Department of Electrical Engineering

Academic year: 2023-24, Semester: III

Electrical Circuit Analysis

Module-3: Sinusoidal steady state analysis

Lecture# 3:Three Phase Circuits

Dr. Bablesh Kumar Jha

1 Introduction
• A system which generates a single alternating voltage and current is termed a single-phase
system. It utilises only one winding.

• A polyphase system utilises more than one winding. It will produce as many induced voltages
as the number of windings.

• A three-phase system consists of three separate but identical windings displaced by 120 elec-
trical degrees from each other as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 1: Three-phase system

• When these three windings are rotated in an anticlockwise direction with constant angular ve-
locity in a uniform magnetic field, the emfs induced in each winding have the same magnitude
and frequency but are displaced 120o from one another.

The instantaneous values of generated voltage in windings RR1 , Y Y1 and BB1 are given by

eR = Em sin θ, ey = Em sin (θ − 120o ), eb = Em sin (θ − 240o )

where Em is the maximum value of the induced voltage in each winding.

1
 (a) Waveform (b) Phasor diagram

Figure 2: Three-Phase System

2 Adavantages of a 3-ϕ system

• In a single-phase system, the instantaneous power is fluctuating in nature. However, in a
three-phase system, it is constant at all times.
• The output of a three-phase system is greater than that of a single-phase system.
• Transmission and distribution of a three-phase system is cheaper than that of a single-phase
system.
• Three-phase motors are more efficient and have higher power factors than single-phase motors
of the same frequency.
• Three-phase motors are self-starting whereas single-phase motors are not self-starting.

3 Related Terms
• Phase Sequence: The sequence in which the voltages in the three phases reach the maximum
positive value is called the phase sequence or phase order.
From the phasor diagram of a three-phase system, it is clear that the voltage in the coil R
attains maximum positive value first, next in the coil Y and then in the coil B. Hence, the
phase sequence is R-Y-B.
• Phase Voltage: The voltage induced in each winding is called the phase voltage.
• Phase Current: The current flowing through each winding is called the phase current.
• Line Voltage: The voltage available between any pair of terminals or lines is called the line
voltage.
• Line Current: The current flowing through each line is called the line current.
• Balanced System: A three-phase system is said to be balanced if the
1. voltages in the three phases are equal in magnitude and differ in phase from one another
by 120o , and
2. currents in the three phases are equal in magnitude and differ in phase from one another
by 120o .
• Balnaced Load: The load is said to be balanced if loads connected across the three phases
are identical, i.e., all the loads have the same magnitude and power factor.

2
4 Interconnection of Three-phases
• In a three-phase system, there are three windings. Each winding has two terminals, viz.,
‘start’ and ‘finish’.
• If a separate load is connected across each winding as shown in Fig. 3, six conductors are
required to transmit and distribute power.
This will make the system complicated and expensive.
In order to reduce the number of conductors, the three windings are connected in the following

Figure 3: Non-interlinked three-phase system

two ways:
1. Star, or Wye, connection
2. Delta, or Mesh, connection

5 Star, or Wye, connection

In this method, similar terminals (start or finish) of the three windings are joined together as shown
in Fig. 4a. The common point is called star or neutral point.
Figure 4b shows a three-phase system in star connection. This system is called a three-phase,
four-wire system.

3
 (a) Three-phase star connection (b) Three-phase four wire system

Figure 4: Three-Phase system

• If three identical loads are connected to each phase, the current flowing through the neutral
wire is the sum of the three currents IR , IY and IB .

• Since the impedances are identical, the three currents are equal in magnitude but differ in
phase from one another by 120o .

iR = Im sin θ, iy = Im sin (θ − 120o ), ib = Im sin (θ − 240o )

iR + iy + iB = Im sin θ + Im sin (θ − 120o ) + Im sin (θ − 240o ) = 0

• Hence, the neutral wire can be removed without any way affecting the voltages or currents in
the circuit as shown in Fig. 5. This constitutes a three-phase, three-wire system.

• If the load is not balanced, the neutral wire carries some current.

Figure 5: Three-phase, three-wire system

6 Delta, or Mesh, connection

• In this method, dissimilar terminals of the three windings are joined together, i.e., the ‘finish’
terminal of one winding is connected to the ‘start’ terminal of the other winding, and so on,
as shown in Fig. 6. This system is also called a three-phase, three-wire system.

