22/10/2013

3-Phase Supplies
Presenters Name
Date

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Basic Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Aim:
Understand the characteristics of
three-phase supplies and loads

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Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

3-Phase Generator

Each Phase voltage (Vp) is

measured across the
individual phase winding.

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22/10/2013

Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Bl

Br

The Reference phase is

always taken as the BROWN
(red) phase.
This phase is generally but
not always placed on the
horizontal.

Gy

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Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Bl

The three separate phases are

often represented like this:

120

Bl`

Br`

Br

Gy`

Three phasors, 120 out

of phase with each other.
This leaves us with six
connections which need to
be made.

Gy

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Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Bl
120

N
Gy

An improvement upon this

situation would be to:
Br

Link the central end of each

phase winding.
The now common point of
the three windings is called
the neutral (N).

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22/10/2013

Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Generator
Neutral wire

Load

This configuration of a 3-phase supply is called STAR.

The centre point of the generator & loads are called the
STAR POINT.
The star point of the generator is attached to Earth
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Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Line voltage
(VL)

Generator
Phase voltage
(Vp)

Load

There are two types of voltage in this circuit

arrangement:
Phase voltage (Vp), between any phase and Neutral
Line voltage (VL) between any two phases.

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Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Line voltage
(VL)

Generator
Phase voltage
(Vp)

Load

Phase voltage, Vp = 230volts (for the UK National Grid)

Line voltage,

VL 3 VP 3 230v 1.732 230v,

VL 398.36v
We call it 400volts in practice

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22/10/2013

Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Phase
current
(Ip = IL)

Generator
Load

There is only one type of current in this circuit

arrangement:
Phase currents (Ip) & line currents (IL)are the same.
So, Ip = IL for a Star load.

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Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

Phase
current
(Ip = IL)

Generator
Load

There is no current within the neutral conductor in a

balanced load as the currents cancel out at the star point
(N) of the load.
This configuration is called a four wire 3-phase system.
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To sum up what we have learnt about 3phase supplies so far:

Connecting all three phases together gives us a Star system & a Star
point.
The reference phase is always the Brown phase.
Each phase is 120 out of phase with each other.

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22/10/2013

To sum up what we have learnt about 3phase supplies so far:

The line voltage VL is equal to 3 x VP therefore VL is always larger

than VP by a factor of 3.

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Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

IBl
Load
IBr
Generator

IGy
There is no need for a neutral conductor at the load as
the Line currents (IBr , IBl & IGy ) flow between different
phases.
This configuration is called a Delta system and is used on
a balanced load such as a 3-phase motor or heater.
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Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

IBl
Load
IBr
Generator

VP
IP

IGy
As there is no neutral conductor the only voltage that
exists is between phases i.e, VP.
Assuming the loads are all the same (balanced load), the
phase currents (IP) in the loads are equal to each other but
different from the line currents (IBr , IBl & IGy ).
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22/10/2013

Principle of a 3-Phase a.c. supply

IBl
Load
IBr
Generator

VP
IP

IGy
As the phase currents IP in the loads are effectively
shared between the three phases:
The value of IP is less than any of the line currents.
I
IP L or IL 3 IP
In fact:
3
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Thank You

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