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THREE-PHASE LOAD POWER MAESUREMENT

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INTRODUCTION
 Electric power is the rate of doing work. It is expressed in Watts.

 The higher units of power used in practice include kilowatts, megawatts, etc.

 PWatts = VI COS φ , i.e., a power of one watt is said to be expended when a

source of one volt passes a current of one ampere through a load resistance/
impedance of one ohm at unity power factor.

 The power measurements are made with the help of a wattmeter. Wattmeter is
an indicating deflecting type of instrument used in laboratories for
measurement of power in various ranges.

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A wattmeter consists of two coils :

 A low resistance current coil

which is inserted in series with the
line carrying the current.

 A high resistance voltage or

pressure coil which is connected
across the two points where the
potential difference is to be
measured.

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A watt meter shows a reading which is proportional to the product of the current
through the current coil, the potential difference across the pressure coil and the
cosine of the angle between the voltage and the current.

Each wattmeter measures the power of a single phase.

There are three methods used to measure three-phase load power:

1. The three wattmeter method

2. The two wattmeter method

3. The one wattmeter method.

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1. THE THREE WATTMETER METHOD.

R R

w2 L1 w1 L1
w1
N
L2 L3
L3
Y L2
B
w2
w3
Y B w3

(a) Delta Connected Load (b) Star Connected Load

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In this method, three wattmeter are inserted, one in each phase as shown in the figure above.

The algebraic sum of their readings gives the total power consumed by the three phase load.

That is 3-ph Power

P T = W 1 + W 2 + W3

The difficulty with the three-wattmeter method is that under ordinary conditions it is not generally
possible to break into the phases of the delta-connected load nor is it always possible in the case of
star-connected loads to get at the neutral point which is required for the connection as shown in figure
(b) above.

In practical terms, it is not necessary to use the three-wattmeter to measure three phase power. The
two-wattmeter can be better choice.

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THE TWO WATTMETER METHOD  This method gives the true power of the
three phase circuit without regard to whether
the phases are balance in the case of a star
W1 connected load.
iR
 The neutral of the load should be
disconnected from the neutral of the source.
L1 Or if there is a neutral connection, it must
carry no current.
L3
iB  This is only possible if the load is perfectly
L2
balanced and there are no harmonics
present.
iY  This method can also be used for 3-phase, 4-
W2 wire system in which the neutral wire carries
Star Arrangement the neutral current

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 The current coil of the two-wattmeter are

inserted in any two wires and the potential of
w1 each join to the third line. It can be proved
that the some of the instantaneous powers
R
indicated by wattmeter 1 and 2 (W1 and W2)
L2 L1 gives the instantaneous power absorbed by
the three loads L1, L2, and L3.
L3 B
 Before we consider the current through the
Y p.d across each wattmeter, it maybe pointed
w2 out that it is important to take the direction of
voltage through the circuit the same as that
(a) Delta connected Load taken for the current when establishing the
readings of the two wattmeters.

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CONSIDER THE STAR CONNECTION
The instantaneous current through wattmeter 1 is = iR

eRB The instantaneous p.d. across wattmeter 1 is eRB = eR - eB

eR eYB The instantaneous power read by wattmeter 1 is = iR(eR – eB)

-eB
iR
The instantaneous current through wattmeter 2 is iY
eY

The instantaneous p.d. across wattmeter 2 is eYB = eY - eB

iY

eB The instantaneous power read by wattmeter 1 is = iY(eY – eB )

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Therefore, This proof is true whether the load is balanced or

