Definition of Terms
Line Current – is the current in each line
Phase Current- is the current in each phase of the source or load
Cases/Formulas
BALANCED WYE-WYE CONNECTIONS
For line currents
𝑉𝑎𝑛 𝑉𝑏𝑛 𝑉𝑐𝑛
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑐 =
𝑍𝑌 𝑍𝑌 𝑍𝑌
BALANCED WYE-DELTA CONNECTION
For phase currents
𝑉𝐴𝐵 𝑉𝐵𝐶 𝑉𝐶𝐴
𝐼𝐴𝐵 = 𝐼𝐵𝐶 = 𝐼𝐶𝐴 =
𝑍∆ 𝑍∆ 𝑍∆
For line currents
Using KCL:
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝐴𝐵 − 𝐼𝐶𝐴 𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝐵𝐶 − 𝐼𝐴𝐵 𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝐶𝐴 − 𝐼𝐵𝐶
BALANCED DELTA-DELTA CONNECTION
For line currents
Using KCL:
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝐴𝐵 − 𝐼𝐶𝐴 𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝐵𝐶 − 𝐼𝐴𝐵 𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝐶𝐴 − 𝐼𝐵𝐶
For phase currents
𝑉𝐴𝐵 𝑉𝐵𝐶 𝑉𝐶𝐴
𝐼𝐴𝐵 = 𝐼𝐵𝐶 = 𝐼𝐶𝐴 =
𝑍∆ 𝑍∆ 𝑍∆
BALANCED DELTA-WYE CONNECTIONS
For line and phase currents
𝑉𝑎𝑛 𝑉𝑏𝑛 𝑉𝑐𝑛
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑐 =
𝑍𝑌 𝑍𝑌 𝑍𝑌
REMEMBER THAT:
For Delta-connected load:
𝐼𝐿 = √3𝐼𝑃 where: 𝐼𝐿 = |𝐼𝑎 | = |𝐼𝑏 | = |𝐼𝑐 | and 𝐼𝑃 = |𝐼𝐴𝐵 | = |𝐼𝐵𝐶 | = |𝐼𝐶𝐴 |
For Wye-connected load:
𝐼𝐿 = 𝐼𝑃
Procedure
For Balanced Wye-Wye System
1. Replace the balanced three-phased circuit with its single-phase equivalent circuit.
2. From the single-phased circuit, obtain the line currents by applying KVL to each phase.
For Balanced Wye-Delta System
𝑉𝐴𝐵
1. Using line voltages, obtain the phase currents using the formula 𝐼𝐴𝐵 = . You can also
𝑍∆
use single-phase analysis.
2. By applying KCL to the nodes, obtain the phase currents of the system.
For balanced delta-delta system
1. Obtain the line currents by applying KCL at the nodes of the system.
𝑉𝐴𝐵
2. Calculate the phase currents using the formula 𝐼𝐴𝐵 = .
𝑍∆
For balanced Delta-Wye System
𝑉𝑎𝑛
1. Obtain the line and phase currents using the formula 𝐼𝑎 = . Note that the phase and
𝑍𝑌
line currents of a delta-wye system is always equal.
SAMPLE EXERCISE
BALANCED WYE-WYE CONNECTIONS
Calculate the line currents in the
three-wire Y-Y system.
Solution:
The three-phase circuit is balanced; we may
replace it with its single-phase equivalent
circuit and obtain the line currents as follows:
ZY = (5-j2) + (10+j8) = 15+j6 = 16.155∠21.8°
𝑉𝑎𝑛 110∠0°
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑎 = 16.155∠21.8° = 6.81∠ − 21.8° A
𝑍𝑌
Since the source voltages are in positive sequence, the line currents are also in positive sequence:
𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑎 ∠ − 120° = 6.81∠ − 141.8° 𝐴
𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝑎 ∠ − 240° = 6.81∠ − 261.8° = 6.81∠98.2°𝐴
Balanced Wye-Delta connection
A balanced abc-sequence Y-connected source with 𝑉𝑎𝑛 = 100∠10° 𝑉 is connected to a ∆-
connected balanced load (8+j4) Ω per phase. Calculate the phase and line currents.
BALANCED DELTA-DELTA CONNECTIONS
A balanced ∆-connected load having an impedance 20-j15 Ω is connected to a ∆-connected,
positive-sequence generator having 𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 330∠0° 𝑉. Calculate the phase currents of the load
and the line currents.
BALANCED Delta-Wye connection
Reference:
Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, Fourth Edition, C.K. Alexnder, M.N.O. Sadiku
