Q10 (16 Marks) Electrical Circuits & Calculations
MET • Written Exam

A balanced star connected three phase load has a coil of inductance 0.2 H and resistance 50 Ω in each phase. It is supplied at 415 V, 50 Hz. Calculate EACH of the following: (16)

(a) the line current;

(b) the power factor;

(c) the value of each of three identical delta connected capacitors to be connected across the same supply to raise the power factor to 0.9 lag;

(d) the new value of the line current.

Appeared In: Mar 2026

Verified Model Answer (Text Solution)

Structured for DG Shipping MEO Class II examination scoring criteria.

Exam Ready

Given

  • Three-phase balanced star-connected load
  • Resistance per phase, R = 50 Ω
  • Inductance per phase, L = 0.2 H
  • Supply voltage, VL = 415 V
  • Frequency, f = 50 Hz
Part (a)

Line Current

Step 1: Calculate inductive reactance

$$X_L = 2\pi fL$$

$$X_L = 2 \times \pi \times 50 \times 0.2$$

$$X_L = 62.83\,\Omega$$

Step 2: Calculate phase impedance

$$Z = \sqrt{R^2 + X_L^2}$$

$$Z = \sqrt{50^2 + 62.83^2}$$

$$Z = \sqrt{2500 + 3947.6}$$

$$Z = 80.3\,\Omega$$

Step 3: Calculate phase voltage

For a star-connected load,

$$V_{ph} = \frac{V_L}{\sqrt{3}}$$

$$V_{ph} = \frac{415}{1.732}$$

$$V_{ph} = 239.6\,V$$

Step 4: Calculate phase current

$$I_{ph} = \frac{V_{ph}}{Z}$$

$$I_{ph} = \frac{239.6}{80.3}$$

$$I_{ph} = 2.98\,A$$

For a star-connected load,

$$I_L = I_{ph}$$

$$\boxed{I_L = 2.98\,A}$$

Part (b)

Power Factor

$$\cos\phi = \frac{R}{Z}$$

$$\cos\phi = \frac{50}{80.3}$$

$$\boxed{\cos\phi = 0.623 \text{ lagging}}$$

Part (c)

Capacitor Value Required to Improve Power Factor to 0.9 Lagging

Step 1: Calculate active power

$$P = \sqrt{3}V_LI_L\cos\phi$$

$$P = 1.732 \times 415 \times 2.98 \times 0.623$$

$$P = 1335\,W$$

Step 2: Initial reactive power

$$\phi_1 = \cos^{-1}(0.623)$$

$$\phi_1 = 51.46^\circ$$

$$Q_1 = P\tan\phi_1$$

$$Q_1 = 1335 \times \tan(51.46^\circ)$$

$$Q_1 = 1673\,VAR$$

Step 3: Reactive power at desired power factor

$$\phi_2 = \cos^{-1}(0.9)$$

$$\phi_2 = 25.84^\circ$$

$$Q_2 = P\tan\phi_2$$

$$Q_2 = 1335 \times \tan(25.84^\circ)$$

$$Q_2 = 647\,VAR$$

Step 4: Capacitor VAR required

$$Q_C = Q_1 - Q_2$$

$$Q_C = 1673 - 647$$

$$Q_C = 1026\,VAR$$

Step 5: Calculate capacitance per delta-connected capacitor

For a delta-connected capacitor bank,

$$Q_C = 3V_L^2\omega C$$

where

$$\omega = 2\pi f$$

$$\omega = 2\pi \times 50$$

$$\omega = 314.16\,rad/s$$

Therefore,

$$C = \frac{Q_C}{3V_L^2\omega}$$

$$C = \frac{1026}{3 \times 415^2 \times 314.16}$$

$$C = 6.33 \times 10^{-6}\,F$$

$$\boxed{C = 6.33\,\mu F}\:per\:capacitor$$

Part (d)

New Line Current

At the improved power factor of 0.9,

$$P = \sqrt{3}V_LI_{new}\cos\phi_2$$

$$1335 = 1.732 \times 415 \times I_{new} \times 0.9$$

$$I_{new} = 2.06\,A$$

$$\boxed{I_{new} = 2.06\,A}$$

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