What is the relationship between Line Voltage and Phase Voltage in a Wye System?

In a Wye (Y) system, the relationship between line voltage and phase voltage is governed by the geometry of the system's configuration. In this arrangement, each phase is connected to a common neutral point, where the phase voltage is the voltage measured across each individual winding or load from that phase to the neutral.

The line voltage, on the other hand, is the voltage measured between any two of the three phases. In this case, the line voltage is indeed greater than the phase voltage, and the factor that relates them is the square root of 3. Specifically, the line voltage can be calculated as the phase voltage multiplied by the square root of 3 (V_line = V_phase × √3). This relationship arises due to the 120-degree phase displacement between the voltages in a three-phase system, which creates the vector difference needed to derive the line voltage.

Understanding this relationship is crucial in electrical engineering, particularly in applications involving three-phase power systems, as it informs decisions regarding transformer configurations, voltage regulation, and load distribution. Recognizing that line voltage is related to phase voltage through this specific factor is key to mastering three-phase circuit analysis.