3 Phase Circuit

Unbalance 3 Phase Load

&
Power Calculation

Learning Outcome

After completing this lesson, you should able to:

Differentiate balance and unbalance condition

Calculate 3 phase AC Power using phase and line

voltage

Analyze simple and complex 3 phase problem

Know the method to finding AC power using

Wattmeter

Unbalanced Three-Phase Load

The impedances in one or more phases differ from the
impedances of other phases is said to be an unbalanced
load
VAN
VBN
VCN
Ia
, Ib
, Ic
ZA
ZB
ZC
I n ( I a I b I c )

Note: For unbalanced load, we cannot apply the relationship between

line voltage and phase voltage.

Unbalanced Three-Phase Load

VBC
VCA
VAB
I ab
, Ibc
, I ca
ZA
ZB
ZC
I a I ab I ca
Ib Ibc I ab
I c I ca Ibc
Find line currents if VAB = 415/30 V.
Note: For unbalanced load, we cannot apply the relationship between line
current and phase current.

Example 1
Given an unbalanced delta-connected load which is:
Z1 = 6 + j8 / phase
Z2 = 4 j3 / phase
Z3 = 8 + j6 / phase
Supply=110 V / phase
i) Calculate the phase and line currents
ii) Construct the phasor diagram

Example 2

A 3-Phase 4 Wire unbalanced load is supplied by a three

phase 220V. The impedance per phase are as follows:
Z1 = 10-50
Z2 = 1525
Z3 = 5-90
i) find the line currents and neutral current
ii) Construct the phasor diagram

Example 3
A balanced line voltage 415 V is supplied to the three
impedance as follows:
Z1 = 1030
Z2 = 2060
Z3 = 10-45 .
Note: All the three impedance form Y connected with
neutral line. Find:
i) the line currents
ii) the voltage across each impedance

Example 4
A 3 phase Y connected load is supplied by a three phase
source 346.4 V, 50Hz. The magnitudes of line currents are
IR =50 A, IY =40 A and IB =33.33 A . By using a phasor
diagram in figure 1, calculate the each load impedance
value. Choose phase R voltage as a reference.
VBN
VRY

VBR

IB
VRN

30

IR
IY

VYN
VYB

Unbalanced Three-Phase Load

10

Unbalanced Three-Phase Load

For Y connected load with 3 wire system, mesh analysis
can be used

i1

i2

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Example 5 (No. 3)
A balanced line voltage 415 V is supplied to the three
impedance as follows:
Z1 = 1030
Z2 = 2060
Z3 = 10-45 .
Note: All the three impedance form Y connected without
neutral line. Find:
i) the line currents
ii) the voltage across each impedance

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Power in a Balanced System

PT = P1 + P2 + P3 ; where P = Vph Iph cos (Vph - iph)
QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 ; where Q = Vph Iph sin (Vph - iph)
Power in Balance Load:
PTotal = 3P = 3Vph Iph cos (Vph - iph) W
PTotal = VL IL cos (Vph - iph) W
QTotal = VL IL sin (Vph - iph) VAR
STotal = VL IL VA
STotal(complex) = 3 Vph Iph* VA

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Power in a Balanced System

For connection of wye as well

as delta, the formula for
calculation of all the 3
powers that are P (real), Q
(reactive) and S (apparent)
are the same

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Example 6
The three-phase balanced Y- connected load has
impedance per phase of 70.7-45. If the load is
connected to 416V, 50 Hz, positive phase sequence, find:
a) Line currents and neutral current
b) Total active power absorbed by the load
c) Total apparent power absorbed by the source and
d) Power factor

Power in Unbalanced System

To calculate power in an unbalanced three-phase system

requires that we find the power in each phase.

The total power is not simply three times the power in one
phase but the sum of the powers in the three phases.

15

Power in an Unbalanced
System:
PT = P1 + P2 + P3 W
Where:
P1 = Vph1 Iph1 cos (Vph - iph)
P2 = Vph2 Iph2 cos (Vph - iph)
P3 = Vph3 Iph3 cos (Vph - iph)

QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 W
Where:
Q1 = Vph1 Iph1 sin (Vph - iph)
Q2 = Vph2 Iph2 sin (Vph - iph)
Q3 = Vph3 Iph3 sin (Vph - iph)

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Example 7

For an unbalanced circuit delta connection, if the

load is connected to the three-phase 240V, positive
phase sequence and Z1 = 10 , Z2 = 15-45 ,
Z3 = 209 , determine:
a) the total active power,
b) the total reactive power and
c) the total apparent power.

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Power Measurement in 3-phase Circuits

BALANCE AND UNBALANCE CONDITIONS

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Power Measurement in 3-phase Circuits

In a four-wire system (3 phases and a

neutral) the real power is measured
using
three single-phase wattmeters.
In a three-wire system (three phases
without neutral) the power is
measured using only two single
phase watt-meters.

The watt-meters are supplied by the

line current and the line-to-line
voltage.
INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

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Power Measurement in 3-phase Circuits

Delta Load
Connections 2 or 3 Watt
Meters ??

Is it possible to
use only 1 Watt
Meter??
When??

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

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Power Measurement in 3-phase Circuits

Y Connection with 4 wires
IA
Phase A

A
VAN

Phase B

PA

W
V

IB

A
VBN

Phase C

PB

W
V

IC

PC

A
VCN

W
V

Neutral (N)

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

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Power Measurement in 3-phase Circuits

Delta or Y Connection with 3 wires

Three wire system -The three phase

power is the sum of the two watt-meters
reading
P
IA

AB

VAB = VA - VB

Phase A

W
V

Phase B

VCB = VC - VB

IC

V
PhaseAND
C
INSPIRING CREATIVE
INNOVATIVE MINDS

PCB

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Example 8
A balanced star-connected load is
supplied from a symmetrical, 3phase, 440 V, 50 Hz supply
system. The current in each phase
is 20 A and lags behind its phase
voltage by an angle 40. Calculate:
(i) phase voltage
(ii) Load parameters
(iii) total power
(iv) readings of two wattmeters,
connected in the load circuit to
measure the total power.