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 Figure 6: Three-phase delta connection

• For a balanced system, the sum of the three-phase voltages round the closed mesh is zero.
The three emfs are equal in magnitude but differ in phase from one another by 120o .

eR = Em sin θ, ey = Em sin (θ − 120o ), eb = Em sin (θ − 240o )

eR + ey + eB = Em sin θ + Em sin (θ − 120o ) + Em sin (θ − 240o ) = 0

7 Voltage, Current and Power Relations in a Balanced

Star-connected load
7.1 Relation between Line Voltage and Phase Voltage

Figure 7: Star connection

5
 Since the system is balanced, the three-phase voltages VRN , VY N , and VBN are equal in magnitude
and differ in phase from one another by 120o .
Let, VRN = VY N = VBN = Vph
Where, Vph indicates the RMS value of phase voltage.

VRN = Vph 0o , VY N = Vph −120o , VBN = Vph −240o

Let, VRY = VY B = VBR = VL

Where, VL indicates the RMS value of Line voltage.
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law,

VRY = VRN + VN Y = VRN −VY N

= Vph 0o − Vph −120o ⇒ (Vph + j0) − (−0.5Vph − j0.866Vph )

√
= 1.5Vph + j0.866Vph = 3Vph 300
Similarly, √
VY B = VY N + VN B =3Vph 300
√
VBR = VBN + VN R = 3Vph 300
√
Thus, in a star-connected, three-phase system, VL = 3Vph and line voltages lead respective phase
voltages by 30o .

7.2 Relation between Line Current and Phase Current

From Fig. 7, it is clear that line current is equal to the phase current.

IL = Iph

7.3 Power
The total power in a three-phase system is the sum of powers in the three phases. For a balanced
load, the power consumed in each load phase is the same.
Total active power
P = 3 × P ower in phase = 3Vph Iph cos ϕ
In a star-connected, three-phase system,
VL
Vph = √ , & Iph = IL
3
VL √
P = 3 × √ × IL × cos ϕ = 3VL IL cos ϕ
3
Where, ϕ is the phase difference between phase voltage and corresponding phase current.
Similarly,
Total reactive power √
Q = 3Vph Iph sin ϕ = 3VL IL sin ϕ
Total Apparent power √
S = 3Vph Iph = 3VL IL

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8 Voltage, Current and Power Relations in a Balanced
Delta-connected load
8.1 Relation between Line Voltage and Phase Voltage
From Fig. 8 shows a balanced delta-connected load and it is clear that line voltage is equal to phase
voltage.
VL = Vph

Figure 8: Delta connection

8.2 Relation between Line current and Phase current

Since the system is balanced, the three-phase currents IRY , IY B and IBR are equal in magnitude
but differ in phase from one another by 120o .
Let IRY = IY B = IBR = Iph
Where, Iph indicates rms value of the phase current.

IRY = Iph oo , IY B = Iph −120o , IBR = Iph −240o

Let IR = IY = IB = IL Where IL indicates the rms value of line

current.
Applying Kirchoff’s current law,
IR + IBR = IRY
IR = IRY − IBR ⇒ Iph oo − Iph −240o
√
= (Iph + j0) − (−0.5Iph + j0.866Iph ) = 1.5Iph − j0.866Iph = 3Iph −30o
Similarly, √
IY = IY B − IRY = 3Iph −30o
√
IB = IBR−IY B = 3Iph −30o
√
Thus, in a delta-connected, three phase system, IL = 3Iph and the line current lags behind the
respective phase current by 30o .

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8.3 Power
The total power in a three-phase system is the sum of powers in the three phases. For a balanced
load, the power consumed in each load phase is the same.
Total active power
P = 3 × P ower in phase = 3Vph Iph cos ϕ
In a delta-connected, three-phase system,

Vph = VL

IL
Iph = √
3
IL √
P = 3 × VL × √ cos ϕ = 3VL IL cos ϕ
3
Similarly,
Total reactive power √
Q = 3Vph Iph sin ϕ = 3VL IL sin ϕ
Total Apparent power √
S = 3Vph Iph = 3VL IL

Figure 9: COMPARISON BETWEEN STAR AND DELTA CONNECTIONS

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If you have any doubts or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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