneous power given by wattmeter 1
p1=-v3.(i1-i3) ---(1)
Instantaneous power given by wattmeter 2
p2=v2.(i2-i1) ---(2)
Adding (1) & (2)
p1+p2= -v3.(i1-i3)+ v2.(i2-i1)
=-v3i1-v3i3+v2i2-v2i1
=-(v2+v3)i1+v2i2+v3i3
=v1i1+v2i2+v3i3  v1  v2  v3  0  v2  v3  v1
= Total instantaneous power in 3-phase load
Hence a load may be balanced or unbalanced, star connected or delta
connected, total instantaneous power of 3-ϕ load will be the sum of the
instantaneous power given by the two wattmeters.
Since wattmeter measures active power so total active power of 3-ϕ load will be
P= W1+W2
W1= Active power measured by wattmeter 1
W2= Active power measured by wattmeter 2
Determination of power factor: Consider a star connected balanced load
Let
V1= V2 = V3=Vp Phase voltages (RMS)
I1= I2 = I3=Ip Phase currents (RMS)
Reading of wattmeter 1 W1=I1V13Cos(30-ϕ)
=IP√3VP Cos(30-ϕ)
= √3VP IP Cos(30-ϕ) ---(1)

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 V3 I3
ϕ

ϕ V1
ϕ 300
I1
I2 0
30
V2 V13
-V3

V23
Fig.3b
Reading of wattmeter 2 W2=I2V23Cos(30+ϕ)
=IP√3VP Cos(30+ϕ)
= √3VP IP Cos(30+ϕ) ---(2)

W1+W2 = 3VP IP Cosϕ=Total active power of 3-ϕload ---(3)

W1-W2 =√3VP IP Sinϕ ---(4)
(4)/(3)
W1  W2 3VP I P Sin

W1  W2 3VP I P Cos
 W  W2   W  W2 
tan   3  1     tan 1 3  1 
 W1  W2   W1  W2 
Power factor
 W  W2 
Cos  tan 1 3  1 
 W1  W2 
Effect of power factor on wattmeter readings:
We know
W1=VLILCos(30-ɸ)
=√3VPIP Cos (30-ɸ) --- (1)
W2=VLILCos(30-ɸ)
=√3VPIP Cos (30+ɸ) --- (2)
 When ɸ=0 i.e PF Cosɸ=1:
W1= VLILCos(30)= VLIL(√3/2)
W2= VLILCos(30)= VLIL(√3/2)
Both wattmeters will show equal readings

 When ɸ=600 i.e PF Cosɸ=0.5:

W1= VLILCos(30-60)= VLIL(√3/2)

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 W2= VLILCos(30+60)= 0
One Wattmeter will show zero reading and total power consumed = W1

 When ɸ=90 i.e PF Cosɸ=0:

W1= VLILCos(30-90)= VLIL(1/2)
W2= VLILCos(30+90)= -VLIL(1/2)

Hence we can say when power factor angle is greater than 600 one
wattmeter will give negative reading. For obtaining the reading of that wattmeter either
the connection of current coil(CC) or pressure coil(PC) should be changed and reading
will be taken as negative.

Example 3: For a certain load one wattmeter reads 20 KW and other 5 KW after the voltage of
this wattmeter has been reversed. Calculate power and power factor of the load.
Solution:

Power P=W1+W2=20+ (-5)= 15 KW

 W  W2   20   5   25 
Cos  Cos tan 1 3  1   Cos tan 1 3    Cos tan 1 3    Cos 70.89 0  0.327
 W1  W2   20   5   15 

Q 1. Draw connection diagram fro measurement of power in 3-phase Y connected load using two
wattmeter method. In one such experiment the load supplied was 30 KW at 0.7 power factor lagging.
Find the reading of each wattmeter.

Hint: W1+W2=P= 30 KW

 W  W2 
Cos  tan 1 3  1   0.7
 W1  W2 

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