EE 103

CIRCUITS 3

Balanced Three-Phase System

by:
Cesar G. Manalo, Jr.

Objectives
Construct the circuit and phasor diagram of a threephase system with a balanced wye- and/or deltaconnected load.
Solve for the phase and line current/voltage of a threephase system with balanced wye- and/or deltaconnected load.

Balanced Three-Phase Load

Balanced 3-Phase Loads

A 3-phase load is said to be
balanced, if all phase impedances
(load) are equal, otherwise, they
are unbalanced.
In a Y-connected load, the phase
impedances or loads are
connected to a common point.

3-phase
rectifier

Za

Zb

Zc

3-phase Y-connected
Balanced Load, ZA = ZB = ZC

3-phase induction motor

Balanced 3-Phase Loads

ZT

A
+
-

Vc

Va
Vb

VAB

ZT

B
VBC

+
-

Vc

Va
Vb

Zb

VCA

Zc

ZT

C
3-phase Y-connected source
or generator
A

Za

Transmission line

3-phase Y-connected
Balanced Load, Za = Zb = Zc

VAB

Za

B
VBC

VCA

Zb

Zc

C
3-phase Y-connected source
or generator

Transmission line

3-phase Y-connected
Balanced Load, Za = Zb = Zc

Balanced 3-phase 3-wire Y-Y Circuit with Balanced 3-phase source

Balanced 3-Phase Loads

IA

A
+
-

Ia
Vc=VCn
Ic

Va=VAn
Vb=VBn

n
Ib

IB

B
C

3-phase Y-connected source

or generator

VBC

Ia

IN

VAB

VCA

IC

Transmission line

Vb

Za

Zb

Va
Zc

Ib

Vc

Ic

3-phase Y-connected
Balanced Load, Za = Zb = Zc

Balanced 3-phase 4-wire Y-Y Circuit with Balanced 3-phase source

Illustrative Problem 1
A 3-phase Y-connected load with phase impedance Z = 150 + j270
is connected to the secondary of a Y-connected transformer with a
110-V phase voltage. Find,
a) The line voltages
b) Line currents IA, IB, IC assuming V2a = 110 <0o and phases are in
positive phase sequence.
c) Repeat a) if neutral of load is connected to neutral of source.
IA

Ia

VAB VCA
IB

B
C
3-phase transformer

VBC

IC

Za V
a

Vb Zb

Zc Vc

Ib

Ic

3-phase Y-connected
Balanced Load, Za = Zb = Zc

Illustrative Problem 1
a) Repeat a) if neutral of load is connected to neutral of source.

IA

IN

Ia

VAB VCA
IB

B
C
3-phase transformer

VBC

IC

Vb

Za

Zb

Va
Zc

Ib

Vc

Ic

3-phase Y-connected
Balanced Load, Za = Zb = Zc

Per Phase Analysis

A

IA

VVa=V
AB AB/1.73 IN = 0
VCA IN = 0
N
N

Ia

Za

Va

Vc
N
VVbb Z
IBIB
Z
BC/1.73
c
B Vb=V
b
Per phase analysis using phase
A
B VC=VCA/1.73
Ic
VBC
Ibb
I
I
C
C
C
Per phase analysis using
phase Y-connected
3-phase
B
Balanced
Load,CZa = Zb = Zc
Per phase analysis
using phase

Per Phase Analysis

IA

A
VAB

Vb

IB

VCA

Ia

IN = 0

VBC

Za

n
Ic

Ib

IC

Va=VAB/1.73 IN = 0

V
Zc c

Zb

IA

Va

Ia

Va

Za

Per phase analysis using phase A

3-phase Y-connected
Balanced Load, Za = Zb = Zc
N
Vb=VBC/1.73

IN = 0
IB

Vb

Zc

VC=VCA/1.73

Zb

Ib

Per phase analysis using phase B

IC

Ic

Per phase analysis using phase C

A per phase analysis can be done on a balanced 3-phase system.

In a balance 3-phase 4-wire system, the magnitude of the current
on the neutral line is zero.

Vc

Illustrative Problem 2
Repeat Illustrative problem # 1 using per phase analysis.
IA

impedance Z = 150 + j270

Ia

VAB VCA
IB

B
C
3-phase transformer

VBC

IC

Vb

Za

Zb

Va
Zc

Ib

Vc

Ic

3-phase Y-connected
Balanced Load, Za = Zb = Zc

Illustrative Problem No. 3

A balance 3-phase load is connected to a 3-phase alternator with
line-to-line voltage of 230 volts. Find:
a) Load phase currents
b) Load line currents
c) Phasor diagram of phase and line currents.
A
+
-

Ia

230 V

Ib

3-phase Alternator

IB

N
Ic

Balance3-phase load,
Z : R = 75, XL = 50

IA

230 V 230 V

IC

Balanced 3-Phase Loads

A

IA
230 V
B

IAB

IB
230 V 230 V
IC
C

Let:
VAB = 230 30o
VBC = 230 -90o
VCA = 230 150o
Z (75) 2 (50) 2 90.14

for balance 3-phase load

230
I AB I BC I CA
2.55 A
90.14

Balance3-phase
load,
I
CA
Z
Z
Z : R = 75, XL = 50

Z
IBC

50
33 .69
75
Since Z is inductive, the load phase currents
will lag the line voltages by 33.69o. Hence,

tan 1

I AB 2.55(30 33 .69 ) 2.55 3.69

I BC 2.55 (90 33 .69 ) 2.55 123 .69
I CA 2.55 (150 33 .69 ) 2.55 116.31

Balanced 3-Phase Loads

I AB 2.5530 33 .69 2.55 3.69

IA

I BC 2.55 (90 33 .69 ) 2.55 123 .69

IAB
IB

I CA 2.55 (150 33 .69 ) 2.55 116.31

IC

VCA

IC

VAB

86.31o

33.69o

ICA

IBC

Balance3-phase load, Z : R = 75, XL = 50

120o
30o
33.69o

33.69o

120o

120o

IBC
IA
153.69o

I A I AB I CA I AB ( I CA )

I B I BC I AB I BC ( I AB )

IAB

IB

Z
Z

33.69

ICA

I C I CA I BC I CA ( I BC )
I A I B IC

1.73I AB 1.73(2.55) 4.41 A

Vector calculator

VBC

(equal in RMS value but not

in phase)

Assignment 1
A balance Y-connected 3-phase load is connected to a 3-phase alternator with
line-to-line voltage of 230 volts. Using mesh and per phase methods, find:
a) Load phase currents
b) Load line currents
c) Phasor diagram of phase voltage and phase currents and line currents
A
+
-

Ia

N
Ic

IA

230 V

ZT

Ib

3-phase Alternator

ZT

IB
230 V 230 V
ZT I
C
C

Let:
VAB = 230 30o
VBC = 230 -90o
VCA = 230 150o

Z
Z

Balance3-phase load,
Z = 75+j 50
ZT = 0.3 + j0.4

Power and Power Measurement in

Balanced Three-Phase Load