Lecture-3

Power System Analysis

Lecture on
Per Unit Quantities (Part-1)

Presenter
Kazi Firoz Ahmed
Senior Assistant Professor, Dept. of EEE
American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB)
 Lecture Outcomes
By the end of this lecture, the students should be able to:

1) Justify the importance of per unit calculations

2) Solve complex engineering problem related to per unit
calculation of power system network
3) Identify the per unit impedance diagram for any given single
line diagram of a power system model.
 Per Unit Quantities

Per-unit quantity is the ratio of actual quantity and base value of quantity.
It is represented by pu.

➢ Per-unit quantity is dimensionless quantity.

➢ The angle of the per-unit quantity is the same as the angle of the
actual unity since the base value is always a real number.
Per Unit Quantities
Per Unit Quantities
 Example of Generator in Per-Unit System
Example: A generator rated 1000 VA and 200
V has internal impedance j10 Ω as shown in
figure. Considering the ratings of the generator
are base values, calculate the base current, base
impedance and per-unit of internal impedance
of generator.
 Example of Generator in Per-Unit System
Example: The above generator is short circuited
at its terminals. Find the short circuit current
and the short circuited power delivered by the
generator in pu and in actual unit.
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System
Example: A transformer is rated 2000 VA, 200V/400V, and has an internal
impedance of j4.0 Ω as seen from the low voltage side.

The internal impedance of the transformer as seen from the low

voltage side is
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System
Example: A transformer is rated 2000 VA, 200V/400V, and has an internal
impedance of j4.0 Ω as seen from the low voltage side.
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System
The rated values for power and voltage are used as the bases for the calculations.
It means that the voltage base is different on each side of the transformer.

Notice in above Table that the transformer per unit impedance is the
same, regardless of to which side of the transformer it is referred.
Again, the conversion complications are absorbed into the base
relationships.
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System
Example 6.4 [1, p.147] A single phase transformer is rated 110/440 V, 2.5 kVA.
Leakage reactance measured from the low-tension side is 0.06 Ω. Determine
leakage reactance in per-unit.

If leakage reactance had been measured on the high voltage side, the actual value would be
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System
Example 6.4 [1, p.147] A single phase transformer is rated 110/440 V, 2.5 kVA.
Leakage reactance measured from the low-tension side is 0.06 Ω. Determine
leakage reactance in per-unit.
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System
Example 6.5 [1, p.147] Three parts of a single-phase electrical system are
designated A, B, and C and are connected to each other through transformer, as
shown in following figure.

The transformer are rated as follows:

A – B 10,000 kVA, 138/13.8 kV, leakage reactance 10%
B – C 10,000 kVA, 138/69 kV, leakage reactance 8%
If the base in circuit B is chosen as 10,000 kVA, 138 kV, find the per-unit impedance of
the 300 Ω resistive load in the circuit referred to circuits C, B & A.
Draw the impedance diagram neglecting magnetizing current, transformer resistances,
and line impedances.

Determine the voltage regulation if the load is 66 kV with the assumption that the
voltage input to circuit A remains constant.
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System
Solution: Given, the base in circuit B is
chosen as 10,000 kVA, 138 kV
Base voltage for circuit A =
(1/10)×138=13.8 kV
Base voltage for circuit C =
(1/2)×138=69 kV

Per-unit impedance calculation in circuit C:

 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System

Per-unit impedance
calculation in circuit B:
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System

Per-unit impedance
calculation in circuit A:
 Example of Transformers and Per Unit System

From previous calculation, it is clear

that the per unit impedance of the load
referred to any part of
the system is same since the selection
of base in various parts of the system
is determined by the turns ratio of the
transformer.
 3-phase System & Per Unit Calculation
The base values are related through the same relationships as the actual quantities:

The per unit values of the ∆ connected and the Y connected impedances are

From that it is easy to show that the per unit value for the ∆ connection is the same as the
per unit value for the Y connection.
 3-phase System & Per Unit Calculation
Let us consider an example of Y-Y transformer composed of three single phase
transformers each rated 25 MVA, 38.1/3.81 kV. The rating as a three-phase transformer
is, therefore, 75 MVA, 66/6.6 kV as shown in Fig. 6.21.

