POWER SYSTEMS LECTURE SERIES

PART IV. SYMMETRICAL

COMPONENTS

Prepared by:
Engr. Michael C. Pacis
BSEE, MEP-EE, PhD EE (CAR)

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SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
developed by Dr. C.L. Fortesque, an American
scientist showed that any unbalanced system of three
phase currents or voltages may be resolved into
three separate sets of balanced vectors, namely the
positive, negative and zero sequence components.

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SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
1. a balanced set of 3 phase vectors having the same phase
sequence as the original unbalanced system of vectors (positive
sequence). These vectors are known as “ Positive Sequence
System”
2. a balanced set of 3 phase vectors having phase sequence
which opposite of that of the original unbalanced system of
vectors (negative sequence). This balanced system of 3 phase
vectors is known as “ Negative Sequence System”.
3. A set of three (3) single phase vectors which are equal in
magnitude and having zero displacement. Which have exactly
the same 3 phase position with respect to any given reference
axis. This system of single phase vector is known as “zero
sequence system”.

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SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
Mathematically, assume unbalanced currents

Ia = Ia0 + Ia1 + Ia2

Ib = Ib0 + Ib1 + Ib2
Ic = Ic0 + Ic1 + Ic2
EQ.
1

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 OPERATOR “ A “

is one which when multiplied to a vector, rotates

the vector through a 120° in the
counterclockwise direction.
Let:
A = 1 L 120°
A2 = 1 L 240°
A3 = 1 L 360°= 1

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POSITIVE SEQUENCE COMPONENTS
1. A balanced set of 3 phase vectors having the same phase
sequence as the original unbalanced system of vectors
(positive sequence).

Ic1

120°
120° Ia1

Ib1 = A2 Ia1
120°
Ib1 Ic1 = A Ia1

EQ. 2

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NEGATIVE SEQUENCE COMPONENTS
2. A balanced set of 3 phase vectors having phase sequence
which opposite of that of the original unbalanced system of
vectors (negative sequence).

Ib2

120° Ia2
120° Ib2 = A Ia2
120° Ic2 = A2 Ia2
Ic2

EQ. 3

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NEGATIVE SEQUENCE COMPONENTS
3. A set of three (3) single phase vectors which are equal in
magnitude and having zero displacement. Which have exactly
the same 3 phase position with respect to any given reference
axis.

Ia0

Ib0 Ia0 = Ib0 = Ic0 EQ. 4

Ic0

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SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
Expressing Symmetrical Components of Ib and Ic in terms of Ia
symmetrical components:

Ia = Ia0 + Ia1 + Ia2

Ib = Ia0 + A2 Ia1 + A Ia2
Ic = Ia0 + A Ia1 + A2 Ia2
EQ. 5

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SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
From EQ 5, Adding all the currents we have:
Ia + Ib + Ic = 3 Ia0 + Ia1 ( 1 + A + A2 ) + Ia2 ( 1 + A + A2 )

But 1 + A + A2 = 0 also 1 + A2 + A4 = 0
Therefore,

Ia0 = 1/3 ( Ia + Ib + Ic )

Also, Ia0 = Ib0 = Ic0 EQ. 6

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SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
From 5, Multiply Ia by 1, Multiply Ib by A and Multiply Ic by A2

Ia = Ia0 + Ia1 + Ia2

AIb = AIa0 + A3 Ia1 + A2 Ia2
A2Ic = A2 Ia0 + A3 Ia1 + A4 Ia2

Adding the currents,

Ia + AIb + A2 Ic = Ia0 (1 + A + A2 ) + 3 Ia1 + Ia2 ( 1 + A2 + A4 )

Ia1 = 1/3 ( Ia + A Ib + A2 Ic )

Also, Ib1 = A2 Ia1 and Ic1 = A Ia1 EQ. 7

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SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
From 5, Multiply Ia by 1, Multiply Ib by A2 and Multiply Ic by A

Ia = Ia0 + Ia1 + Ia2

A2 Ib = A2 Ia0 + A4 Ia1 + A3 Ia2
A Ic = A Ia0 + A2 Ia1 + A3 Ia2

Adding the currents,

Ia + A2 Ib + A Ic = Ia0 (1 + A + A2 ) + Ia1 ( 1 + A2 + A4 ) + 3 Ia2

Ia2 = 1/3 ( Ia + A2 Ib + A Ic )

Also, Ib2 = A Ia2, Ic2 = A2 Ia2 EQ. 8

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SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
Expressing EQ 6, 7 and 8 to it’s corresponding symmetrical
components.

Ia0 = 1 Ia + Ib + Ic
Ia1 = Ia + AIb + A2 Ic
Ia2 = 3 Ia + A2 Ib + A Ic
EQ. 9

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. The line currents in a 3-phase, 4 wire system are:
Ia = 300 + j400 A
Ib = 200 + j200 A
Ic = 400 – j200 A

Calculate the positive, negative, and zero components of all the line currents.

2. The sequence voltages in the red phase are as under :

Ea0 = 100 V ; Ea1 = (200 − j 100) V ; Ea2 = − 100 V
Find the phase voltages Ean, Ebn and Ecn in polar form.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. Three equal impedances ( 8+j6 ) ohms are connected in wye across a 3θ, 3wire
supply. The symmetrical components of the phase A line voltages are:
Va0 = 0 V
Va1 = 220 + j 28.9 V
Va2 = -40 – j 28.9 V
If there is no connection between the load neutral and the supply neutral,
Calculate the symmetrical currents of line a, b and c.

4. One conductor of a 3-phase line is open. The current flowing to the ∆-connected load
through the line R is 10 A. With the current in line R [See Figure] as reference and
assuming that line B is open, find the symmetrical components of the line currents.

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