Ch 8.

Three-phase systems

• Lecture outcomes (what you are supposed to learn):

– Generation of three-phase voltages

– Connection of three-phase circuits

– Wye-Delta transformation

– Power of three-phase connected loads

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Introduction

• High power equipments are built as three-phase systems.

• Three-phase systems can produce rotating field without special control.

• Three phase generator produce more power than single phase one with the
same volume.

• Three-phase systems are more reliable. They can deliver power even if one
phase fails.

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Schematic structure of Power systems
Power plants International links

Substations
and
Transformer
Transmission lines

Load centers

Industrial and Residential loads

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Generation of three-phase voltages
(kolmivaihejärjestelmä)
• Simple three-phase generator e < nBlϖ

400
ea
a 300 eb
ec
200

induced voltage (V)

100

0
S N
-100

-200

-300

a -400
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06
Time (s)

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Generation of three-phase voltages

• 3 single-phase circuits at different phase angle!

vaa´ < ea < Vmax cos(ϖt ) Z

N
S
vbb´ < eb < Vmax cos(ϖt , 120↓) Z

vcc´ < ec < Vmax cos(ϖt , 240↓)

Z
< Vmax cos(ϖt ∗ 120↓)

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Generation of three-phase voltages

• The voltage of each phase are called phase voltages

• The phase voltages are written in complex form
Vmax
Vaa ϒ < ∉0↓ < V ∉0↓
2

Vmax
Vbbϒ < ∉ , 120↓ < V ∉ , 120↓
2

Vmax
Vcc ϒ < ∉120↓ < V ∉120↓
2

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Connecting the 3-phase voltages

• The potential difference is known but not the potentials !

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Connecting the 3-phase voltages

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Line-to-line voltage
=
Pääjännitte 8
Connecting the source and load

• Only 3 wires are needed to connect the source and load

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Wye connection (Y- tai tähtikytkentä)

• Three similar terminal of each coil connected to the same point called
neutral or N

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Wye connection (Y- tai tähtikytkentä)

• For balanced symmetrical three phase system: Van < Vbn < Vcn < Vph

Van < Vph ∉0↓

Vbn < Vph ∉ , 120↓

Vcn < Vph ∉120↓

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Line-to-line voltages in Wye connection
Van < Vph ∉0↓
Vab < Van ,Vbn
Vbn < Vph ∉ , 120↓ Vab < Vph ∉0↓ ,Vph ∉ , 120↓
Vcn < Vph ∉120↓ < 3Vph ∉30↓

• Magnitude of line-to-line voltage Vab is larger than the magnitude of phase

voltages Van by a factor of 3

• Line-to-line voltage VableadsVanby 30↓

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 Line-to-line voltages in Wye connection
Vca < Vcn ,Van

Vca < Vph ∉120↓ ,Vph ∉0↓

< 3Vph ∉150↓

Vbc < Vbn ,Vcn

Vbc < Vph ∉ , 120↓ ,Vph ∉120↓

< 3Vph ∉ , 90↓
Vab < Van ,Vbn

Vab < Vph ∉0↓ ,Vph ∉ , 120↓

< 3Vph ∉30↓
Vll < 3Vph

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Delta connection (kolmiokytkentä)

• The entrance terminal of one coil is connected to the end terminal of the
next coil

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Delta connection

• Absence of a neural point i.e. floating potentials

• Phase voltages are identical with line-to-line voltages

Vaa ϒ < Vab

Vbbϒ < Vbc

Vcc ϒ < Vca

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Single and three phases loads

• Residential loads are usually single phase loads (230 V)

• Industrial and commercial loads are mostly three phases loads (400 V)

• Clustered residential areas are powered by three phases

• Single houses might be powered by single phase

• Neutral point is grounded to ensure that all loads are powered regardless of
fluctuations in current

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Wye connected load

• Load impedances connected to a common neutral point from one terminal

Zan < Zbn < Zcn < Z
• The load is powered by a three phases source

Connection

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Wye connected load

• Phase currents
Van Vph ∉π Vph
Ia < < < ∉ ∋π , ι(
Z Z ∉ι Z

Vbn Vph ∉ ∋π , 120( Vph

Ib < < < ∉ ∋π , ι , 120(
Z Z ∉ι Z

Vcn Vph ∉ ∋π ∗ 120( Vph

Ic < < < ∉ ∋π , ι ∗ 120(
Z Z ∉ι Z
• Equal magnitudes, 120 phase shifts

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Wye connected load

• Neutral current

I n < Ia ∗ I b ∗ Ic

I n < I a ∗ I a ∉ , 120 ∗ Ia ∉120 < 0

• If source and loads are balanced

the neutral current is zero

• In transmission this means no

need for a neutral line

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Delta-connected load

• Loads connected between two transmission lines

• Voltage across the single load is the line-to-line voltage

I ab < I a ∗ Ica Vab

I ab <
Z
I bc < Ib ∗ I ab Vbc
I bc <
Z
I ca < I c ∗ Ibc
Vca
I ca <
Z
• Balanced load and source balanced currents

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Delta-connected load

• If we choose I abas reference

Iab < I ∉0↓

I bc < I ∉ , 120↓

I ca < I ∉120↓

I a < 3I ∉ , 30↓ < 3I ab ∉ , 30↓

I b < 3I ∉ , 150↓ < 3I bc ∉ , 30↓

I c < I ∉90↓ < 3Ica ∉ , 30↓

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Circuits with mixed connections

• In general circuits can be so that the source or the load or both are
connected in Y-, Delta-, or any combination

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Circuits with mixed connections

• Such circuits requires the load and source to be in the same connection
Y-Delta transformation

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Y-Delta transformation

• Consider the impedance seen by the source terminals

Z Χ (2Z Χ ) 2 Zab < 2ZY

Zab < < ZΧ
3Z Χ 3

• Transformation valid in both directions ZΧ

ZY <
3

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Power of three phases system

• The power of a three phase load is the sum of the powers of each load
(each phase)
• Phases related quantities are called phase quantities (phase current, phase
voltage, phase power)

Pph < Vph I ph cos(π)

Qph < Vph I ph sin(π)

P < 3Pph < 3Vph I ph cos(π)

Q < 3Qph < 3Vph I ph sin(π)

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Power of Y-connected three phases load

• Phase current equal to line current

I ph < I l
• Phase voltage different
Vll
P < 3Pph < 3Vph I ph cos(π) Vph <
3

< 3Vll I l cos(π)

Q < 3Qph < 3Vph I ph sin(π)

< 3Vll I l sin(π)

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Power of Delta-connected load

• Phase voltage equal to line-to-line voltage

• Phase current different Vph < Vll
P < 3Pph < 3Vph I ph cos(π) Il
I ph <
3
< 3Vll I l cos(π)

Q < 3Qph < 3Vph I ph sin(π)

< 3Vll I l sin(π)

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Summary of the lecture

• Three different coils shifted by 120 deg in space generate balanced three
voltages
• The coils can be connected in Y or Delta
• Loads also can be connected in Y or Delta
• Basic equations for single phase system holds also for three phases system
(remember the phase shifts)
• In y-connection, line current equals phase current
• In Delta-connection line-to-line voltage equals phase voltage
• Remember to divide by 3 for the other quantities.

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