ECE 3600 3-Phase Power notes d
Single phase power pulses at 120 Hz. This is not suitable for motors or generators over about 5 hp.
Two-phase power is constant as long as the two loads are balanced.
But, the return current is larger than either load current.
IL
i( t )
IL IRet 2φ power
IL
IL
2φ power t
IRet
LOAD
The return or "neutral" wire must be
thicker than either "hot" line.
IL
3-Phase Power
IL
IL
3φ power
IRet
3-phase source ------- LOAD -------
v( t )
phase a phase b phase c phase a VC
VA
3φ power
p( t )
VB
t
IC
Three phase power is constant as long as the three loads are balanced.
i( t )
IA
t
If loads are balanced, ground return current will be zero. IB
If the loads are close to balanced the relatively small return current can be carried by the earth ground.
Basics
ECE 3600 3-Phase Power notes d
Single phase power pulses at 120 Hz. This is not
good for motors or generators over about 5 hp.
Three phase power is constant as long
as the three loads are balanced.
Three lines are needed to transmit 3-phase power.
If loads are balanced, ground return current will be zero.
The 3 lines coming into your house are NOT 3-phase.
They are +120 V, Gnd, -120 V
(The two 120s are 180o out-of-phase, allowing for 240 V connections) 3-phase outlets have 4 connections
I a = IL /−θ
a A
V AB = VLL / 30ο
V an = VLN /0ο
I b= IL /−θ -120ο
b b B
V bn = VLN /-120 ο V CA= VLL /-210 ο = VLL / 150ο V BC = VLL /-90ο
I c = IL /−θ -240o = IL /-θ +120ο
c c C
V cn = VLN /-240 ο = VLN / 120 ο
n
N
neutral (ground at some point)
lower-case letters upper-case letters
at source end at load end
Wye connection:
Connections to the 3 Lines Delta connection:
Connect each load or generator phase Connect each load or generator phase
between a line and ground. between two lines.
IA
A IA A
VAN VCA
IB VAB
B VAN
IAB
ICA
IBC
IB
VBN B
0, if balanced load
IC
N VBC
VBN C
VCN
VCN
IC
C neutral is not connected at the load
N
V LL VL V AB = V BC = V CA = V LL = 3. V LN = V L
V AN = V BN = V CN = V LN = =
3 3
IL
I AB = I BC = I CA = I LL =
IA = IB = IC = IL = 3. I LL 3
Z∆
To get equivalent line currents with equivalent voltages: Z Y = Z ∆ = 3. Z y
3
3
Wye, Y, connection: Delta, ∆, connection:
Connect each load or generator phase Connect each load or generator phase
between a line and ground. between two lines.
Wye, Y
Delta, ∆
V LL
V LN = IL = 3. I LL IL
V LL = 3. V LN I LL =
3 (∆-connection) 3
Apparent Power: S 3φ
φ = 3 . S 1φφ = 3 . V LN. I L = 3 . V LL. I LL = 3. V LL. I L
Power: P 3φ = 3 . P 1φ = 3 . V LN. I L. pf = 3 . V LL. I LL. pf = 3. V LL. I L. pf = S 3φ. pf
pf = cos( θ )
2 2
Reactive power: Q 3φ = 3 . Q 1φ = 3 . V LN. I L. sin( θ ) etc... = S 3φ
φ P 3φ
Cautions about "L" subscripts:
I L is always the line current, same as would flow in a Y-connected device.
V L is always the line-to-line voltage, same as across a ∆-connected device.
When a single phase is taken from a 3-phase panel, then the line voltage (VL) of that single phase is the
line-to-neutral voltage of the 3-phase input to that panel, so the value of VL changes in the panel (isn't that nice?).
Z L could be the load impedance, either Y-connected or ∆-connected, or it could be the line impedance--
the impedance in the line itself, between the source and the load.
Cautions about "φ" or "ph" subscripts:
In our book: V φ = the voltage across a single phase of a source or load and depends on the connection
of that load, VLN for Y-connected devices and VLL for ∆-connected devices.
Iφ Also depends on connection.
In some books: V φ = V ph = V LN I φ = I ph = current in a Y-connection <-- DON'T USE in this class
Phase sequences: Vc Vb
Va Va
acb, "negative" or
abc, "positive" sequence
"reverse" sequence
Vb Vc
Common usage: V L = V LL "line voltage" = line-to-line voltage 120. V 277. V
An unspecified voltage or a 120. V 277. V
208 3φ 480 3φ
"line" voltage must always be
assumed to be line-to-line,
120. V 277. V
ECE 3600 3-Phase Power notes p3
Our Approach Only works if system is Balanced (Always so in our class)
Z∆
1) Change all ∆-connected loads to equivalent Y-connected loads Z Y =
3
Wye, Y
Delta, ∆
VL
2) Find all voltages as V LN , especially V LN =
3
3) Change all power numbers to 1φ.
P 3φ Q 3φ
P 1φ = Q 1φ =
3 3
=3x S 1φ
φ =
S 3φ
φ
3
S 3φ
S 1φ = S 1φφ =
3
4) Solve the remaining single-phase problem.
5) Return to "line" voltages and 3φ powers, as necessary.
P 3φ = 3 . P 1φ
In rare cases, you IL
V L = 3. V LN may also need: I ∆ = I LL=
Q 3φ = 3 . Q 1φ 3
. .
φ = 3 S 1φ
S 3φ φ and: Z∆ = 3 ZY
.
φ = 3 S 1φ
S 3φ φ
ECE 3600 3-Phase Power notes p4
