Electrical Engineering ⇒ Topic : Solving Unbalanced 3-wire Y Load By Loop Current Method

Solving Unbalanced 3-wire Y Load By Loop Current Method

We can also solve problems related to unbalanced 3-wire star-connected loads by using Maxwell's loop current method. Consider an unbalanced 3-wire star-connected load fed from 3-phase balanced supply as shown in Fig. (a). Let the loop or mesh currents be I₁ and I₂. It is clear that

                         I_R = I₁ ;  I_Y = I₂ -I₁ ; I_B = -I₂

Considering the phases R and Y and applying Kirchhoff's voltage law, we have

                     ........... (i)

Considering the phases Y and B and applying Kirchhoff's voltage law, we have,

      ............. (ii)

                                                            figure (a)

Solving eqs. (i) and (ii) for I₁ and I₂, we have,

Once we know the mesh currents I₁andI₂, the line currents I_R,I_Y and I_B can be easily determined