Linear Circuit Analysis


Source/Load Connections

Below we present four typical connections between a three-phase source and a three-phase load encountered in practical applications. The first connection, which is also somewhat easier to study, is the wye-wye connection. Although it is possible to analyze the other connections independently, it is often easier to transform them into a wye-wye connection, compute the currents and voltages, and then transform them back to the original connection to find the sought variables. To simplify the calculations, we will assume that the network is balanced.

Wye-Wye Connections

The circuit shown in Fig. 1 represents a standard balanced wye-wye connected system. In general, the voltages of the sources are given by $$\begin{equation}V_{an}(t) = V \cos(\omega t)\end{equation}$$ $$\begin{equation}V_{bn}(t) = V \cos(\omega t-120^\circ)\end{equation}$$ $$\begin{equation}V_{cn}(t) = V \cos(\omega t+120^\circ)\end{equation}$$ In a typical problem (not a design problem), the line impedances are the same because they all have the same length (from the power generation facility to the consumer) and experience similar environmental conditions. Since we focus on balanced systems here, the loads are identical; we need to compute the currents in the lines and the powers consumed or generated by the components.

You can look at this solved problem for an example on how to analyze wye-wye systems.

Van Ia Zline + VAN ZL Vbn Ib Zline + VBN ZL Vcn Ic Zline + VCN ZL
Fig. 1. Wye-wye three-phase network.
Delta-Wye Connections

The circuit shown in Fig. 2 represents a balanced delta-wye connected system. The voltages of the sources are given by equations similar to the previous case, and one usually needs to find the currents in the lines or the currents through the sources. In this case it is often easier to transform the sources from the delta to the wye configuration, compute the line currents as before, and then transform back (wye to delta) to obtain the currents through the original sources.

You can look at this solved problem for an example on how to analyze delta-wye systems.

Ica Vca Ia Zline + VAN ZL Iab Vab Ib Zline + VBN ZL Ibc Vbc Ic Zline + VCN ZL
Fig. 2. Delta-wye three-phase network.
Wye-Delta Connections

The circuit shown in Fig. 3 represents a balanced wye-delta connected system. The voltages of the sources are given by the same equations as in the wye-wye case, and one needs to compute the currents in the lines or the currents through the load impedances. In this case it is often easier to transform the loads from delta to wye, compute the line currents, and then transform back to obtain the original source currents (see the solved problem linked below).

Van Ia Zline + VCA ICA ZL Vbn Ib Zline + VAB IAB ZL Vcn Ic Zline + VBC IBC Z6
Fig. 3. Wye-delta three-phase network.
Delta-Delta Connections

Finally, the circuit shown in Fig. 4 represents a balanced delta-delta connected system. To compute the currents in the lines or the currents going through the delta branches (either at the source or at the load), it is again easier to first transform the sources and loads from the delta to wye configurations, then compute the line currents. As in the previous case, the currents going through the original sources or load impedances can be computed by making an additional current transformation like in this solved problem.

Ica Vca Ia Zline + VCA ICA ZL Iab Vab Ib Zline + VAB IAB ZL Ibc Vbc Ic Zline + VBC IBC ZL
Fig. 4. Delta-delta three-phase network.
Examples of Solved Problems
See also