Electromechanical Devices

ME 413
Dr. Elwaleed Awad Khidir

Power in three-phase systems

The power dissipated in a three-phase load is given by the sum of the
power dissipated in each phase. If a load is balanced then the total
power P is given by:
P = 3 x power consumed by one phase.
The power consumed in one phase= Ip2 Rp
or = Vp Ip cos
(where

is the phase angle between Vp and Ip)

Star connection
For a star connection,
Vp = VL / 3
and

IL = Ip

P = 3 (VL / 3) IL cos
= 3 VL IL cos

Delta connection
For a delta connection,
Vp = VL
and

IP = IL / 3

P = 3 VL (IL / 3) cos
= 3 VL IL cos

Hence for either a star or a delta balanced connection the total power P
is given by:
P = 3 VL IL cos

or

P = 3 Ip2 Rp

watts

watts

Comparison of star and delta

connections
(i)

Loads connected in delta dissipate three times more power than

when connected in star to the same supply.

(ii) For the same power, the phase currents must be the same for both
delta and star connections (since power = 3 Ip2 Rp ), hence the
line
current in the delta-connected system is greater than the
line current in the corresponding star-connected system. To
achieve the same phase current in a star-connected system as in
a delta-connected system, the line voltage in the star system is 3
times the line voltage in the delta system.
Thus for a given power transfer, a delta system is associated with
larger line currents and a star system is associated with a larger line
voltage.

Advantages of three-phase systems

Advantages of three-phase systems over single-phase supplies
include:
(i)

For a given amount of power transmitted through a system, the

three-phase system requires conductors with a smaller crosssectional area. This means a saving of copper (or aluminium) and
thus the original installation costs are less.

(ii) Two voltages are available.

(iii) Three-phase motors are very robust, relatively cheap, generally
smaller, have self-starting properties, provide a steadier output and
require little maintenance compared with single-phase motors.

Example 1
Three loads, each of resistance 30 , are connected in star to a
415 V, 3-phase supply. Determine
(a) the system phase voltage,
(b) the phase current and
(c) the line current.
Solution:
Hint:
A 415 V, 3-phase supply means that 415 V is the line voltage, VL
(a) For a star connection, VL = 3 Vp
Hence phase voltage, , Vp =VL / 3
= 415 / 3 = 239.6 V or 240 V

Example 1
(a) For a star connection, VL = 3 Vp
Hence phase voltage, , Vp =VL / 3
= 415 / 3 = 239.6 V or 240 V
(b) Phase current, Ip =Vp / Rp
= 240/30 = 8A
(c) For a star connection, Ip =IL
Hence the line current, IL = 8A

Example 2
A star-connected load consists of three identical coils each of
resistance 30 and inductance 127.3 mH. If the line current is
5.08 A, calculate the line voltage if the supply frequency is 50 Hz.
Inductive reactance XL = 2 f L = 2 (50)(127.3 x 10-3) = 40
Impedance of each phase Zp = (R2 + XL2) = (302 + 402) = 50
For a star connection , IL = Ip = Vp / Zp
Hence phase voltage Vp = Ip Zp = (5.08)(50) = 254 V
Line voltage VL = 3 Vp = 3 (254) = 440 V

Example 3
Three identical coils each of resistance 30 and inductance 127.3
mH are connected in delta to a 440 V, 50 Hz, 3-phase supply.
Determine (a) the phase current,
(b) the line current.
From Example 2 Zp = 50
For a delta connection, Vp = VL
(a) Phase current, Ip = Vp / Zp = VL / Zp = 440/50 = 8.8 A
(b) For a delta connection, IL = 3 Ip = 3 (8.8) = 15.24 A
Thus when the load is connected in delta, three times the line
current is taken from the supply than is taken if connected in star.

Example 4
Three identical coils, each of resistance 10 and inductance 42
mH are connected (a) in star and (b) in delta to a 415 V, 50 Hz,
3phase supply. Determine the total power dissipated in each case.
(a) Star connection
Inductive reactance XL = 2 f L = 2 (50)(42 x 10-3) = 13.19
Phase impedance Zp = (R2 + XL2) = (102 + 13.192) = 16.55
Line voltage VL = 415 V
Phase voltage, , Vp =VL / 3 =415 / 3 = 240 V
Phase current, Ip = Vp / Zp = VL / Zp = 240/16.55 = 14.50 A
Line current, IL = Ip = 14.50 A
Power factor = cos = Rp / Zp = 10/16.55 = 0.6042 lagging
Power dissipated, P = 3 VL IL cos = 3 (415)(14.50)(0.6042)
= 6.3 kW

Example 4
(b) Delta connection
Line voltage VL = Vp = 415 V
cos = 0.6042 lagging (from (a))
Phase current, Ip = Vp / Zp = 415/16.55 = 25.08 A
Line current, IL = 3 Ip = 3 (25.08) = 43.44 A
Power dissipated, P = 3 VL IL cos = 3 (415)(43.44)(0.6042)
= 18.87 kW
Hence loads connected in delta dissipate three times the power
than when connected in star, and also take a line current three
times greater.