W1 + W2 = iR(eR – eB ) + (iY(eY – eB) not. If the load is star-connected, then there
W1 + W2 = iReR + iYeY - eB(iR + iY) …….. (i) should be no neutral connection. But if it has a
neutral connection, (i.e. a three phase four wire
By KCL, iR + iY + iB = 0 system) then it should be perfectly balance so
that there is no neutral line. Otherwise KCL will
iR + iY = - iB ………….….(ii)
give
Substituting in equation (i) iR + iY + iB = iN
W1 + W2 = iReR + iYeY + iBeB Instead of equation (ii) above.
W1 + W 2 = P1 + P2 + P3 Because of the moving system of the wattmeter
due to inertia, variation of reading always take
Where P1 = power absorb by load 1
place. Hence the average power would be
P2 = power absorb by load 2
P3 = power absorb by load 3
W1 + W 2 = ∫ 𝑖𝑅𝑒𝑅𝐵 dt + ∫ 𝑖𝑅𝑒𝑌𝐵 dt
Hence W1 + W2 = Total power absorb by the 3-ph
load

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TWO WATTMETER METHOD FOR BALANCE LOADS

If the load is balanced, the power factor of the load can also be found using the Two-Wattmeter
readings.
Let us assume that the load connected in the figures below are inductive.
The vector diagram for such a star-connected load is shown in figure (b) below.

1 R

L1
L3
3 L2 2
Y
B

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The p.d across voltage coil of W1 is:
VYB
VYB = VY - VB
VY -VB
IY
VRB The phase difference between VYB and IY is
(30 – Φ) so that the reading on W1 is

W1 = IY*VYB cos (30 – Φ)

VR
IB IR
Similarly, the current flowing through W2 = IR
VB The p.d across voltage coil of W2 is:

VRB = VR - VB
Let us assume that all readings are RMS values The phase difference between VRY and IR is
(30 + Φ) so that the reading on W2 is
Let the current flowing through W1 = IR
IR*VRY cos (30 + Φ)

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Since the load is balanced, VRB = VYB = VL √
IL*VL [2 ( ) cos Φ]
Also, IY = I R = I L

W1 = IL*VL cos (30 – Φ) IL*VL 3 cos Φ

W2 = IL*VL cos (30 + Φ)

W1 + W2 = 3 ILVLcos Φ
The total power is
Hence, the sum of the Two-Wattmeter readings
W1 + W 2 = gives the total power consumption in a three
IL*VL cos (30 - Φ) + IL*VL cos (30 + Φ) phase balanced load.

IL*VL [cos (30 - Φ) + cos (30 + Φ)]

IL*VL [2cos 30 cos Φ]

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CONSIDER THE DELTA CONNECTION

The instantaneous current through the coil of wattmeter 1
(W1) is given by iR = i1 – i3
The instantaneous voltage measured by coil of wattmeter 1
w1 (W1) will be eRB
i1 R
The instantaneous power is W1 = eRB (i1 – i3)
L1 L3
i3
The instantaneous current through the coil of wattmeter 1
i2 L2 B (W2) is given by iY = i2 – i1
The instantaneous voltage measured by coil of wattmeter 1
Y (W2) will be eYB
w2
The instantaneous power is W2 = eYB (i2 – i1)

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The total power will be

W1 + W2 = eRB (i1 – i3) + eYB (i2 – i1)

W1 + W2 = eRB i1 – eRBi3 + eYB i2 – eYBi1

W1 + W2 = (eRB – eYB)i1 + eYB i2 – eRBi3

W1 + W2 = - (eYB + eBR)i1 + eYB i2 + eBRi3

W1 + W2 = eRYi1 + eYB i2 + eBRi3

Note
W1 + W2 = TOTAL POWER
eRY + eYB + eBR = 0

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VARIATION IN WATTMETER READINGS (c) When 90o > Φ > 60o, i.e with 0 > Φ > 0.5

We already have W1 is still +ve but the reading of W2 is reversed.

