3
phase power is used today for many
applications ranging from the above grain dryer to saw
mills, conveyer belt systems, refrigeration and air
conditioning, etc.
|
3 Phase Contents |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
There
are several types
of 3 phase power generators. These can vary
from a utility power station, to a prime source power
generator to portable
diesel (and other fuels) 3 phase generator, to 3
phase generators which run on 1 phase power (some
models of phase converters). At
a utility
power station, an electrical generator converts
mechanical power into a set of alternating electric
currents (AC), one from each electromagnetic coil or
winding of the power generator. The currents are
sinusoidal functions of time, all at the same
frequency but with different phases. In a 3 phase
system the phases are spaced equally, giving a phase
separation of 120°. The frequency is typically 50 Hz
in Europe and 60 Hz in the US (see List of countries
with mains power plugs, voltages and frequencies).
See Frequency
Converters for changing 50 Hz to 60 Hz or the reverse
of 60 Hz to 50 Hz frequency. Read more about
3 Phase Power Generation below.
|
|
Industrial and towable 3
phase generators are designed and engineered for
optimum performance and superior reliability. From the
ultra quiet sound attenuated enclosures (64-71 dba) to
the state-of-the-art electronics and controls, these 3
phase generator units are engineered to meet the most
rugged conditions. Place the unit at the job site,
connect the 3
phase load and start it up. These full-featured
standby 3 phase generator units are specially suited for all
industrial, commercial and rental applications.
Generators can also be used with an automatic transfer switch for
standby 3 phase applications.
|
 |
|
Generators voltage output ranges from hundreds of
volts to 30,000 volts. This can be from small portable
3 phase generators, 3
phase generating rotary converters, or utility
power stations. At the power station, transformers
step-up this voltage to one more suitable for transmission.
After
numerous further conversions in the transmission
and distribution network the 3 phase power is
finally transformed to the standard mains voltage (the
voltage of "house" or "household"
current in American English). The power may already
have been split into single phase at this point or it
may still be 3 phase. Where the step-down
is 3 phase, the output of this transformer
is usually star connected with the standard mains
voltage (120V in North America and 230V in Europe)
being the phase-neutral voltage. Another system
commonly seen in the USA is to have a delta connected
secondary on the step
down transformer with a center tap on one of the
windings supplying the ground and neutral. This allows
for 240V 3 phase as well as three different single
phase voltages (120V between two of the phases and the
neutral, 208V between the third phase (sometimes known
as a wild leg) and neutral and 240V between any two
phases) to be made available from the same supply.
Click here to read more about 3
phase distribution.
3
Phase Loads
The
most common class of 3
phase load is the 3
phase electric motor. A 3 phase induction motor
has a simple design, inherently high starting torque,
and high efficiency. Such motors are applied in
industry for 3
phase pumps, fans, blowers, compressors, conveyor
drives, and many other types of motor-driven
equipment. A 3 phase motor is more compact and less
costly than a 1-phase motor of the same voltage class
and rating; also 1-phase AC motors above 10 HP (7.5
kW) are not as efficient and thus not usually
manufactured.
Large
air conditioning equipment (for example, most York
air conditioning units above 2.5 tons (8.8 kW) cooling
capacity) use 3 phase motors for reasons of economy
and efficiency. Read more about 3
phase power loads here.
3
Phase Loads from 3 Phase Power Generated on 1 Phase
Power
There
are many places and instances where 1 phase power is
all that is available, or where the power company
wants to charge tens, or even hundreds of thousands of
dollars to install and supply 3 phase power.
When this is the case a quality 3
phase generating phase converter can be run on 1
phase to power 3 phase equipment of any type.
Click here to read more about powering
3 phase loads with 3 phase power generated from 1
phase power.
Continue
And Read About Additional 3 Phase Power Details:
Contribute
3 Phase Power Articles to The 3 Phase Power Resource
Site:
If you would like to contribute additional 3 phase
info to our 3 phase power resource site please feel
free to email your 3 phase power article to us at
info@3phasepower.org. By doing so you are giving
us full rights to edit and distribute the info freely
worldwide in perpetuity in any way we see fit.
Note that The 3 Phase Power Resource Site is run by
all volunteers and thus we do not have the ability to
respond to all emails. Also not all info
submitted will be added to the site. It is at
the sole discretion of our electrical editors.
Thank you for contributing!
|
|
|
|