The high voltage side the impedance measured from line to neutral is
3-phase System & Per Unit Calculation
 Per Unit Quantities
Example 6.6 [1, p.151] The transformers rated 25 MVA, 38.1/3.81 kV are connected Y-∆ as
shown in Fig. 6.22(a) with the balanced load of three 0.6 Ω, Y-connected resistors. Choose a
base of 75 MVA, 66 kV for high tension side of the transformer and specify the base for the
low tension side. Determine the per-unit resistance of the load on the base for the low-
tension side. Then determine the load resistance RL referred to high-tension side and the per-
unit value of this resistance on the chosen base.

Solution: the rating of the transformer as a three-phase bank is 75 MVA, 66Y/3.81∆ kV. So
base for the low-tension side is 75 MVA, 3.81 kV.
 Per Unit Quantities
Example 6.6 [1, p.151] The transformers rated 25 MVA, 38.1/3.81 kV are connected Y-∆ as
shown in Fig. 6.22(a) with the balanced load of three 0.6 Ω, Y-connected resistors. Choose a
base of 75 MVA, 66 kV for high tension side of the transformer and specify the base for the
low tension side. Determine the per-unit resistance of the load on the base for the low-
tension side. Then determine the load resistance RL referred to high-tension side and the per-
unit value of this resistance on the chosen base.
Changing the Base of Per Unit
 Example of Changing base of Per Unit
Example 2.5: The reactance of a generator is given as 0.25 pu based on the generator
nameplate rating of 18 kV, 500 MVA. Calculate the new pu of the reactance if the new
base are as 20 kV, 100 MVA.
 Advantages of Per Unit Quantities
1. It is easier to spot errors. For example, 1000% p.u. will trigger a warning and thus is worth looking
into for potential errors.
2. The transformer equivalent circuit can be simplified by using the pu quantity. The ideal transformer
winding can be eliminated, such that voltages, currents, and impedances and admittances expressed in
pu do not change when they are referred from one side to the other side of transformer. the
conversion complications are absorbed by the base relationships.
3. ∆ base and Y base quantities have the same p.u. values in these two different bases; again the
conversion complications are absorbed by the base relationships.
4. Three-phase and single-phase quantities have the same p.u. values in these two different bases;
again the conversion complications are absorbed by the base relationships.
5. Abnormal operating conditions can be easily spotted from the p.u. values.
6. The pu impedances of electrical equipment of similar type usually lie in a narrow numerical range
when the equipment ratings are used as base values.
7. The pu system allows us to avoid the possibility of making serious calculation error.
8. Manufacturers usually specify the impedances of machines and transformer in pu or percent of
nameplate rating.
9. The bases for different sections in the system can be calculated, carefully verified and stored once
for all. When generation/load changes, we only need to change its per unit values and calculated the
per unit values accordingly. The conversion will become more reliable. The advantages are more
pronounced for large system applications and systems that have many load/generation changes.
 References
[1] Willaim D. Stevenson, Elements of Power System Analysis, Fouth Edition,
McGraw-Hill International Editions, Civil Engineering Series, McGraw-Hill Inc.

[2] John J. Grainger, William D. Steevnson, Jr., Power System Analysis, McGraw-Hill
Series in Electrical and Conputer Engineering, McGraw-Hill Inc.

[3] J. Duncan Glover, Mulukutla S. Sharma, Thomas J. Overbye, Power System

Analysis and Design, Fouth Edition (India Edition), Course Technology Cengage
Learning.

[4] V. K. Mehta, Rohit Mehta, Principles of Power System, Multicolor Illustrative

Edition, S. Chand and Company Limited.

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