Introduction to Three-Phase Systems
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Three-Phase system
Introduction
• What is a Three-Phase system?
• Balanced Three-Phase Voltages
• Balanced Three-Phase Connection
• Power in a Balanced System
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What is a Three-Phase system?
It is a system produced by a generator consisting of
Three sources having the same amplitude and
frequency but out of phase with each other by 120°.
Three phase
source with 4 Wired system
120° out of
phase
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Balanced Three-Phase Voltages
• Balanced phase voltages are equal in
magnitude and are out of phase with each
other by 120°.
• The phase sequence is the time order in
which the voltages pass through their
respective maximum values.
• A balanced load is one in which the phase
impedances are equal in magnitude and in
phase
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Quiz
• Determine the phase sequence of voltages
expressed in phasor form
Van=210 ∠10°
Vbn=210∠ -230°
Vcn=210∠ -110°
Answer
• Van-Vbn=∠ 10° -∠ -230°=240°
• Van-Vcn= ∠ 10° -∠ -110°= 120 °
• Van leads Vcn by 120° and Vcn in turn leads Vbn
by 120°. This is acb phase sequence 5
Advantages of a Three-Phase Circuit?
1. Most of the electric power is generated and
distributed in three-phase.
2. The instantaneous power in a three-phase
system can be constant.
3. When power is transmitted over long
distances the three-phase system is more
economical than the single-phase system.
4. Amount of wire required for a three-phase
system is less than that required for an
equivalent single-phase system.
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Balanced Three-Phase Voltages
• A three-phase generator consists of a rotating
magnet (rotor) surrounded by a stationary
winding (stator).
A three-phase generator The generated voltages
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Balanced Three-Phase Voltages
• Two possible configurations:
Three-phase voltage sources: (a) Y-connected (b) Δ-connected
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Balanced Three-Phase Voltages
• Balanced phase voltages are equal in magnitude
and are out of phase with each other by 120°.
• The phase sequence is the time order in which
the voltages pass through their respective
maximum values.
• A balanced load is one in which the phase
impedances are equal in magnitude and in phase
• Phases are sequenced as A, B, C (positive) or A, C,
B (negative).
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Phasor (Vector) Form for abc representation
Va+Vb+Vc=0
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Balance Three-Phase
Connection
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Balanced Y-Y Three-Phase Connection
•A balanced Y-Y system is a three-phase system
with a balanced Y-connected source and a balanced Y-
connected load.
Lecture 21 12
Balanced Y-Δ Three-Phase Connection
• A balanced Y-Δ system is a three-phase
system with a balanced Y-connected source
and a balanced Δ-connected load.
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Balanced Δ-Δ Three-Phase Connection
• A balanced Δ-Δ system is a three-phase
system with a balanced Δ -connected source
and a balanced Δ -connected load.
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Balanced Δ-Y Three-Phase Connection
• A balanced Δ-Y system is a three-phase
system with a balanced Δ-connected source
and a balanced y-connected load
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Power in a Balanced System
• Comparing the power loss in (a) a single-phase
system, and (b) a three-phase system
Ploss=R´PL2/VL2, three phase
If same power loss is tolerated in both system, three-
phase system use only 75% of materials of a single-
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phase system
Example Problem
