Three Phase AC Circuits

THREE PHASE AC CIRCUIT (1/2)

It is a common method of alternating current electric power generation, transmission, and distribution. This was introduced and patented by Nikola Tesla in the years from 1887 to 1888. It is a type of polyphase system and is the most common method used by grids worldwide to transfer power. It is also used to power large motors and other large loads.

THREE PHASE AC CIRCUIT (2/2)

It is generally more economical than others because it uses less conductor material to transmit electric power than equivalent single-phase or two-phase systems at the same voltage. In a three-phase system, three circuit conductors carry three alternating currents (of the same frequency) which reach their instantaneous peak values at different times.

EXAMPLES OF THE THREE PHASE AC CIRCUIT (1/2)

Three-phase transformer with four wire output for 208Y/120 volt service: one wire for neutral, others for A, B and C phases.

EXAMPLES OF THE THREE PHASE AC CIRCUIT (2/2)

Three-phase electric power transmission.

Properties of three phase AC circuits

The phase currents tend to cancel out one another, summing to zero in the case of a linear balanced load. Power transfer into a linear balanced load is constant. Three-phase systems can produce a magnetic field that rotates in a specified direction.

Important Terms for the 3-Phase AC Circuits (1/2)

Phase describes or pertains to one element or device in a load, line, or source. It is simply a "branch" of the circuit. Line refers to the "transmission line" or wires that connect the source (supply) to the load. It may be modeled as a small impedance (actually 3 of them), or even by just a connecting line.

Important Terms for the 3-Phase AC Circuits (2/2)

Neutral the 4th wire in the 3-phase system. It's where the phases of a Y connection come together.

2 TYPES OF 3-PHASE CONNECTION (1/2)

A. Wye or Star Connection each phase is connected between a line and the neutral

Phase voltages: Line to neutral voltages (Va, Vb, and Vc) Phase currents: Line currents (Ia, Ib, and Ic) Neutral connects the 3 phases

2 TYPES OF 3-PHASE CONNECTION (2/2)

B. Delta Connection each phase is connected between two lines

10

Phase voltages: Line voltages (Vab, Vbc, and Vac) Phase currents: currents from line to line (Iab, Ibc, and Iac) Neutral is not present

BALANCED THREE PHASE AC CIRCUITS Requirements: All 3 sources are represented by a set of balanced 3-phase variables. All loads are 3-phase with equal impedances. Line impedances are equal in all 3 phases.

11

12 The three induced voltages across the armature coils between terminals aa, bb, and cc can be written as follows: Positive (abc) sequence

Basic structure and principle of an AC generator: (a) A 3-phase generator with the armature rotating, (b) A 3-phase generator with the magnet rotating, and (c) A 3-phase voltage waveform.

13 Negative (acb) sequence

Basic structure and principle of an AC generator: (a) A 3-phase generator with the armature rotating, (b) A 3-phase generator with the magnet rotating, and (c) A 3-phase voltage waveform.

Relations between line and phase voltages/currents in a balanced three phase (Y-connected)
From this phasor diagram, the relationship between the phase (or line-to-neutral) voltages and the line (or lineto-line) voltages can be written as follows:

14

(a) A Y-connected 3-phase source and (b) its voltage phasor diagram.

Note that for a Y-connected three-phase source, the amplitudes of line voltages are 3 times that of phase voltages and the line current is the same as the phase current:

Relations between line and phase voltages/currents in a 15 balanced three phase (-connected)
From this phasor diagram, the relationship between the phase currents and the line currents can be written as follows:

(a) A -connected 3-phase source and (b) its current phasor diagram. Note that for a -connected three-phase source, the amplitudes of line currents are 3 times that of phase currents and the line voltage is the same as the phase voltage:

DELTA-WYE CONVERSION (1/4)

16

A delta connected three-phase load can be replace by an equivalent wye-connected load if the two loads are equivalent (draw the same line currents from the three-phase source).

Delta and Wye Connected for balanced 3-phase load.

17

Note that the line-to-line voltages at the delta-connected load are the load voltages. The a phase line currents for the wye and delta loads are defined by the following: Delta Connected Load Wye Connected Load

18

The line currents are equal if

19

The same results are found for the other two line currents. Thus, a delta-connected load can be replaced by a wye-connected load with one-third the impedance per phase for balanced system.

