Electromechanical Motion Devices, Second Edition by Paul Krause, Oleg Wasynczuk and Steven Pekarek Copyright 2012 Institute

e of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

Appendix C THREE-PHASE SYSTEMS

In a three-phase system, there are two types of connections that are most often used: the wye (Y) connection and the delta (A) connection. Also, there are two phase sequences. In the abc-sequence, the a-phase variables lead the 6-phase variables in time phase and the fr-phase variables lead the c-phase variables. In the acb-sequence, the c-phase variables lead the &-phase variables. Wye Connection The wye (Y) connection is illustrated in Fig. C-l. Balanced three-phase currents are equal-amplitude sinusoidal currents displaced by 120. The instantaneous sum of balanced currents is zero; hence, a fourth wire is not needed. In a Y connection, the assigned negative-potential sides of the windings are all connected to form what is called the neutral point, shown as n in Fig. C-l. The neutral may be grounded or left to float. As mentioned, if the currents are balanced, their instantaneous sum is zero. If the neutral is floating, it is clear that the sum of the currents must be zero regardless of their form. The voltages across each phase are referred to as line-to-neutral voltages, whereas the voltages between two of the three phases are the line-to-line voltages. The phase currents are the line currents. We can relate the lineto-neutral and line-to-line voltages as 489

490

APPENDIX C

Figure C-1: Wye connection.

Vab = Vbc = Va-Vb Vb-Vc

(C-1) (C-2) (C-3)

VC = VC- Va

If the system is balanced, then we can express the steady-state phase voltages for an abc sequence as
Va = \/2Va COS 0Jet

(C-4) (C-5) (C-6)

Vb =

V2Vscos(ujet-lTT)

Vc = y/2Va cos (uet + 7r)

where the capital letters are used to denote steady-state conditions. For an abc sequence, the phase voltages may be written in phasor form as Va = Vs/W_ Vb = VJ - 120 (C-7) (C-8) (C-9)

vc = Vs/vxr
The line-to-line voltages may be expressed as

THREE-PHASE SYSTEMS

491

Vab = K/0 ~ Vsl - 120 = ^^730 (C-10)

Vbc = Vs/ ~ 120 - K/120 = >/3V r a /-90 K a = K/i20 - n / o = y^K/lSO0 (C-12) (C-ll)

Hence, the line-to-line voltages form a balanced three-phase set that is V3 times the magnitude of the line-to-neutral voltages and shifted ahead in time phase by 30 for an abc sequence and shifted back by 30 for an acb sequence. For balanced steady-state conditions, we need to consider only one phase since once we have determined the variables associated with one of the phases we can express the other phase variables by shifting the phase ahead or back by 120. Delta Connection The A connection is illustrated in Fig. C-2. In this type of connection, the line-to-line voltages are the voltages across the phases, that is, va = i>a&, Vb Vba and so on. There is no neutral connection. The line currents are the sum of currents from two phases. For the connection shown in Fig. C-2,
lac la ~ tc (-loj

Ha = ib~ia icb = ic-ib

(C-14) (c"15)

492

APPENDIX C

+
Vab

Vca\

Iba
Tu *b ii V l

>

Figure C-2: Delta connection. If, for example, the currents form a balanced abc sequence, then la = Is/0 h = Is/ - 120 (C-16) (C-17) (C-18)

h=
The line currents become
Lac

I,/120

= /./o^- /s/120 = Vsish-30

(C-19)

Thus, for an abc sequence, Iac is \/3 times the amplitude of Ia and shifted 30 back in phase from it. Similarly, Iha is shifted back 30 from Ih and cb back 30 from Ic. In the case of the acb sequence, the line currents are shifted ahead of the phase currents.