Single Phase Per Unit Calculations

Per-unit quantities

Absolute values may not give the full significance of quantities.

Consider the marks scored by a student in three subjects as 10, 40 and 95. Many of
you may be tempted to say that he is poor in subject 1, average in subject 2 and good
in subject 3. That is true only when the base for all the marks is 100. If the bases are
10, 50 and 100 for the three subjects respectively then his marks in percentage are
100,80 and 95 and thus the conclusions are different. consequently, there is a need to
specify base quantity for meaningful interpretation

Percentage = (actual value / base) x 100

Per-unit quantity = actual value / base
This kind of explanation can be extended to all power system quantities.
Per-unit quantities

In power system analysis, per unit (pu) system is used to express a physical variable as a
fraction of base or reference value. Per Unit (pu) is commonly used for the calculation of
voltage, current , impedance, and power in power flow and related calculations.

Generally, base volt-ampere in MVA and base voltage in kV are specified

Advantages of Per Unit
Circuits are simplified to analyze
Voltages have same range in per unit in all parts of the system
In the per unit system, parameters usually fall in narrow range regardless of devices size
For example, generator reactances in per unit are similar for both 100 MVA machines and 1000MVA machines. This
facilitates data checking and hand calculations.

For circuits connected by the transformers, per unit system is particularly suitable. By
choosing suitable base kV for the circuits the per unit reactance remains the same, referred to
either side of the transformer.
This method is ideal for eliminate ideal transformers as circuit components since the typical
power system contains many transformers and this is non trivial saving
Sqrt (3) factor in the three phase circuit calculations is eliminated
Per Unit Conversion Procedure-Single Phase

The Four basic electrical quantities are:

Voltage “V” (volt) For single-phase circuits:
Current “I” (amp)
V(volt) = Z(ohm) × I(amp)
Impedance “Z” (ohm)
S (VA) = V(volt) × I(amp)*
Power “S” (VA)

In per unit notation, the physical quantity is expressed as a fraction of the reference value, i.e.
Per Unit value = actual value/base value in the same unit.
e.g. V(in per unit) = V(in kV) / V base (in kV)

where the base value is a reference value for magnitude only

Per Unit Conversion Procedure-Single Phase

1. Pick one Phase VA base for the entire system, SB

2. Pick a Phase voltage base for each different voltage level, VB.

base kVA1
Base current, A 
base voltage, kVLN

base voltage, VLN

Base impedance,  
base current, A

(base voltage, kVLN ) 2  1000

Base impedance,  
base kVA1

(base voltage, kVLN ) 2

Base impedance,  
MVA1
Example 1
Take (for example)
Base power SB = 1 kVA
Base voltage VB = 100 V
Find:
• current
• active power
• reactive power
• apparent power
• power factor • Current
• I = V/Z = 2.0 ∠-23.1o p.u = 2.0×10∠-23.1o A = 20∠-23.1
• Then A
• Base current IB = SB/VB = 10 A • Complex power
• Base impedance ZB = VB/IB = 10 Ω • S = VI* = 2.0 ∠23.1o p.u = 1.2 + j1.6 p.u.
• Given V = 100 ∠30o V = 1.0 ∠30o • Apparent power S = 2.0×1 =2 p.u = 2 × 1 kVA = 2 KVA
p.u. • Active power P = 1.2×1 = 1.2 kW
• Z = 5∠53.1o Ω = 0.5∠53.1o p.u. • Reactive power Q = 1.6×1 = 1.6 kVAr
• Power factor
• p.f. = P/S = 1.2/2.0 = 0.6
Per-unit quantities on a different base

Sometimes, knowing the per-unit impedance of a component based on a particular base

values, we need to find the per-unit value of that component based on some other base
values.

From the following equation, it is to be

noted that the per-unit impedance is
directly proportional to base MVA and
inversely proportional to (base kV)2.

