Advantages of 3 Phase Over Single Phase System

The three-phase system has three live conductors which supply the 440V to the large consumers. While the single-phase system has one live conductor which is used for domestic purposes. The following are the main advantages of 3 Phase system over Single Phase system.

• Higher Rating
  The rating, i.e. the output of a three-phase machine is nearly 1.5 times the rating (output) of a single-phase machine of the same size.

• Constant Power
  In single-phase circuits, the power delivered is pulsating. Even when the voltage and current are in phase, the power is zero twice in each cycle. Whereas, in the polyphase system, the power delivered is almost constant when the loads are in a balanced condition.

• Power Transmission Economics
  The three-phase system requires only 75% of the weight of conducting material of that required by the single-phase system to transmit the same amount of power over a fixed distance at a given voltage.

• Superiority of 3 Phase Induction Motors
  The three phase induction motors have a wide field of applications in the industries because of the following advantages are given below.

1. Three-phase induction motors are self-starting whereas the single-phase induction motor is not self-starting. This means the 1 –phase motor has no starting torque and hence it needs some auxiliary means to start at the initial stage.

2. The three Phase Induction motors have higher power factor and efficiency than that of a single-phase induction motor.

• Size and Weight of alternator
  The 3 Phase Alternator is small in size and light in weight as compared to a single-phase alternator.

• Requirement of Copper and Aluminium
  3 Phase system requires less copper and aluminium for the transmission system in comparison to a single-phase transmission system.

• Frequency of Vibration
  In 3 phase motor, the frequency of vibrations is less as compared to single-phase motor because in single-phase the power transferred is a function of current and varies constantly.

• Dependency
  A single-phase load can be efficiently fed by a 3 phase load or system, but 3 phase system cannot depend or feed by a single-phase system.

• Torque
  A uniform or constant torque is produced in a 3 phase system, whereas in a single-phase system pulsating torque is produced.