Star-Delta and Delta-Star

Transformations
Learning Outcomes:

After completing this study unit you will be able to understand:

1. How to convert a delta circuit into a star circuit,

2. How to convert a star circuit into a delta circuit,

3. How to solve a complex circuit using the star-delta

transformation together with the voltage divider and current
divider rules.
Star-Delta Transformation

In some circuits, we cannot apply the voltage divider

rule or the current divider rule directly because of the
perculiar geometry of the circuit. In some cases, we
may be able to transform the circuit in such a way so
that after the transformation we can finally apply the
voltage or the current divider rule to solve the circuit.
The following worked examples show how we can use
the delta-star transformation technique together with
the voltage divider and current divider rules to solve a
complex circuit.
Worked Example
Find I, I1. I2, I3, I4, and V0 in the circuit given.

I 1
I1 I2 VS = 300°V
Z1 Z2
Z1 = j4 Ω
+ V0 _
VS 3 2 Z2 = -j3 Ω
Z5
Z3 Z4
Z3 = 5 – j2 Ω
I3
I4
Z4 = 10 Ω
4
Z5 = 8 + j5 Ω
Solution

Observation
We cannot apply the voltage divider rule directly here
because of the presence of the delta connection in the
upper part (or lower part, depending on how you look
at it) of the circuit. We note that by transforming the
upper delta connection (say) into a star, we can
transform 1 the bridge circuit into a series-parallel
circuit. This will allow us to calculate I3 and I4 using
voltage and current divider rules. Likewise, by
transforming the lower delta into a star we can again
transform the bridge circuit into a series-parallel
circuit. This will then allow us to calculate I1 and I2
using voltage and current divider rules.
 Consider transforming the upper delta connection into a star. The resulting
circuit is shown below.
I 1

I 1
ZA
I1 I2
Z1 Z2

+ V0 _
VS 3 2 ZB ZC
Z5
Z3 Z4 VS 3 2
I3 + V0
I4
4
Z3 Z4
I3
I4
4
The formulae for transforming a delta-connected circuit into a star-
connected circuit are as follows:
1

Z1 Z 2 Z1 Z2
ZA 
Z1  Z 2  Z 5 3 2
Z5

Z1 Z 5
ZB 
Z1  Z 2  Z 5 1

ZA

Z 2 Z5
ZC  ZB ZC
Z1  Z 2  Z 5
3 2
Therefore, with
Z1 = j4 Ω, Z2 = -j3 Ω and Z5 = 8 + j 5 Ω,

Z1 Z 2
ZA   0.96  j 0.72 
Z1  Z 2  Z 5

Z1 Z 5
ZB   0.32  j 3.76 
Z1  Z 2  Z 5

Z 2 Z5
ZC   0.24  j 2.82
Z1  Z 2  Z 5
 I 1
The transformed circuit is shown below.

ZA
Z A  0.96  j 0.72 
Z B  0.32  i3.76 
ZB ZC
Z C  0.24  j 2.82  VS  300 V
o

3 2
Z 4  10 
Z3 Z4

Z5  5  j2  I3 I4

4
 I 1

Let
ZA
Z X  ZC  Z 4

ZY  Z 3  Z B
ZB ZC
Z X ZY VS  300o V
ZP 
Z X  ZY 3 2

Z T  Z1  Z P Z3 Z4

I3 I4

4
Then,
Z X  Z C  Z 4  9.76  j 2.82 
I 1
ZY  Z 3  Z B  5.32  j1.76 
Z X ZY
ZP   3.744  j 0.407  ZA
Z X  ZY

ZT  Z A  Z P  4.704  j 0.313 

V ZY ZX
I  S  6.3643.802o A VS  300 o V
ZT
I3 I4
4
 ZY 
I4     I  0.37122.32 A
o

 Z X  ZY 

 ZX 
I3     I  0.672  12.09 A
o

 Z X  ZY 
 Consider transforming the lower delta connection into a star. The resulting
circuit is shown below.
I 1
I1 I2
Z1 Z2
I 1
I1 I2
3 + V0 2
Z1 Z2

+ V0 _
ZA ZB
VS 3 2
Z5
Z3 Z4 VS
I3
I4 ZC
4
The formulae for transforming the delta-connected circuit into a star-
connected circuit are as follows:
Z5
3 2
Z3Z5
ZA  Z3 Z4
Z3  Z 4  Z5
4

Z 4 Z5
ZB  3 2
Z3  Z 4  Z5
ZA ZB

Z3Z 4
ZC  ZC
Z3  Z 4  Z5
4
Therefore, with
Z3 = 5 – j2 Ω, Z4 = 10 Ω, and Z5 = 8 + j 5 Ω

Z3Z5
ZA   2.188  j 0.106 
Z3  Z 4  Z5

Z 4 Z5
ZB   3.699  j1.691 
Z3  Z 4  Z5

Z3Z 4
ZC   2.026  j1.134 
Z3  Z 4  Z5
 I 1
The transformed circuit is shown below.
I1 I2

Z A  2.188  j 0.106  Z1 Z2

Z B  3.699  j1.691  3 2

Z C  2.026  j1.134 
ZA ZB

Z1  j 4  VS  300 V
o

Z 2   j3 
ZC

4
 I 1
Let
I1 I2
Z X  Z1  Z A
Z1 Z2

ZY  Z 2  Z B 3 2

Z X ZY ZA ZB
ZP  VS  300 V
o

Z X  ZY
ZT  Z P  Z C
ZC

4
 I 1
Z X  Z1  Z A  2.188  j 4.106 
I1 I2

Z Y  Z 2  Z B  3.699  j1.309  Z1 Z2

3 2
Z X ZY
ZP   2.678  j 0.821 
Z X  ZY ZA ZB
VS  300 o V

Z T  Z P  Z C  4.704  j 0.313 
ZC

4
 I 1
VS
I  6.3640o A
ZT I1 I2

Z1 Z2

 ZY 
I1     I  3. 830. 017 o
A 3 2

 Z X  ZY 
ZA ZB
VS  300 V
o

 ZX 
I2     I  4. 5430 o
A
 Z X  ZY 
ZC

4
and

V 0  V 2 V 1
 I 2 Z 2  I 1 Z1
  4.5430 j 4    3.830.017  j 3
 21.973  93.267 V
I 1
I1 I2
Z1 Z2

+ V0 _
VS 3 2
Z5
Z3 Z4
I3
I4
4