Power System Analysis-1

Module-3: Symmetrical Components

3.1 Introduction
A symmetrical, balanced three phase system can be analysed on a single phase basis. But, an
unbalanced three phase system does not permit this simplification as it involves phasors of
different magnitude and phase angles in each phase. Analysis under unbalanced conditions has
to be carried out on a three phase basis which is very cumbersome process. Alternatively, a more
convenient method of analysing unbalanced operation is through symmetrical components.
a set of three unbalanced phasors (voltages or currents) can be resolved into three sets of
balanced phasors, each set containing three phasors. The three sets of balanced components are
called positive sequence components, negative sequence components and zero sequence
components. Positive sequence components consists of three balance phasors of equal
magnitude, displaced from each other by 120° in phase and having the same phase sequence as
the original unbalanced phasors. Negative sequence components consists of three balanced
phasors of equal magnitude, displaced from each other by 120° in phase and having a phase
sequence opposite to that of the original unbalanced phasors. Zero sequence components are a
set of three phasors, equal to each other in all respect.
Consider three unbalanced phasors Va, Vb and Vc as shown in figure 3.1. Let the direction of
rotation of the phasors be in the anti clockwise direction. Then, it can be observed that the phase
sequence of these three unbalanced phasors is abc.
The positive sequence components Va1, Vb1 and Vc1 shown in figure. 3.2a constituting a three
phase system are equal in magnitude and are symmetrically displaced by 120°. They have the
same phase sequence 'abc' as the original unbalanced phasors. The negative sequence
components Va2, Vb2 and Vc2 shown in the figure 3.2b, constituting a three phase system are
equal in magnitude, symmetrically displaced by 120° and have the phase sequence ‘acb’
opposite to that of the original phasors. The zero sequence components V a0, Vb0 and Vc0 shown
in figure. 3.2c are equal in all respects. These three phasors do not constitute a three phase
system. They are equivalent to three single phase phasors of equal magnitude and having zero
displacement between them.

Figure 3.1.Unbalanced Phasor

Note:
1) Subscripts 1, 2 and 0 are used to indicate positive, negative and zero sequence
components respectively.
2) The above three sets of phasors can be either voltages or currents

Figure.3.2 a. Positive sequence components Figure.3.2 b. Negative sequence components Figure.3.2 c. Zero sequence components

3.2 The 'a' operator

Because of the phase displacement of the symmetrical components of voltages and currents in a
three phase system, it is convenient to have a short hand method of indicating the rotation of
phasors through 120°. The letter 'a' (some books denote it as α or λ also) is used to designate the
operator that causes a rotation of 120° in the anticlockwise direction. This operator is a complex
number of unit magnitude with an angle of 120° and is defined by the following expressions:
a=1∠120° = 1. e j120° = cos120°+jsin120° = -0.5+j0.866
Any phasor which is multiplied by 'a' remains unchanged in magnitude but is rotated by 120° in
the anticlockwise direction.
Similarly, a2= a.a = 1∠ 240° = 1. e j240° = cos240°+jsin240° = -0.5-j0.866
Hence, operator 'a2' will rotate a phasor in anticlockwise direction by 240 °.
This is same as rotating the phasor in clockwise direction by 120°.
It can be easily shown that,
1) a3 = 1
2) a4 = a
3)1+a+a2 = 0
4) a* = a2 (* is conjugate)
5) a-a2 = j√3
6) a2-a = - j√3
3.3 Sequence impedances and networks of synchronous generator
Consider the three phase equivalent circuit of a synchronous generator shown in figure 3.3. The
neutral of the generator is grounded through a reactor (impedance Zn).

Figure 3.3
Here, Ea, Eb and Ec are the induced emfs of the three phases. I a, Ib and Ic are the currents flowing
in the lines when a fault (not shown in the figure) takes place at machine terminals. Since a
synchronous machine is designed with symmetrical windings, it induces emfs of positive
sequence only.
Figure.3.4 shows the three phase positive sequence network model of the synchronous generator,
Zn does not appear in the model as In=0 for positive sequence currents. Ea1, Eb1 and Ec1 are the
positive sequence generated voltages and Z1 is the positive sequence impedance. Because of the
balanced and symmetrical nature of the system, the three phase system can be replaced by a
single phase network as shown in figure 3.4.

Figure 3.4
Using the notation E for generated voltage and V for the terminal voltage, the equation that holds
good for positive sequence network is,
Va1=Ea1-Ia1Z1=Ea-Ia1Z1 ...........................................................1

The negative sequence network models of a synchronous generator on a three phase and single-
phase basis are shown in fig 3.5a and 3.5b respectively. Negative sequence voltages are not
present in the equivalent circuits, as they are not generated in the synchronous machine. Since
negative sequence currents do not flow in the neutral, Zn does not appear in the model.

Figure 3.5
The equation that holds good for the negative sequence network is,
Va2 = -Ia2Z2 ................................................................................................. 2
For a synchronous generator whose star point is grounded through an impedance Zn, the zero
sequence network models are as shown in figure.3.6.

Figure 3.6

A current of 3.Ia0 produces a drop of (3 Ia0.Zn) in the neutral impedance Zn. To show in the single
phase equivalent zero sequence network the same drop where current Ia0 flows, the impedance
should be 3Zn. Also, Zg0 is the per phase zero sequence impedance of the machine and is
numerically equal to the leakage reactance of the machine. The total zero sequence impedance of
the machine hence is,
Z0=3Zn+Zg0 ................................................................................................ 3
When the star point is solidly grounded i.e. directly shorted to the ground, Zn=0. Therefore in
such a system Z0=3(0) +Zg0=Zg0. The zero sequence networks in this case are as shown in figure
3.7.
 Figure 3.7

When the star point is ungrounded, Zn=∞, Therefore equation 3 becomes Z0=∞+Zg0=∞.The zero
sequence networks for an ungrounded generator is as shown below.

Figure 3.8
The open circuit between the reference bus and per phase zero sequence impedance Zg0
represents infinite zero sequence impedance. The general equation applicable for a zero sequence
network is,
Va0= -Ia0.Z0 .......................................................................................... 4
Note:
The sequence networks of synchronous motors are same as that of synchronous generators only
with the direction of current flow reversed.

3.4 Sequence Impedance and networks of three phase transformer

The positive and negative sequence networks are shown in fig. 3.9a and 3.9b respectively.

Figure 3.9
The zero sequence impedance of transformer depends on type of connection (Star or Delta) and
the nature of grounding. The general circuit for any configuration is given in figure 3.10.

Figure 3.10

Z0 is the per phase zero sequence impedance of the winding of the transformer. There are two
series and two shunt switches. One series and one shunt switch for both the sides separately. The
series switch of a particular side is closed if it is a star connection with its neutral grounded and
the shunt switch is closed if that side is delta connected, otherwise they are left open.

Using the above general rule, the zero sequence networks for some of the configurations of three
phase transformer are presented in table 1.

Table .1