Symmetrical Components

Learning Objectives
•Outline symmetrical Components
•Describe Positvie,Negative and Zero
sequence components
• Solve symmetrical Components
•Discuss the condition of existence of
symmetrical components and their sequence
impedances of trans lines and transformers
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 Symmetrical Components
• In 1918 Dr.C.L. Fortescue described how
arbitrary unbalanced 3-phase voltages
/currents could be transformed into 3 sets
of balanced 3-phase components.
• He called this components “symmetrical
Components”

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 Symmetrical Components
• Unbalanced problems can be solved by
the resolution of currents and voltages into
certain symmetrical relations.
• By this method, a set of unbalanced
voltages/voltages may be resolved into
balanced systems equal in number to the
phases involved {in our case, 3 phases}

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 Symmetrical Components

Why is this method important?

• The symmetrical components method
reduces the complexity in solving for
electrical quantities during power system
disturbances. {disturbance causes
unbalanced network}

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 Symmetrical Components
• These sequence components are known
as positive, negative and zero- sequence
components.
Summary
The unbalance three phase system can be
transformed into 3 balanced pastors:
• Positive Sequence
• Negative Sequence
• Zero sequence 5
 Positive Phase Sequence
• Each vector has the
same magnitude.
• They are 120⁰ apart
from each other.
• The positive
sequences have an
abc, counter
clockwise phase
rotation.

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 Negative Phase Sequence
• It is similar in most
ways with the
positive sequence
except:
• The negative
sequence quantities
have acb counter
clock-wise phase
rotation

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 Zero Phase Sequence
• Each zero sequence
quantity has the same
magnitude.
• All three phasors with
no angular
displacement
between them and
are all in phase

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 Symmetrical Components
• Assuming 3-phase
unbalanced voltage
phasors, VA, VB and
VC having positive
sequence (abc)
• Using symmetrical
components it is possible
to represent each phasor
voltage as:

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 Symmetrical Components
The positive sequence components
• Three phasors
• Equal in magnitude
• Displaced by 120⁰
• Having the same
sequence as the original
phasors (abc)

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 Symmetrical Components
The negative sequence components
• Three phasors
• Equal in magnitude
• Displaced by 120⁰
• Having the opposite
sequence as the original
phasors (acb)

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 Symmetrical Components
The zero sequence components
• Three phasors
• Equal in magnitude
• Having the same phase
shift

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 Symmetrical Components

Consider the symmetrical system of phasors below.

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 Symmetrical Components
• By the definition of symmetrical
components, Vb1 always lags
Va1 by a fixed angle of 120⁰
and always has the same
magnitude as Va1 . Similarly
Vc1 leads Va1 by 120⁰. It
follows then that:
Va1= Va1
Vb1=(1∟240⁰) Va1=αα Va1
Vc1=(1∟120⁰) Va1=αVa1
Where the subscript (1)
designates the positive-
sequence components.

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 Symmetrical Components
Va0= Va0
Vb0= Va0
Vc0= Va0
Where the subscript (0)
designates the zero-sequence
components.

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 Symmetrical Components
• As was stated in slide 8 above, the total
voltage of any phase is then equal to the
sum of the corresponding components of
different sequences in that phase.
Va= Va1+ Va2+ Va0
Vb= Vb1+ Vb2+ Vb0
Vc= Vc1+ Vc2+ Vc0

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 Symmetrical Components
• We may further simply the notation as
follows: define
V1= Va1
V2= Va2
V0= Va0
• Substituting their equivalent values.
Va= V1+ V2+ V0
Vb= ααV1+ αV2+ V0
Vc= αV1+ ααV2+ V0 20
 Symmetrical Components

• Matrix representation of the above formula

is as follows:

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 Symmetrical Components
• The equations may be manipulated to
solve for Sequence components,V1,V2
and V0 in terms of Va, Vb and Vc.
V1=1/3(Va+αVb+ ααVc)
V2=1/3(Va+ ααVb+ αVc)
V0=1/3(Va+Vb+Vc)
All the formular discussed this far are also
true for currents!!!
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 Symmetrical Components
• Matrix representation of the above
formulars:

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 Symmetrical Components
Power In Terms of Symmetrical Components
If the symmetrical components of current & voltage are
known, the power can be computed directly from the
components.
Total 3 phase Power

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 Symmetrical Components
Sequence Impedances
•If impedance Zn is inserted between the neutral
and ground of the Y-connection then the sum of
the line currents is equal to In.

•Expressing the unbalanced line currents in terms of

their symmetrical components gives:
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 Symmetrical Components
Positive and negative sequence components of the a-b-c
currents sum to zero but while the zero sequence
components are not zero.

•It is only applicable for 3 phase four wire systems

•In a 3 phase 3 wire system there is no zero sequence26
current.
Symmetrical Components

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 Symmetrical Components
We Can write the voltage drops as follows:

The a-b-c voltages can be replaced by their symmetrical

components:

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 Symmetrical Components
If We Multiply by Inverse of A:

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Symmetrical Components

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 Symmetrical Components
• The formulae on the previous slide tell us
that currents of one sequence cause
voltage drops of only the same sequence
in circuits with symmetrical impedance in
each phase.
• This important results allow us to draw the
three single-phase sequence circuits. As
shown on the next slide

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 Symmetrical Components

(a) (b) (c)

•Circuit (a) above is called zero sequence network/circuit,
it relates the zero sequence voltage and the zero
sequence current.

Clearly, 32
 Symmetrical Components
•Z0 is called (defined) the impedance to zero sequence
currents.
•Likewise cct (b) is called the positive sequence circuit
and Z1 is called impedance to positive sequence
Current.
•Cct (c) is the negative sequence circuit and Z2
Is the impedance to negative sequence current.

•The names of the impedances to currents of different

Sequences are usually shortened to just:
Z0, Z1, Z2
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 Symmetrical Components

In this case there cannot be any zero sequence current

flow, for Zn= infinity which is indicated by an open
circuit between neutral and refrence in the zero
sequence cct above.
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