W1 = VLIL cos(30o – Φ) i.e. When Φ = 90o, (i.e with purely inductive loads).
W2 = VLIL cos(30o + Φ)
W1 = VLIL Cos(30o – 90o) = VLIL sin 30o
For Lagging pf.
W2 = VLIL Cos(30o + 90o) = - VLIL sin 30o
From this it is clear that the individual readings of the
wattmeters does not only depends on the load but W1 + W2 = 0
upon its pf.
(a) When Φ = 0, i.e with a resistive load (or unity pf.) Φ 0o 60o 90o
W1 = W2 = VLIL( ) Cos Φ 1 0.5 0
(b) When Φ = 60o, i.e with 0.5 pf. lagging.
W1 +ve +ve +ve
W2 = VLIL cos(30 + 60) = 0
W2 W1 = W 2 0 -ve
Hence, the power is measured by W1 alone
(W1=W2)

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For Leading pf. ( )
tan Φ = ………….. (iii)
( )
For Φ = 60o (lag), W2 = 0
However, if W2 reading is taken after reversing
For Φ = 60o (lead), W1 = 0 the pressure coil, i.e. if W2 is –ve, the eq (iii)
Meaning for leading, the readings of the two becomes
wattmeters interchanged. [ ]
tan Φ =
[ ]
W1 = VLIL cos (30o + Φ)
( )
W2 = VLIL cos (30o - Φ) tan Φ = ………….. (iv)
( )

POWER FACTOR FOR BALANCED LOADS W2

Let = r,
W1
For a balanced load with a lagging pf.
( )
W1 + W2 = 3 VLIL cos Φ ……………(i) So that eq (iii) is tan Φ =
( )
W1 - W2 = VLIL sin Φ ……………(ii)
( )
tan Φ =
Dividing eq (i) by (ii) gives ( )

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We know that sec2 Φ = 1 + tan2 Φ And W2 = VLIL cos (30o - Φ)

= 1 + tan2 Φ W1 + W2 = 3VLIL cos Φ

W1 - W2 = 3VLIL sin Φ
cos Φ =
√( ) [ ]
tan Φ =
[ ]
cos Φ =
√{ } P, Q, S

cos Φ = IV
√( ) 3(W1 − W2)
Φ
For a balance leading load
W1 = VLIL cos (30o + Φ) W1 + W2

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ADVANTAGES OF THE TWO WATTMETER DISADVANTAGES OF THE TWO
WATTMETER

1. They can be used for both BALANCED and 1.

UNBALANCED LOADS

2. The NEUTRAL wire may not be necessary 2.

3. In a delta, connected load need not to be open 3.

to connect the wattmeter.

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ONE WATTMETER METHODS
This method is not universal because it is
W restricted to fairly balanced loads only.
R
The Power

P = W = IV Cos Φ
1 2
Y The 3-ph Power
B
3 x P = W1 + W2

In this case, it is possible to apply two wattmeter

However, it may be conveniently used to find
method by means of One Wattmeter as shown
the power input of a factory 3-ph motors.
above.

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HOMEWORK 1 HOMEWORK 3

While performing a load test on a 3-ph induction

A 3-phase, 400 V load has a PF of 0.6 motor by two wattmeter method, the readings were
lagging. The two wattmeters read a total 12.5 kW and 4.8 kW and the line voltage was 440
input power of 20 kW. Find reading of V. Calculate:
each wattmeter. (a) the true power drawn by the motor
(b) the pf. and the line current.

HOMEWORK 2 HOMEWORK 4
The power input measurement to a synchronous
A 3-phase, 10 kVA load has a PF of 0.342. The
motor is done using two wattmeter method. Each
power is measured by two wattmeter method. Find
of the wattmeter reads 40 kW at a certain
the reading of each wattmeter when the PF is
operating condition. If now, the PF is changed to
(i) Lagging and
0.8 lagging, what would be the new wattmeter
(ii) Leading
readings?

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HOMEWORK 5

(a) A 440 V three phase delta connected

TO BE SUBMITED
induction motor has an output power of 14.92
kW at a pf of 0.82 and an efficiency of 85%.
ON THE 18TH
Calculate the readings of each of the two-
wattmeters connected to measure it power
JANUARY 2025.
input.

(b) If another star connected load of 10 kV at

0.85 pf lagging is added in parallel to the
motor, what will be the current drawn from This is part of your
the lines and the power taken from the lines.
Continuous Assessment

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