Basic Electrical Engineering

(21ELE13)
2021-22

Mr. Kubera U
Asst. Professor
Department of EEE,
SJB Institute of Technology
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Module 2

Single-Phase Circuits and Three-Phase Circuits

Table of Contents

Single-Phase Circuits .............................................................................................................................................................................. 2

2.1. Analysis of Series R-L Circuit: ................................................................................................................................................. 2
2.2. Analysis of Series R-C Circuit: ................................................................................................................................................. 4
2.3. Analysis of Series R-L-C Circuit:............................................................................................................................................. 6
2.4. Definitions of Apparent, Real, Reactive power and Power factor: ................................................................................... 9
2.5. Measurement of Single-Phase Power .................................................................................................................................... 10
Three Phase AC circuits ........................................................................................................................................... 12
2.6. Advantages of three phase system:......................................................................................................................................... 12
2.7. Generation of three phase EMF: ............................................................................................................................................. 12
2.8. Important Definitions ................................................................................................................................................................ 14
2.9. Relation between line and phase quantities for voltage and current in case of balanced star connection.............. 15
2.10. Relation between line and phase quantities for voltage and current in case of balanced delta connection. ...... 17
2.11. Measurement of power in 3-phase circuit by 2-wattmeter method ............................................................................ 19

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Single-Phase Circuits

Syllabus: Analysis of R-L, R-C, R-L-C Series and Parallel circuits, Real power, reactive power, apparent
power, and Power factor. Measurement of power.

2.1. Analysis of Series R-L Circuit:

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2.2. Analysis of Series R-C Circuit:

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2.3. Analysis of Series R-L-C Circuit:

The following case are discussed in series RLC circuit.

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2.4. Definitions of Apparent, Real, Reactive power and Power factor:

• Apparent Power: The product of rms value of voltage and current is called apparent
power and is measured in volt-amperes (VA) or in kilo-volt amperes (KVA). It is
denoted by letter S and it is given by
S=VI volt-amperes
• Real Power: It is also known as true or active power, performs the “real work” within
an electrical circuit and measured in watts, defines the power consumed by the resistive
part of a circuit. It is denoted by letter P and it is obtained by multiplying the apparent
Power by power factor.
P=VI cos Φ Watts
Then real power (P) in an AC circuit is the same as power (P) in a DC circuit.
• Reactive Power: It is s the power consumed in an AC circuit that does not perform
any useful work and it is also known as wattless power. It is measured in reactive volt-
ampere (VAr) and denoted by letter Q and it is obtained by multiplying the apparent
Power by Sin 𝛷.
Q=VI Sin Φ Var
• Power Triangle

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• Power Factor and Its significance:

𝑃 𝑅
i,e COS Φ = =
𝑆 𝑍
Significance:

2.5. Measurement of Single-Phase Power

Power is expressed in Watts. The higher units of power used in practice include
kilowatts, megawatts, etc. The power measurements are made with the help of a wattmeter.
Wattmeter is an indicating deflecting type of instrument used in laboratories for measurement
of power in various ranges. A wattmeter consists of two coils as shown in the schematic
representative figure below.

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Current coil (CC): connected in series with circuit and carries the load current. It is
designed such that it is wound with 2 to 3 turns of thick wire and hence it has a very low
resistance.

Voltage or Pressure or Potential coil (PC): connected across the load circuit and
hence carries a current proportional to the load current. The total load voltage appears across
the PC. It is designed such that it is wound with several turns of thin wire and hence it has a
very high resistance.

The below figure shows the connection diagram of single-phase power measurement by
using wattmeter.

The wattmeter can be a Unity Power factor (UPF) meter or Low Power Factor (LPF) meter
depending on the type of the load connected in the measuring circuit. For power
measurements in AC circuits, the wattmeter is widely adopted. In principle and construction,
it is a combination of those applicable for an ammeter and a voltmeter.

