THREE-PHASE CIRCUITS

PART II
 POWER IN A BALANCED SYSTEM
For a Y-connected load with ZY = Z , the phase voltages and
currents are:
v AN = 2 V p cos t , vBN = 2 V p cos(t 120o ),
vCN = 2 V p cos(t + 120o )
i AN = 2 I p cos(t ), iBN = 2 I p cos(t 120o ),
iCN = 2 I p cos(t + 120o )
where V p and I p are the rms voltage and current, respectively.

The total instantaneous power absorbed by the load is

p (t ) = p A (t ) + p B (t ) + pC (t )
= v AN i AN + vBN iBN + vCN iCN
= 2 V p I p [cos t cos(t ) + cos(t 120o ) cos(t 120o )
+ cos(t + 120o ) cos(t + 120o )]
 1
Applying cos A cos B = [cos( A + B ) + cos( A B)] gives
2
p(t ) = V p I p [3 cos + cos + cos( 240o ) + cos( + 240o )]
where = 2t
Applying cos( A + B) = cos A cos B sin S sin B yields

p(t ) = V p I p [3 cos + cos + cos cos 240o + sin sin 240o

+ cos cos 240o sin sin 240o ]
1
= V p I p [3 cos + cos + 2( ) cos ]
2
= 3V p I p cos

The total instantaneous power in a balanced three-phase system

is constant regardless of whether the load is Y- or -connected
while that of each phase is still time varying.
 The average power consumed by each phase of the load is one-
third of p (t ).
Pp = V p I p cos

The reactive power consumed by each phase of the load is

Q p = V p I p sin
The apparent power consumed by each phase of the load is
S p = Vp I p
The complex power consumed by each phase of the load is
S p = Pp + jQ p = V p I p

Note that V p is the phasor rms voltage whose magnitude is V p

I p is the phasor rms current whose magnitude is I p
 The total complex power is
3V p2
S = 3S p = 3V p I p = 3I 2p Z p =
Z *p

where Z p = ZY or Z (the load impedance per phase)

Alternatively, since I L = I p , VL = 3 V p for a Y-connected load

or I L = 3 I p , VL = V p for a -connected load,

P = 3V p I p cos = 3 VL I L cos
Q = 3V p I p sin = 3 VL I L sin

S = P + jQ = 3V p I p = 3 VL I L
Ex. Practice problem 12.6
For the Y-Y circuit of Practice Prob.12.2, calculate the complex
power at the source and at the load.
Ex. Practice problem 12.7
Calculate the line current (magnitude only) required for a 30-kW
three-phase motor having a power factor of 0.85 lagging if it is
connected to a balanced source with a line voltage of 440 V.
 UNBALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEMS

An unbalanced system is due to unbalanced voltage sources or

an unbalanced load.
Solved by direct application of mesh and nodal analysis or
ohms law
For a four-wire Y-Y system, the neutral line current is not zero
I n = ( I a + I b + I c )
Each phase of the load consumes unequal power. Thus, the total
power is the sum of the powers in the three phases.
Ex. Practice problem 12.9
The unbalanced -load shown is supplied by balanced line-to-line
voltages of 240 V in the positive sequence. Find the line currents
using Vab as reference.
Ex. Practice problem 12.9
For the unbalanced circuit shown, find:
(a) the line currents,
(b) the total complex power absorbed by the load, and
(c) the total complex power absorbed by the source.
RESIDENTIAL WIRING
SINGLE-PHASE THREE-WIRE RESIDENTIAL WIRING
GROUNDING & SAFETY
GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER (GFCI)
GENERATION & DISTRIBUTION OF AC POWER