3 Phase heating elements

Thread Starter

Jsw123

Joined Jun 20, 2009
46
I am trying to design a set of 3 phase heating elements for a 120/208 volt system. The purpose of these is to maintain a constant load on a generator when no load is present. The load will be 30 amps.
My question is:
- Do I find the necessary resistance of individual elements by E/I (120 volts/30 amps) or is it different since the three phases are connected together?

- Will an individual heating element consume more power on 3 phase Y than it would on single phase 120volt?

- If I choose to use elements connected in delta what what would the calculation for resistance be?

- What would be the increase in power consumtion for a given set of elements switched from wye to delta?
Thank you
 

mik3

Joined Feb 4, 2008
4,843
This looks like a school assignment.

Where is your work until now?

When you say 30 Amps, you mean per phase?
 

GetDeviceInfo

Joined Jun 7, 2009
2,192
I am trying to design a set of 3 phase heating elements for a 120/208 volt system. The purpose of these is to maintain a constant load on a generator when no load is present. The load will be 30 amps.
On the purely resistive balanced load side, power = Vline * Iline * sqrt(3). This being the case for both Y or Delta.
- Do I find the necessary resistance of individual elements by E/I (120 volts/30 amps) or is it different since the three phases are connected together?

- Will an individual heating element consume more power on 3 phase Y than it would on single phase 120volt?
If connected in Y, phase voltages are line voltages/sqrt(3). In your case of 120/208, the lines are 208v and the phases 120. Each leg is a single phase 120.
- If I choose to use elements connected in delta what what would the calculation for resistance be?
In Delta, your line current is sqrt(3) times phase current.
- What would be the increase in power consumtion for a given set of elements switched from wye to delta?
In Delta, your phase voltage is sqrt(3) higher than in Y. As well, your line current is sqrt(3) times phase. This results in 3 times the power.
 

Thread Starter

Jsw123

Joined Jun 20, 2009
46
Ok so if I use elements rtated at 240 v0lts, 2400 watt in delta will they consume more wattage causing the elements to burn up? Also for a given set of elements in delta to find amps do I devide 208 by resistance or is it something more?
 

GetDeviceInfo

Joined Jun 7, 2009
2,192
Ok so if I use elements rtated at 240 v0lts, 2400 watt in delta will they consume more wattage causing the elements to burn up?
if power in a balanced resistive 3 phase = Vline * Iline * sqrt(3),
because it's balanced, then phase power = 1/3 total power.
Also for a given set of elements in delta to find amps do I devide 208 by resistance or is it something more?
In delta, your line voltage is your phase voltage, so your phase current is Vline / Rphase. Your line current however is sqrt(3) times your phase current.
 

Thread Starter

Jsw123

Joined Jun 20, 2009
46
The power source is wye connected but the heating loads will be delta connected to provide more power. My question is if I use three sets of elements rated at 2400 watt 240 volt single phase, since there is a amperage gain in delta (I line x 1.73) will the individual elements draw more than 2400 watt thus causing them to burn up? do i need tho use elements rated at a higher voltage?

Also you said your phase current is Vline / Rphase. How do you find R Phase?
 

GetDeviceInfo

Joined Jun 7, 2009
2,192
For your resistive elements at 2400w/240v;
P=V*I
P=V*(V/R)
P=Vsq/R
R=Vsq/P
so, 240V sq / 2400w = 24 ohm

In your Y configuration, total power = 3 * (120Vphase)sq / 24 ohm = 1800w. As line current = phase current, Iline = Iphase = 5amp.

In your Delta config, total power = 3 * (208Vphase)sq / 24 ohm = 5408w
Iphase = 8.67amp. Iline = Iphase * sqrt(3) = 15amp.

Notice that power dissipated is 3 times greater in Delta compared to Y. Because you are using the same line voltage, the difference is in the current consumption.

Again, total power in a balanced resistive circuit can be calculated as Vline * Iline * sqrt(3).
 

Thread Starter

Jsw123

Joined Jun 20, 2009
46
Thank you the line system is 120/208v wye but I hope to connect heating elements in delta. is the formula for the elements above then
3* (120v phase)sq * 24ohm?
 
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