The single-phase load is connected as shown in the diagram to measure the power consumed
by the load. The power measured is given by

P = VI COS Φ.

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Three Phase AC circuits

Syllabus: Advantages of three phase system, Generation of 3-phase voltages, three phase balanced circuits,
voltage and current relations in star and delta connections, Measurement of three phase power by two-watt
meter method.

2.6. Advantages of three phase system:

1. The size of a three phase system operated machine is less than the machine operated at single phase
voltage having the same output rating.
2. To transmit a specific power over a specific distance at a given rated voltage, a three phase system
needs less conductor material as compared to the single phase system.
3. In a three phase power supply system, the less voltage drop occurs from source to the load points.
4. A three phase system can transmit more power as compared to a single phase system.
5. The efficiency of three phase operated devices and appliances is higher than the single phase operated
machines.
6. Three phase motors are self-started while single phase motors can’t be started automatically.
7. Three phase motors have better power factor as compared to single phase motors.
8. A three phase supply can be easily converted to a single phase supply while a complex system is
needed to convert the single phase supply into a three phase supply system.
9. A three phase system provides constant power while a single phase system provides pulsating power
which leads to a smooth and vibration free operation of a 3-Φ machine as compared to the 1-Φ
machines with noise and vibration.
[Link] phase machines are less costly and more efficient.

2.7. Generation of three phase EMF:

• According to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, know that whenever a coil is rotated in a
magnetic field, there is a sinusoidal emf induced in that coil.

• Now, consider 3 coil C1(R-phase), C2(Y-phase) and C3(B-phase), which are displaced 1200 from
each other on the same axis. This is shown in fig.1.

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Figure 1: Generation of three phase emf

• The coils are rotating in a uniform magnetic field produced by the N and S poles in the counter
clockwise direction with constant angular velocity.
• According to Faraday’s law, emf induced in three coils. The emf induced in these three coils will
have phase difference of 1200. i.e. if the induced emf of the coil C1 has phase of 00, then induced

emf in the coil C2 lags that of C1 by 1200 and C3 lags that of C2 1200.

Figure 2: Waveform of Three Phase EMF

Thus, we can write,

eR = Em sin t
e Y = E m sin (t −1200 )
eB = Em sin (t − 2400 )

Figure 3: Phasor diagram of Three Phase EMF

The above equation can be represented by their phasor diagram as in the Fig 3.

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2.8. Important Definitions

 Phase sequence: The order in which three coil emf or currents attain their peak values is called the
phase sequence. It is denoted the 3 phases by the three colours. i.e. Red (R), Yellow (Y), Blue (B).
RYB is positive phase sequence and RBY is negative phase sequence.
 Balance System: A system is said to be balance if the voltages and currents in all phase are equal in
magnitude and displaced from each other by equal angles.
 Unbalanced System: A system is said to be unbalance if the voltages and currents in all phase are
unequal in magnitude and displaced from each other by unequal angles.
 Balanced load: In this type the load in all phase are equal in magnitude. It means that the load will
have the same power factor equal currents in them.
 Unbalance load: In this type the load in all phase have unequal power factor and currents.
 Phase Voltage: It is defined as the voltage across either phase winding or load terminal. It is denoted
by Vph. Phase voltage VRN, VYN and VBN are measured between R-N, Y-N, B-N for star connection
and between R-Y, Y-B, B-R in delta connection as shown in figure 4.

Figure 4: Star and delta connections

 Line voltage: It is defined as the voltage across any two-line terminal. It is denoted by VL. Line
voltage VRY, VYB, VBR measure between R-Y, Y-B, B-R terminal for both star and delta.
 Phase current: It is defined as the current flowing through each phase winding or load. It is denoted
by Iph. Phase current IR(ph), IY(ph) and IB(Ph) measured in each phase of star and delta connection.
respectively.
 Line current: It is defined as the current flowing through each line conductor. It denoted by IL. Line
current IR(line), IY(line), and IB((line) are measured in each line of star and delta connection.

