7/11/2016

Per-unit System- Open Electrical

Per-unit System
From Open Electrical

Contents

1 Introduction
2 Why bother?
3 Calculation of Base Values
4 Calculation of Per-unit Impedances
5 Application Examples
5.1 System Analysis
5.2 Transformers
5.3 Induction Machines

Introduction
The per-unit system is a method of expressing quantities in an electrical system (e.g. voltage, current,
impedance, etc) as a proportion of pre-defined base quantities. By definition, the per-unit value of a quantity is
the ratio of the original quantity to its base value (which results in a dimensionless "per-unit" or "pu" value):

Where

Qpu

is the per-unit quantity (dimensionless or just "pu")

is quantity in normal units

Q .base is the base value of the quantity in normal units

For example, suppose the base value of current is IOOA, then a current of 50A has a per-unit value of 50/100 =
0.5 pu.

Why bother?
The per-unit system was originally developed to simplify laborious hand calculations and while it is now not
always necessary (due to the widespread use of computers), the per-unit system does still offer some distinct
advantages over standard SI values:
The relative magnitudes of all similar network quantities (e.g. voltages throughout the system) can
be directly compared
Constant terms such as
terms can be eliminated, and therefore avoids confusion between
quantities (e.g. line-line vs line-neutral)
Per-unit impedance values of equipment are normally found over a small range of values
irrespective of the absolute size. On the other hand, ohmic values may have significant variation
and are often proportional to nominal rating. Therefore, typical values can be used as a reasonable
first approximation where detailed I accurate information is not known.
Per-unit impedances of transformers are the same whether referred to either side of the transformer
(primary or secondary) and are independent of winding connections (for polyphase transformers),

Vs

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Per-unit System - Open Electrical

voltage level and phase shifts

Impedances are often quoted in terms of per-unit values by manufacturers (on a base of rated kVA
or kW and voltage)
Multiplying per-unit quantities results in more per-unit quantities (and requires no conversion of
units)
Manual calculations are often simplified using per-unit values (for all of the reasons above)

Calculation of Base Values

Not all system quantities are independent from each other (e.g. apparent power is related to voltage and current,
S =VI), so base values are both selected and calculated. Normally, the rated (apparent) power and nominal
voltage are arbitrarily selected as base quantities:
Base power ( S~m. e ) =nominal apparent power of the equipment (or system)
Base voltage C V~m. 8 ) =nominal voltage ofthe equipment (or system)
The other base quantities can then be derived by calculation from these two base quantities:
Base current ( I bas.e

Sba e
~)

ba. e

(Note that for three-phase systems and where the base voltage is expressed as a line-to-line voltage, then

I
.base

S~m. e
-J3Vbase )

Vba.
Base impedance ( Z base =

l~m.se

<=".
hree-phase systems,
(Note that 10ft

__ V,;;,se )

S base

Zba. e = V~m. e ' LN

f~ms.e
the line-to-neutral and line-to-line base voltages respectively.
Base flux linkage ( Abase

y:2

.~m. ,LL , where lf~m. . ,LN and V~m. e ,LL are

S~mse

V2"Ytms___;___
,bas.e )
= ___
27T fbase

Calculation of Per-unit Impedances

Per-unit impedances are calculated by dividing the ohmic impedance by the base impedance:

Per-unit resistance and reactance values can be calculated by dividing by the base impedance (which also works
in series and parallel combinations of impedances), i.e.

ZJ1fl. = Z

1
bas

.
(R + j)()

Application Examples
System Analysis
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Per-unit System - Open Electrical

The analysis of an electrical network can be simplified by using the per-unit system. Firstly, a system-wide base
MVA is chosen and base voltages are selected for different parts of the system such that they correspond to the
turns ratios of the transformers in the system. Choosing such voltages ensures that the per-unit impedance of the
transformer is the same on both the primary and secondary sides and therefore the entire system can be
combined using a single set of per-unit impedances. Next, all impedances in the network must be converted to
the base values. Often, the per-unit impedance of system components are expressed on another base (e.g.
transformer impedances are typically expressed on the rated kVA base and rated voltage). Therefore, we would
need to perform a change ofbase operation:

Zrm. ,n.e.w = Zp:r.t,dd

Where

Vold

and

( V old )

v~ tv . .

( Sne.tJJ )
Sold .

Vn. n are the old and new base voltages (V)

Sold and Sne.tJ} are the old and new base powers (VA)

Transformers
The transformer (leakage) impedance is normally expressed as a per-unit or percent quantity on the transformer
kVA base and rated voltage. The impedance is calculated by computing the impedance voltage from a standard
short-circuit test measurement -with the windings connected for the rated voltage (e.g. delta, wye, etc), a
variable voltage is applied to one winding with the other winding short circuited. The impedance voltage is the
value of the applied voltage required to circulate the rated current in the winding (that is not short circuited).
The per-unit impedance of the transformer is found by converting the impedance voltage to a per-unit quantity.

Where

is the impedance voltage (V)

Vbas.e.

is the transformer rated (base) voltage (V)

An advantage of the per-unit impedance is that it is the same whether it is referred to the primary or secondary
side of the transformer and is independent of winding connection (e.g. delta, wye, etc) and phase shifts.

Induction Machines
It is often more convenient to express induction motor equivalent circuit parameters in per-unit since they are
invariant of winding connection. First, select the power and voltage base values as the nominal kVA rating and
the rated voltage ofthe induction motor. The motor full load current is therefore the current base. The other perunit quantities can be calculated as follows:

Rated active power (pu): Pfl = CQ' pfl

Rated reactive power (pu): Q fi = in PJI
Rated mechanical power (pu): Pm,fl = co
CO

Jl'f/

rP fiT]

Rated torque (pu): Ttl : : : : : _ _____;:....__

1 -. f

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Category: Fundamentals
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