Y-delta transform - Definition and Overview

The Y-delta transform (also written Wye-delta transform or Kennelly's Delta-Star transformation) or star-mesh transformation is a technique to simplify analysis of an electrical network. The name derives from the shapes of the circuit diagrams, which look respectively like the letter Y and the Greek capital letter Δ.

Basic Y-Delta transformation

The transformation is used to establish equivalence for networks with 3 terminals. Where three elements terminate at one point (node) and none is a source, the node is elminated by transforming the impedances.

For equivalence, the impedance between any pair of terminals must be the same for both networks.

Transformation equations

<math>R_1 = \left( \frac{R_aR_b}{R_a + R_b + R_c} \right)<math>

<math>R_2 = \left( \frac{R_bR_c}{R_a + R_b + R_c} \right)<math>

<math>R_3 = \left( \frac{R_cR_a}{R_a + R_b + R_c} \right)<math>

Wye-to-Delta transformation equations

<math>R_a = \left( \frac{R_1R_2 + R_2R_3 + R_3R_1}{R_2} \right)<math>

<math>R_b = \left( \frac{R_1R_2 + R_2R_3 + R_3R_1}{R_3} \right)<math>

<math>R_c = \left( \frac{R_1R_2 + R_2R_3 + R_3R_1}{R_1} \right)<math>

Terminology

See also

• Analysis of resistive circuits
• Electrical network: single phase electric power, alternating-current electric power, Three-phase power, polyphase systems
• Electric motors
• Lists: List of transforms, List of mathematical topics

References

William Stevenson, "Elements of Power System Analysis 3rd ed.", McGraw Hill, New York, 1975, ISBN 0070612854