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2.9. Relation between line and phase quantities for voltage and current in
case of balanced star connection.
In the Star Connection, the similar ends (either start or finish) of the three windings are connected
to a common point called star or neutral point.

Consider a balanced star connected three phase load as shown in the figure 5. The line and phase
quantities of voltage and currents for star connected load is given by

Figure 5: Three phase Star connected load

Let, Line voltage, VRY = VBY = VBR = VL

Phase voltage, VR(ph) = VY (ph) = VB(ph) = Vph

Line current, IR(line) = IY (line) = IB(line) = Iline

Phase current, IR(ph) = IY (ph) = IB(ph) = Iph

For star connection, line current IL and phase current Iph both are same.
IR(line ) = IR( ph)
IY (line ) = IY ( ph)
IB(line ) = IB( ph)
 IL = Iph
 Line Current = Phase Current

Relation between line and phase voltage is given by applying KVL to RNY, YNB and BNR. We get,

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VRY=VR(ph)−VY(ph)

VYB=VY(ph) − VB(ph)

VBR =VB(ph) − VR(ph)

i.e. line voltage is vector difference of two of the phase voltages. This is shown in the phasor diagram
below,

Figure 6: Phasor Diagram of Three Phase Star Connection

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[Link] between line and phase quantities for voltage and current in
case of balanced delta connection.
Delta (Δ) or Mesh connection, starting end of one coil is connected to the finishing end of other
phase coil and so on which giving a closed circuit.

Consider a balanced delta connected three phase load as shown in the figure 7. The line and phase
quantities of voltage and currents for delta connected load is given by

Figure 7: Three Phase Delta Connection

Let, Line voltage, VRY = VYB= VBR = VL

Phase voltage, VR(ph) = VY (ph) = V B( ph) = Vph
Line current, IR(line) = IY (line ) = I B( line ) = Iline
Phase current, I R (ph) = IY (ph) = I B ( ph ) = Iph
• Relation between line and phase voltage
For delta connection line voltage VL and phase voltage Vph both are same

Line voltage = Phase Voltage

• Relation between line and phase current is given by applying KCL at node 1, 2 and 3

For delta connection, IR(line) =IR(ph) − IB(ph)

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IY(line) =IY(ph)− IR(ph)

IB(line) = IB(ph) −IY(ph)

i.e. current in each line is vector difference of two of the phase currents, which is represented in phasor
diagram as shown below,

Figure 8: Phasor Diagram of Three Phase Delta Connection

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[Link] of power in 3-phase circuit by 2-wattmeter method

This method is normally used for measuring power in 3 phase balanced circuits. Consider a star
connected load as shown in the figure 9, when the load is connected to three phase AC supply, the
power consumed by the load can be measured with the help of 2 wattmeters.
The current coils of the two wattmeters are connected in any two lines and the potential coil of each
wattmeter is joined to the third line.

Figure 9: Three Phase Star Connection with wattmeters

The load is considered as an inductive load and thus, the phasor diagram of the inductive load is drawn
below in Figure 10.

Figure 10: Phasor Diagram of Power Measurement by Two-Watt Meter in Three Phase Star Connection

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The three voltages VRN, VYN and VBN, are displaced by an angle of 1200 degree electrical as shown in the

phasor diagram. The phase current lag behind their respective phase voltages by an angle . The power
measured by the Wattmeter, W1 and W2 is given by

Thus, the sum of the readings of the two wattmeter is equal to the power consumed in a 3- phase balanced
system.

Determination of Power Factor from Wattmeter Readings:

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Effect of power factor on wattmeter reading:

• From the Fig. 5.6, it is clear that for lagging power factor cos  , the wattmeter readings are
W1 = VLIL cos(30 +  )

W2 = VLIL cos(30 −  )

• Thus, readings W1 and W2 will very depending upon the power factor angle  .

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