Notes 6: Symmetrical Components 2

6.1 Symmetrical components: examples

These examples were adapted from [1].

Example 1: Compute sequence components

of the following balanced a-b-c sequence
line-to-neutral voltages.
Van   2770 
Vabc  Vbn   277  120
   
Vcn   277120 

Solution:

1
Example 2: Compute the sequence
components for a balanced Y-load that has
phase b opened.

2
 Fig. 1: Balanced Y load with open phase b

Implication: Zero-sequence component

results from unbalanced load.

3
Example 3: A 12.47kV feeder provides
service to an unbalanced delta-connected
load consuming the following power:
 Phase ab: 1500 kVA, 0.95 lagging
 Phase bc: 1000 kVA, 0.85 lagging
 Phase ca: 950 kVA, 0.9 lagging
Give the following expressions:
a.The currents in each phase.
b. The matrix K, where K is defined in
the equation below.
Ia   I ab 
I   K I 
 b  bc 
 I c   I ca 

c.Are the line currents balanced?

Solution: The situation is shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2
With line-line voltages given as 7200v, it is
easy to see that we can obtain the phase
4
currents using, for example, Iab=(Sab/Vab)*.
We will assume that Vab is the reference.
* *
S   1500  103  cos 1 0.95 
I ab   ab    
 Vab   72000 
*
 1500  103 18.19 
    208.3  18.19
 72000 
* *
S   1000  103  cos 1 0.85 
I bc   bc    
 Vbc   7200  120 
*
 1000  103 31.788 
    138.89  151.788
 7200  120 
* *
S   950  103  cos 1 0.90 
I ca   ca    
 Vca   7200120 
*
 950  103 25.84 
    131.94145.84
 7200  120 

Notice that the phase currents are most

definitely unbalanced.

Now what are the line currents? Consider

Fig. 2 and note that we may relate the line
currents to the phase currents using KCL:
Ia=Iab-Ica=(1)Iab+(0)Ibc+(-1)Ica
Ib=-Iab+Ibc=(-1)Iab+(1)Ibc+(0)Ica
Ic=-Ibc+Ica=(0)Iab+(-1)Ibc+(1)Ica

Writing in matrix form, we have:

I a   1 0  1  I ab 
I abc   
  I b    1 1 0   I bc 
 I c   0  1 1   I ca 

5
So the desired matrix is
1 0  1
K    1 1 0 
 0 1 1 

Now let’s use it to obtain the line currents:

I a   1 0  1  208.3  18.19 
  
I abc   I b    1 1 0  138.89  151.788
 I c   0  1 1   131.94145.84 
 208.3  18.19  131.94145.84 
   208.3  18.19  138.89  151.788 
Note that line
 138.89  151.788  131.94145.84
 337.1  24.37 
 320.3  168.81
 140.484.56 

currents are also unbalanced.

Note an interesting thing about the phase

currents and the line currents in the above.

Even though they both are unbalanced,

they both add to 0 (do the math to see).

One can observe immediately that the line

currents must add to zero, by considering the
delta configuration as a single node.

6
In fact, we can use the delta-Y
transformation to change Fig. 2 into Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

To remind you from Nilsson’s book,

Z 1 Z  2
Z Y1 
Z 1  Z  2  Z  3
Z  2 Z 3
ZY 2 
Z 1  Z  2  Z  3
Z 1 Z  3
ZY 3 
Z 1  Z  2  Z  3

We see by applying KCL at the center node,

that the 3 currents must sum to 0.

This will always be true for line currents

feeding a delta connection.
However, try to add up the phase currents.
You will find that they are not zero.

7
(Question: How can there be zero sequence
components in the phase currents but not in
the line currents?
Answer: At any junction in the delta
connection, the entire zero sequence current
flowing in one phase also flows in the other
phase, i.e., none of it “escapes” to the line.
This mean that zero sequence currents
circulate in the delta.)

Conclusion: Line currents into a delta or into

an ungrounded Y always sum to zero.

Recall: Anytime you can show that the three

phasors add to zero, the zero-sequence
components will all be zero.

Implication: Line currents into a delta or

into an ungrounded Y never have zero-
sequence components (i.e., the zero
sequence components for line currents into a
delta or into an ungrounded Y).

8
What about
 Unbalanced currents into a grounded-Y?
 Unbalanced line-to-line voltages?