Tutorial 1 Three phase systems and complex power

1. Briefly describe the difference between a Phasor and a Vector.

Answer
The difference between a phasor and a vector is that a phasor usually used to describe
relationships between alternating currents and voltages is limited to two dimensions where as
a vector can have n dimensions.
2. On a single diagram, sketch the phasor diagram for the following voltage phasors:
a.

10 0 V
10
V

b.

15 125 V

125

-V

15

c.

12100 V
-V

100

12

3. Briefly describe what a balanced 3-phase system is.

Answer
A balanced three phase system is one in which there exist the following criterion:
- The three variable in the system must be of equal magnitude
- The frequency of each variable must be of the same magnitude
- Each of the three variable of the system must be 120 out of phase with its neighboring
variable
4. Sketch the circuit diagrams for balanced STAR (wye) and DELTA connected systems. Show
the neutral connection where necessary.
Answer

IA

IB
IC

VBN

VAN

VCN

VCA

VAB

VBC

Neutral Point

STAR (wye) Connected System

I3

I2

I1

IBIC

IA

VCA

VBC
VAB

5. Sketch the phasor diagrams for phase voltages and currents with a purely resistive load for
the STAR and DELTA connected systems.

VCB

VBA

VAC

DELTA C

STAR Connected System

A Phase

C Phase

B Phase

120
120
120

DELTA Connected System

A Phase

C Phase

B Phase

120
120
120

6. Using the results from Q.4 and Q.5, develop the phasor diagram relating line voltages and
currents to phase voltages and currents for the STAR and DELTA connected systems. Thus
determine the mathematical relationship between phase and line voltages and currents for each
system.
Answer
For the star connected system, the line current is equivalent to its phase current but the line
voltage is equal to a vector addition of two of the phase voltages.
Hence from star connection system in question 4,
VAB = VA - VB
VBC = VB - VC
VCA = VC - VA

VCA

VBC

VAB

STAR Connected System

- VC
-VB

VA
VC

- VA

VB
30
30
30

V AB=V A V B
V AB=V A 0 V A 120
V AB=V A (cos ( 0 )+ jsin ( 0 ) )V A ( cos (120 )+ j sin (120))
V AB=V A (1+0)V A (

1 j 3

)
2
2

3 j 3
V AB=V A ( + )
2 2
3 j1
V AB= 3 V A ( + )
2 2
V AB= 3 V A 30

V BC =V BV C
V BC =V A 120 V A 120
V BC =V A (cos (120 ) + jsin (120 ) )V A ( cos ( 120 ) + j sin ( 120))
V BC =V A (

1
3
1
3
j )V A ( + j )
2
2
2
2

V BC =V A (2

j 3
)
2

1
V BC = 3 V A ( j )
2
V BC = 3 V A 90

V CA =V C V A
V CA =V A 120 V A 0
V CA =V A ( cos ( 120 ) + jsin ( 120 ) )V A (cos ( 0 )+ jsin ( 0))
V CA =V A (

1 3
+ j )V A (10)
2
2

V CA =V A (

3 j 3
+
)
2
2

V CA = 3 V A

( 23 + j21 )

V CA = 3 V A 150

For the delta connected system, the line voltage is equivalent to its phase voltage but the line
current is equal to a vector addition of two of the phase currents.
Hence from the delta connection system in question 4,
IA = I1 I3
IB = I2 I1
IC = I3 I2

IB

IC

IA

DELTA Connected System

I1
I3
- I2
-I3

I2

30

- I1

I A =I 1I 3
I A =I 1 0 I 1 120
I =I 1 ( cos ( 0 ) + jsin ( 0 ))I 1 (cos (120 ) + j sin (120))
I A =I 1 (1+ 0)I 1(

1 j 3

)
2
2

3 j 3
I A =I 1 ( + )
2
2
3 j1
I A = 3 I 1 ( + )
2 2
I A = 3 I 1 30

I C =I 3 I 2
I C =I 1 120 I 1 120
I C =I 1 (cos (120 ) + jsin (120 ) )I 1 (cos ( 120 ) + jsin ( 120))
I C =I 1 (

1
3
1
3
j )I 1 (
+j )
2
2
2
2

I C =I 1 (2

j3
)
2

1
I C = 3 I 1 ( j )
2
I C = 3 I 1 90
I B=I 2I 1
I B=I 1 120 I 1 0
I B=I 1 (cos ( 120 ) + jsin (120 ))I 1 (cos ( 0 )+ j sin ( 0))
I B=I 1 (

1 3
+ j )I 1 (10)
2
2

I B=I 1 (

3 j 3
+
)
2
2

I B= 3 I 1 (

3 j 1
+ )
2
2

I B= 3 I 1 150

7. Given a balanced 3-phase, 120 VL-L star connected system with a phase impedance of 5.
Determine
a. Phase voltage
b. Phase current
c. Line current
Repeat calculations for a phase impedance of (3+j4)
8. Repeat Q.7 for a DELTA connected system.

Complex Power
9. Briefly describe the following terms:

a. Real Power b. Reactive Power c. Apparent Power d. Power Factor the ratio of the apparent power to the real power, also cos where is the
phase angle between the real and reactive power.
Show the relationship among the above mentioned terms using the Power Triangle and thus
show the mathematical relationship amongst the four terms.

Apparent Power,

S = VI
Reactive Power,

Q = VIsin

Real Power,

R = VIsin

10. A single phase, 4 MVA system is operating at full load and a power factor of 0.8 lag. Find the
real power and reactive power dissipated in the system.
Answer

apparent power=4 MVA

cos=0.8, =cos1 ( 0.8 )=36.87
cos=

R
S

R=Scos
hence , R=4 106 0.8=3.2 MW
Q=Ssin

Q=4 106 sin ( 36.87 )=2.4 MVAR

11. A balanced 3-phase, 32 kV, 10 MVA wye connected system is supplying full load at a power
factor of 0.85 lag. Determine the:
a. Phase current
b. Real and reactive power supplied per phase

Answer
a)

total apparent power=10 MVA

line voltage=32 kV
phase voltage , V p=
phase voltage=

line voltage
3

32 kV
=18.5 kV
3

total apparent power=3 I p V p

I p=

total apparent power

3V p

I p=

10 106
=180.2 A
3 18.5 103

b)

total apparent power=3 apparent power per phase

PtS =3 P pS
P pS=

PtS
3

P pS=S=

10 10 6
=3.3 MVA
3

cos =0.85,

( 0.85 )= 31.79
hence =cos1
R=S cos

R=3.3 106 0.85=2.81 MW

Q=S sin
6

Q=3.3 10 sin (31.79)=1.74 MVAR

12. A balanced 3-phase, 25 MVA, 40 kV delta connected system supplies 0.75 full load at a
power factor of 0.6 lag. Determine the:
a. Phase current
b. Line current
c. Real and reactive power supplied per phase
Answer
a)

total apparent power=25 MV A

total apparent power use=0.7525106=18.75 MVA

line voltage= phase voltage=40 kV

total apparent power=3 I p V p

I p=

total apparent power

3V p

I p=

18.75 10
=156.25 A
3
3 40 10

b)

line current = 3 I p
I L = 3156.25=270.6 A

c)

total apparent power use=3apparent power per phase

PtS =3 P pS
P pS=

PtS
3
6

18.75 10
P pS=S=
=6.25 MVA
3
cos =0.6

( 0.6 )= 53.13
1
hence =cos
R=S cos
6

R=6.25 10 0.6=3.75 MW
Q=S sin

Q=6.25 106 sin ( 53.13)=4.99 MVAR

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power#Real.2C_reactive.2C_and_apparent_power