 POLYPHASE AC CIRCUIT

 Uses multiple voltage sources at different phase angles, allowing for more
efficient power transfer and distribution compared to single-phase system
 "Polyphase" means "many phases," => AC electrical system with multiple
sinusoidal voltages that are not in step with each other
 Voltages in polyphase system have same frequency but different phase angles
 Means they don't reach peak positive or negative values simultaneously
 Two-phase and three-phase systems are common types of polyphase systems
 Advantages:
 Higher Power Transfer
 More Efficient Power Transmission: power loss is lower in a polyphase system
 Total volume of conductor material needed in the cable is less.
 Uniform Torque: Polyphase motors, like three-phase motors, provide uniform
torque, while single-phase motors provide pulsating torque
 Self-Starting: Three-phase motors are self-starting, while single-phase motors
require external assistance to initiate rotation
 Applications:
 Power Distribution
 Industrial Motors
 Transformers: Polyphase transformers are used to step up or step down voltage
in polyphase systems
 Phase Shift:
 Phase shift between the voltages in a polyphase system is a key characteristic
 In a three-phase system, the phase shift is typically 120 degrees
 Three Phase System
 Uses 3 AC voltages that are 120 degrees out of phase with each other, creating a
rotating magnetic field
 Phase sequence is the order in which these voltages reach their peak values
 Instead of a single AC voltage, a three-phase system uses three separate AC
voltages, often labeled A, B, and C (or R, Y, and B)
 These voltages are sinusoidal => they oscillate in a wave-like pattern, but their
peaks occur at different times, with a 120-degree phase difference between each
voltage
 More efficient and can deliver more power than single-phase power
 Phase Sequence:
 Phase sequence refers to order in which three phases reach their positive peak
values
 Common sequence is ABC (or RYB), meaning phase A (or R) reaches its peak
first, followed by phase B (or Y), and then phase C (or B)
 Opposite sequence, ACB (or BYR), is also possible, and is called negative
sequence
 Phase sequence is important because it determines direction of rotation of a
three-phase motor
 Interchanging any two of three supply lines will reverse phase sequence, and
therefore reverse direction of rotation of a three-phase motor
 Two types of systems in electric circuits: single-phase and three-phase systems
 In single-phase circuit, current flows through one wire with a return path called
neutral line
 Both generating and load stations are single-phase in this system, which has
been used for a long time
 In 1882, a new polyphase system was invented, allowing more than one phase
for generating, transmitting, and loading power
 A three-phase circuit is a polyphase system where three phases are sent together
from the generator to the load
 Each phase in a three-phase system has a 120-degree electrical phase difference,
dividing the total 360 degrees into three equal parts
 This ensures continuous power generation as all three phases work together
 Three phases can be used as single phase each
 If load is single phase, then one phase can be taken from the three phase circuit
and the neutral can be used as ground to complete the circuit
 Why Three Phase is Preferred Over Single Phase?
 Three phase system can be used as three single phase line so it can act as three
single phase system
 Three phase generation and single phase generation is same in the generator
except the arrangement of coil in the generator to get 120 o phase difference
 Conductor needed in three phase circuit is 75% that of conductor needed in
single phase circuit
 Instantaneous power in single phase system falls down to zero but in three phase
system the net power from all the phases gives a continuous power to the load
 Size and metal quantity of three-phase devices don’t differ much from single-
phase devices
 Three-phase systems are better and more efficient than single-phase systems.
 In three phase circuit, connections can be given in two types:
 Star connection
 Delta connection
 Star Connection
 STAR CONNECTION,
 Four wire => three wires are phase wire and fourth is neutral which is taken
from star point
 Star connection is preferred for long distance power transmission because it is
having the neutral point
 Concept of balanced and unbalanced current in power system
 When equal current flow through all three phases, then it is called as balanced
current
 When current is not be equal in any of phase, then it is unbalanced current
 During balanced condition there will be no current flowing through the neutral
line and hence there is no use of the neutral terminal
 But when there will be unbalanced current flowing in three phase circuit,
neutral takes unbalanced current through to ground and protect transformer
 Unbalanced current affects transformer and it may also cause damage to the
transformer
 In star connection, the line voltage is √3 times of phase voltage
 Line voltage is the voltage between two phases in three phase circuit
 Phase voltage is the voltage between one phase to the neutral line
 Current is same for both line and phase

 DELTA CONNECTION
 In delta connection, there is three wires alone and no neutral terminal is taken
 Preferred for short distance due to problem of unbalanced current in the circuit
 Line voltage is the same as that of phase voltage
 Line current is √3 times of phase current
 In a three-phase circuit, star and delta connection can be arranged in four
different ways:
 Star-Star connection
 Star-Delta connection
 Delta-Star connection
 Delta-Delta connection
 Power is independent of the circuit arrangement of the three phase system
 Net power in the circuit will be same in both star and delta connection
 Power in three phase circuit can be calculated from equation,
 Phasor Diagram Representation
 Delta Connection
 Voltage, Current and Power Values in Delta Connection (Δ)
 Line Voltages (VL) and Phase Voltages (VPh) in Delta Connection
 In Fig that there is only one phase winding between two terminals
 One phase winding between two
wires
 Therefore, in Delta Connection, voltage between two lines is equal to phase
voltage of phase winding which is connected between two lines
 Since phase sequence is R → Y → B, therefore, direction of voltage from R
phase towards Y phase is positive (+), and the voltage of R phase is leading by
120°from Y phase voltage
 Voltage of Y phase is leading by 120° from the phase voltage of B and its
direction is positive from Y towards B
 If the line voltage between;
 Line 1 and Line 2 = VRY

