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Delta Connection (Δ): 3 Phase Power, Voltage & Current Values
Electrical Technology 11 5 minutes read
Three Phase Delta Connection: Line, Phase Current, Voltages & Power in Δ Configuration
Table of Contents
1. What is Delta Connection (Δ)?
2. Voltage, Current and Power Values in Delta Connection (Δ)
2.1. Line Voltages (VL) and Phase Voltages (VPh) in Delta Connection
2.2. Line Currents (IL) and Phase Currents (IPh) in Delta Connection
2.3. Power in Delta Connection
What is Delta Connection (Δ)?
Delta or Mesh Connection (Δ) System is also known as Three Phase Three Wire System (3-Phase 3 Wire) and it is the
most preferred system for AC power transmission while for distribution, Star connection is generally used.
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In Delta (also denoted by Δ) system of interconnection, the starting ends of the three phases or coils are connected to the
finishing ends of the coil. Or the starting end of the first coil is connected to the finishing end of the second coil and so on (for
all three coils) and it looks like a closed mesh or circuit as shown in fig (1).
In more clear words, all three coils are connected in series to form a close mesh or circuit. Three wires are taken out from
three junctions and the all outgoing currents from junction assumed to be positive.
In Delta connection, the three windings interconnection looks like a short circuit, but this is not true, if the system is
balanced, then the value of the algebraic sum of all voltages around the mesh is zero in Delta connection.
When a terminal is open in Δ, then there is no chance of flowing currents with basic frequency around the closed mesh.
Also Read:
Star Connection (Y): Three Phase Power, Voltage & Current Values
Difference between Star (Y) and Delta (Δ) Connections
Good to Remember: In Delta configuration, at any instant, the EMF value of one phase is equal to the resultant of the other
two phases EMF values but in the opposite direction.
Fig (1). 3 Phase Power, Voltage & Current Values in Delta Connection (Δ)
Voltage, Current and Power Values in Delta Connection (Δ)
Now we will find the values of Line current, Line Voltage, Phase Current, Phase Voltages and Power in three phase Delta AC
system.
Line Voltages (VL) and Phase Voltages (VPh) in Delta Connection
It is seen in fig 2 that there is only one phase winding between two terminals (i.e. there is one phase winding between two
wires). Therefore, in Delta Connection, the voltage between (any pair of) two lines is equal to the phase voltage of the
phase winding which is connected between two lines.
Since the phase sequence is R → Y → B, therefore, the direction of voltage from R phase towards Y phase is positive (+),
and the voltage of R phase is leading by 120°from Y phase voltage. Likewise, the voltage of Y phase is leading by 120° from
the phase voltage of B and its direction is positive from Y towards B.
If the line voltage between;
Line 1 and Line 2 = VRY
Line 2 and Line 3 = VYB
Line 3 and Line 1 = VBR
Then, we see that VRY leads VYB by 120° and VYB leads VBR by 120°.
Let’s suppose,
VRY = VYB = VBR = VL …………… (Line Voltage)
Then
VL = VPH
I.e. in Delta connection, the Line Voltage is equal to the Phase Voltage.
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Also read : Three Phase Current Values in a 3-Phase System
Line Currents (IL) and Phase Currents (IPh) in Delta Connection
It will be noted from the below (fig-2) that the total current of each Line is equal to the vector difference between two
phase currents in Delta connection flowing through that line. i.e.;
Current in Line 1= I1 = IR – IB
Current in Line 2 =I2 = IY – IR
Current in Line 3 =I3 = IB – IY
{Vector Difference}
Fig (2). Line & Phase Current and Line & Phase Voltage in Delta (Δ)
Connection
The current of Line 1 can be found by determining the vector difference between IR and IB and we can do that by increasing
the IB Vector in reverse, so that, IR and IB makes a parallelogram. The diagonal of that parallelogram shows the vector
difference of IR and IB which is equal to current in Line 1= I1. Moreover, by reversing the vector of IB, it may indicate as (-IB),
therefore, the angle between IR and -IB (IB, when reversed = -IB) is 60°. If,
IR = IY = IB = IPH …. The phase currents
Then;
The current flowing in Line 1 would be;
IL or I1 = 2 x IPH x Cos (60°/2)
= 2 x IPH x Cos 30°
= 2 x IPH x (√3/2) …… Since Cos 30° = √3/2
IL= √3 IPH
i.e. In Delta Connection, The Line current is √3 times of Phase Current.
Similarly, we can find the reaming two Line currents as same as above. i.e.,
I2 = IY – IR … Vector Difference = √3 IPH
I3 = IB – IY … Vector difference = √3 IPH
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As, all the Line current are equal in magnitude i.e.
I1 = I2 = I3 = IL
