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Unit-7
Polyphase circuits
Prepared by:
Jigar Sarda
M & V Patel Department of Electrical Engineering
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• The generator producing a single-phase supply has only one
armature winding.
• But if the generator is arranged to have three separate but
identical winding displaced 120 degree apart and rotate in a
common magnetic field, it produces three voltages of same
magnitude and frequency but displaced by 120 degree
electrical from one another. This is called a three-phase
system.
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1. Constant Power:- In a single phase system, output power varies
sinusoidally at a frequency twice the supply frequency.
This pulsating nature of current is harmful to some applications
whereas the balanced 3-phase system supplies constant current at all
instants of time.
2. Self start:- The 3-phase systems are self starting as they do not
require any starting device.
However, single phase systems require starting device.
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3. Greater output:- The power generated by a 3-phase system is
greater than that of a single phase system for a given volume and
weight of the generator.
This is the distinct advantages over the single phase generator
4. More economical:- The 3-phase system is much smaller and less
expensive than single phase system because less material is required
for a given output power at a given voltage.
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5. Less voltage drop:- The voltage drop from the generator to the load
is less in a 3-phase system in comparison to the single-phase system
6. Power transmission economics:- The conductor material required
to transmit a given power at a given voltage of material required in
single phase system.
This means a saving in material and strength of transmitting towers.
7. High Efficiency:- The 3-phase motors are efficient and have a
higher power factor than single phase motors of the same capacity.
In three phase system, there are three voltages having same
magnitude and frequency displaced by an electrical angle of
120 degree.
They are attaining their positive maximum value in a
particular order.
The order in which voltages in the three-phase attain their
maximum positive value is known as phase sequence.
The emf across each winding is called
phase voltage.
They are denoted by 𝐸𝑅𝑁 , 𝐸𝑌𝑁 and
𝐸𝐵𝑁 .
The voltage between any two lines is
called line voltage.
They are represented by 𝑉𝑅𝑌 , 𝑉𝑌𝐵 and
𝑉𝐵𝑅 respectively.
Similarly currents flowing in the each
winding is known as the phase current
and current flowing in each line is
called the line current.
Since the system is balanced,
Relation between line current and phase current:
Relation between line voltage and phase voltage:
It is seen from figure that in star connection, there are two phase
windings between each pair of line terminals.
Since similar ends of these two winding are connected together, the
emfs across them oppose each other and their instantaneous values
will have opposite polarities.
Therefore the rms value of line voltage between any two lines will be
obtained by the vector difference of the two phase voltages.
The phasor diagram of the phase emfs and currents in a star connected
system is shown below:
Line voltage between terminals R and Y,
Hence it is clear that in a star connected system, the line voltage is obtained as the
vector difference of the two corresponding phase voltages.
This is shown in fig below, for examples 𝑉𝑅𝑌 is found by adding 𝑉𝑅𝑁 and 𝑉𝑌𝑁
reversed and its magnitude is given by the diagonal of the parallelogram.
Since side of the parallelogram are of equal length and angle
between two phase voltages is 60 degree.
The line voltage is given by,
The emf across each winding is called
phase voltage.
They are denoted by 𝐸𝑅 , 𝐸𝑌 and 𝐸𝐵 .
The voltage between any two lines is
called line voltage.
They are represented by 𝑉𝑅𝑌 , 𝑉𝑌𝐵 and
𝑉𝐵𝑅 respectively.
Similarly currents flowing in the each
winding is known as the phase current
and current flowing in each line is
called the line current.
Since the system is balanced,
Relation between line voltage and phase voltage:
Relation between line current and phase current:
It is seen from figure that current flowing in each line is the vector
difference of the two phase currents.
Current in line 1,
Current in line 2,
Current in line 3,
Current in line l can be found as the vector difference of the two corresponding
phase currents. This is shown in fir below:
𝐼𝐿1 can be obtained by adding 𝐼𝑅 and 𝐼𝐵 reversed and its value is given by the
diagonal of the parallelogram as shown in vector diagram.
Since the sides of parallelogram are equal in magnitude and the angle between them
is 60 degree, the line current is given as:
The total power in the 3-phase circuit is equal
to the arithmetic sum of three phase power.
Hence,
1. A 415 V, 3-phase voltage is applied to a balanced star-connected 3-phase load of
phase impedance (3+j4) ohms each. Calculate (i) line current and (ii) total power
supplied in kW.
Solution:- star connection
2. A balanced mesh-connected load of 6+j8 ohms per phase is connected to a 3-
phase, 230 V supply. Find the line current, p.f and power.
Solution:- Connection Delta
3. Three similar coils each of resistance 15 ohms and inductance of 0.25 H are
connected (i) in star and (ii) in delta to a 3-phase, 400 V, 50 Hz supply. Calculate
line and phase values of current and voltage in both the cases. Also calculate the
power absorbed.
Solution:- ,