 Line 2 and Line 3 = VYB

 It can be seen that VRY leads VYB by 120° and VYB leads VBR by 120°

 VRY = VYB = VBR = VL …………… (Line Voltage)

 VL = VPH
 I.e. in Delta connection, the Line Voltage is equal to the Phase Voltage
 Line Currents (IL) and Phase Currents (IPh) in Delta Connection
 Total current of each Line is equal to the vector difference between two phase
currents in Delta connection flowing through that line. i.e.;
 Current in Line 1= I1 = IR – IB

 Current in Line 2 =I2 = IY – IR

 Current of Line 1 = Vector difference between IR and IB

 Done by increasing IB Vector in reverse, making IR and IB as a parallelogram

 Diagonal of parallelogram gives vector difference of I R and IB which is equal to

current in Line 1= I1
 By reversing vector of IB,(-IB), angle between IR and -IB is 60°

 IR = IY = IB = IPH
 The current flowing in Line 1 would be;
 IL or I1 = 2 x IPH x Cos (60°/2) = 2 x IPH x Cos 30° = 2 x IPH x (√3/2)

 IL= √3 IPH
 Similarly, remaining two Line currents
 I2 = IY – IR = √3 IPH

 I3 = IB – IY … Vector difference = √3 IPH

 As, all the Line current are equal in magnitude i.e.
 I 1 = I2 = I3 = IL
 Hence
 IL = √3 IPH
 The Line Currents are 120° apart from each other
 Line currents are lagging by 30° from their corresponding Phase Currents
 The angle Ф between line currents and respective line voltages is (30°+Ф), i.e.
 Power in Delta Connection
 Power of each phase; Power / Phase = VPH x IPH x CosФ

 Total power of three phases; Total Power = P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ ….. (1)
 Values of Phase Current and Phase Voltage in Delta Connection
 IPH = IL /√3 ….. (From IL = √3 IPH)

 VPH = VL
 Putting these values in power eq……. (1)
 P = 3 x VL x ( IL/√3) x CosФ

 P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ
 Cos Φ = Power factor = Phase angle between Phase Voltage and Phase Current
(not between Line current and line voltage)
 Voltage, Current and Power Values in Star Connection (Y)
 Voltage between any two terminals or voltage between Line and Neutral (Star

Point) is called Phase voltage or Star voltage denoted by V Ph

 Voltage between two Lines is called Line to Line Voltage or Line Voltage

denoted by VL
 Line Voltage between Line 1 and Line 2 (from fig 3a) is
 VRY = VR – VY …. (Vector Difference)
 To find vector of VRY, increase the Vector of VY in reverse direction as shown in

the dotted form

 Similarly, on the both ends of vector V R and Vector VY, make perpendicular

dotted lines which look like a parallelogram

 Diagonal line which divides parallelogram into two parts, showing value of V RY

 Angle between VY and VR vectors is 60°

 Hence, if VR = VY = VB = VPH

 Then VRY = 2 x VPH x Cos (60°/2) = 2 x VPH x Cos 30° = 2 x VPH x (√3/2)

 VRY = √3 VPH
 Similarly, VYB = VY – VB

 VYB = √3 VPH

 And VBR = VB – VR

 VBR = √3 VPH

 Hence, VRY = VYB = VBR is line voltages (VL) in Star Connection, Therefore, in

Star Connection;
 VL = √3 VPH or VL = √3 EPH
 Line Currents and Phase Currents in Star Connection
 Each line is in series with individual phase winding

 Current in Line 1 = IR

 Current in Line 2 = IY

 Current in Line 3 = IB
 Flowing currents in all three lines are same, and the individual current in each
line is equal to the corresponding phase current
 IR = IY = IB = IPH
 Line Current = Phase Current
 IL = IPH
 Value of Line Currents and Phase Currents are same in Star Connection
 Power in Star Connection
 In a three phase AC circuit, the total True or Active power is the sum of the three
phase power
 Or the sum of the all three phase powers is the Total Active or True Power
 Hence, total active or true power in a three phase AC system;
 Total True or Active Power = 3 Phase Power
 P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ ….. Eq … (1)
 Values of Phase Current and Phase Voltage in Star Connection;
 IL = IPH

 VPH = VL /√3 ….. (From VL = √3 VPH)

 Putting these values in power eq……. (1)
 P = 3 x (VL/√3) x IL x CosФ …….…. (VPH = VL /√3)
 P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ
 Power in Star Connection,
 P = 3 x VPH x IPH x CosФ or P = √3 x VL x IL x CosФ