UNBALANCED THREE PHASE AC CIRCUITS

When the three load impedances are not equal to one another, the phasor sums and the neutral current (In) are not zero, and the load is, therefore, unbalanced. The imbalance occurs when an open or short circuit appears at the load. If a three-phase system has an unbalanced load and an unbalanced power source, the methods of fixing the system are complex.

20

Relationships of phase and line voltages with

respect to the phase angles (1/4)
The phase angles of the given line voltages are 120 out of phase can be connected in either balanced/unbalanced wye or delta connected loads. Regarding the phase sequence suppose that a given phase sequence for example abc sequence where The first letter represents 0 angle. The second letter represents -120 angle. The third letter represents 120 angle.

21

Relationships of phase and line voltages with

respect to the phase angles (2/4)
Combinations of the phase sequences The positive phase sequence has the combinations abc, bca, and cab sequences. The negative phase sequence has the combinations acb, cba, and bac sequences.

22

Relationships of phase and line voltages with

respect to the phase angles (3/4)
Phase angles of the voltages with respect to their types of connection: For a delta connected load, the line and phase voltages simply follow the order of the sequence with the phase angles 0, -120, and 120 respectively. For a wye connected load, the line voltages follows the sequence of 30, 150, and -90 respectively for positive phase sequence and -30, 90, and -150 respectively for negative phase sequence. The phase voltages follow the sequence of 0, -120, and 120 respectively.

23

Relationships of phase and line voltages with

respect to the phase angles (4/4)

24

It is possible that for the abc sequence can be also represented as the phase sequence ab-bc-ca for the line voltages sequence. Suppose that you are going to reverse the subscript of the given line voltage. For example, given the line voltage Vab = 12030 V then Vba = 120-30 V.

25

SAMPLE PROBLEMS (1/14)

1. Given the phase voltage of 235 V and the phase current is 6.25 A. Find the line voltage and line current connected in (a) Y, and (b) . Solution: (a) For Y-connected 3 phase system

26

SAMPLE PROBLEMS (2/14)

(b) For -connected 3 phase system

27

SAMPLE PROBLEMS (3/14)

2. A 3 phase balanced system contains a wye load. The line-to-line voltage is 270 V, and the resistance is 30 in each branch. Find line current and neutral current for the following load conditions. (a) balanced load (b) open circuit in phase a (c) short circuit in phase a

28

Solution: (a) For balanced load

29

(b) For unbalanced 3 phase load open circuit in phase a

Current flow in lines b and c becomes the resultant of the loads in b and c connected in series

30

(c) For unbalanced 3 phase load short circuit in phase a

The current in phase a is equal to the neutral line current, Ia = IN. Therefore, IN is the phasor sum of Ib and Ic.

31

SAMPLE PROBLEMS (7/14)

Conclusion in problems (b) and (c): In a fault condition, the neutral connection in a wyeconnected load will carry more current than the phase under a balanced load. Unbalanced three-phase circuits are indicated by abnormally high currents in one or more phases. This may cause damage to equipment if the imbalance is allowed to continue.

32

SAMPLE PROBLEMS (8/14)

3. A balanced 3-phase source of 230 V is connected to the balanced 3-phase -connected load with the impedance in each phase of 12 + j36 . Suppose that the phase sequence is abc sequence.

Find the line currents Ia, Ib, and Ic in phasor form.

33

Solution: Transform the delta connected load to wye connected load

The equivalent circuit is

34

Solving for the phase voltage

Since the sequence is abc sequence, the phase voltages are

35

Solving for the line currents

SAMPLE PROBLEMS (12/14)

4. A balanced 3-phase source of 270 V is connected to the unbalanced 3-phase Y-connected load with the following impedances: Za = 15 + j20 , Zb = 12 j15 , and Zc = 16 + j24 . Suppose that the phase sequence is bca sequence.

36

Find a. The line currents Ia, Ib, and Ic in phasor form. b. The neutral current IN in phasor form.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS (13/14)

Solution: Solving for the phase voltage

37

The given phase voltages for the bca sequence are

SAMPLE PROBLEMS (14/14)

Solving for the line currents

38

Solving for the neutral current