return path confusion

[wilkyduch]

Im looking for an overview on 3 phase power transmission and would be grateful if someone could answer this;
Does the current originating from an ac generator at the power station eventually return to the generator star point . Im confused because Ive read that the return path for current is to earth, in which case if correct then how would a circuit be maintained. Im under the impression that the intention of directing current to earth tis to get rid of it .Also if it is to the star point, what happens to the current when it reaches here.

 

[Electricalserv]

Im looking for an overview on 3 phase power transmission and would be grateful if someone could answer this;
Does the current originating from an ac generator at the power station eventually return to the generator star point . Im confused because Ive read that the return path for current is to earth, in which case if correct then how would a circuit be maintained. Im under the impression that the intention of directing current to earth tis to get rid of it .Also if it is to the star point, what happens to the current when it reaches here.

Correct me if I am wrong but current always returns via the neutral and through the star point where it then travels back through the line in a constant loop. Unless there is an earth fault and in that event it will travel back to earth to the supply transformer. earth is connected to the star point so current will always travel in a loop through the star point back to the line.

I could be wrong.

 

[IQ Electrical]

Correct me if I am wrong but current always returns via the neutral and through the star point where it then travels back through the line in a constant loop. Unless there is an earth fault and in that event it will travel back to earth to the supply transformer. earth is connected to the star point so current will always travel in a loop through the star point back to the line.

I could be wrong.

You're not.

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Do you mean with reference to the neutral, and howcome you can have balanced three phase systems when you believe that the neutral is required for the circuit to be complete?

 

[wilkyduch]

im not sure what i mean to be honest im just confused as to what role the neutral plays

 

[Engineer54]

Keeping it simple, ....It's the return path for single phase loads and unbalanced 3 phase loads....
Not so simple is when you start talking about ''odd order Harmonic currents'' ...They don't dissipate, they remain circulating at the supply transformer!!

 

[Electricalserv]

im not sure what i mean to be honest im just confused as to what role the neutral plays

Neutral is the return path. Unless there is an earth fault. The earth then becomes the return path

 

[Knobhead]

In a balanced 3-phase load there is no current flow through neutral. A 3-phase motor works quite happily with out one. Whatever current flows out through red will return via yellow and blue in a very simplistic view of it. Only when you get un-balanced loads do you get any current flow in the neutral.

 

[pushrod]

No expert by any means but OP mentions transmission rather than distribution. This is going to be at high voltage 400kV or 132kV and be to delta connected transformer so no need for a neutral as the balanced current will be zero. Think it will only be at distribution substations, where you will get a secondary connected in star, that you will have a neutral connected to the star point.

 

[wilkyduch]

thanks everyone for you replies - most helpful

 

[RWJ]

you need to sit down and listen to your heart, trust me it works! then be impulsive & take a risk.

You need to get a proper job or a life and stop posting rubbish just to promote your china dropshipping.. That is probably a scam since you've been kicked off three time I know of and not getting the message