Therefore, to change from per-unit impedance on a given base to per-unit impedance on a new
base, the following equation applies:
Example 2

The reactance of a generator is given as 0.25 per-unit based on the generator’s of 18 kV, 500
MVA. Find its per-unit reactance on a base of 20 kV, 100 MVA.
Base values for a transformer

In a transformer, two circuits are not directly

connected but magnetically coupled. The voltages
of the windings are in the ratio of turns and
currents in inverse ratio.
For the coupled circuit, we should then choose
 The same base power
 Base voltages in the ratio of turns.
This will ensure Spu, Vpu, Ipu, to remain unchanged
when passing through an ideal transformer
Base values for a transformer

Let
n1,n2 be the number of turns in primary and secondary winding respectively
Z1, Z2 be the primary and secondary winding impedance respectively
Then total impedance referred to primary
ZT1 = Z1 + (n1/n2)2 × Z2
and total impedance referred to secondary
ZT2 = Z2 + (n2/n1)2 × Z1 = (n2/n1)2 × ZT1

If base values were chosen for the transformer:

SB1 = SB2 and VB1 = (n1/n2)VB2

Then
IB1 = (n2/n1)IB2 and ZB1 = (n1/n2)2 × ZB2
Base values for a transformer
Thus per unit impedance of transformer
Zpu = ZT1/ZB1 = ZT2/ZB2
is the same whether we use the total impedance referred to primary or secondary

In the per unit representation, the equivalent

circuit of a transformer is a simple winding

impedance Zpu (with excitation branch

ignored)
Example 3
A single phase 9.6 kVA, 500 V / 1.5 kV transformer has an impedance of 1.302 Ω with respect to
primary side. Find its per-unit impedance with respect to primary and secondary sides.

With respect to Primary:

With respect to Secondary:

Conclusion Per-unit impedance of the transformer is same referred to primary as well as

secondary.
Example 4

In the Following circuit use per unit analysis to calculate:

• Current
• Load voltage
• Load power
Use a SB of 100 MVA, and voltage bases of 8 kV, 80 kV and 16 kV, respectively.

J1 Ω J24 Ω J1 Ω

10 Ω
8∠ 00 KV ~Z

1:10 5:1
Example 4

82 (kV) 2
Z BLeft   0.64
100MVA
802 (kV) 2
Z BMiddle   64
100MVA
162 (kV) 2
Z BRight   2.56
100MVA
J1.56 Ω J0.375 Ω J0.39 Ω

3.91 Ω
8 ∠00 KV
~Z
Example 4
1.00
I   0.22  30.8 p.u. (not amps)
3.91  j 2.327
VL  1.00  0.22  30.8  
    p.u.
2
VL
SL   *
VL I L  0.189 p.u.
Z
SG  1.00  0.2230.8  30.8p.u.
I
Example 4
To convert back to actual values just multiply the per
unit values by their per unit base

V LActual  0.859  30.8 16 kV  13.7  30.8 kV

S LActual  0.1890 100 MVA  18.90 MVA
SGActual  0.2230.8 100 MVA  22.030.8 MVA
100 MVA
I BMiddle   1250 Amps
80 kV
Actual
I Middle  0.22  30.8  275  30.8
Example 5
Example 5
Step 1: Separate by Voltage Zones

Step 2: Assign Base Values

(given Sbase 45MVA)
Example 5
Step 3: Calculate Base Impedance for Each Zone
Example 5
Step 4: Calculate the Per Unit Impedance
for Each Zone
Example 5
Step 5: Calculate the Per Unit Impedance for
Transformer T1 and T2
Example 5
Step 7: Calculate the Per Unit Current and Per Unit
Voltage
Example 5
Step 8: Calculate the Base Current in Each Zone
Example 6 Homework
Step 8: Calculate the Base Current in Each Zone
A 100 MVA, 12 kV Single-phase generator has a sub transient reactance of 20%. The generator
supplies two synchronous motors over 25-km transmission line having transformers at both
ends. The motors, all rated 6.0 kV, 66 MVA and 50 MVA for M1 and M2, respectively. For both
motors X” = 15%. The single phase transformer T1 is rated 150 MVA, 132/12 kV with leakage
reactance of 12%. Transformer T2 is rated 132/6.6 kV, 40 MVA with leakage reactance of 10%.
Series reactance of the transmission line is 0.4 Ω/km. Draw the impedance diagram, with all
impedances marked in per-unit. Select the generator rating as base in the generator circuit.
Example 7
A 100 MVA, 12 kV Single-phase generator has a sub transient reactance of 20%. The generator supplies two

synchronous motors over 25-km transmission line having transformers at both ends. The motors, all rated 6.0 kV, 66

MVA and 50 MVA for M1 and M2, respectively. For both motors X” = 15%. The single phase transformer T1 is rated

150 MVA, 132/12 kV with leakage reactance of 12%. Transformer T2 is rated 132/6.6 kV, 40 MVA with leakage

reactance of 10%. Series reactance of the transmission line is 0.4 Ω/km. Draw the impedance diagram, with all

impedances marked in per-unit. Select the generator rating as base in the generator circuit.
Example 7
Example 7