The Per Unit System

Joydeep Mitra

1 The Basis of Perunitization

The per unit system attempts to scale down the various parameters (values of components or variables) of a system in such a manner as to permit a homogeneous treatment of the entire system. This is done by dening bases for quantities such as voltage, current, power and impedance at each part of a system which operates at a voltage level which is substantially different from the level at another part of the same system, such as may be found at the two sides of a transformer; the actual quantities are then value divided by the appropriate base values to yield the per unit values, i.e., p.u. value = actual base value

Base values:
To begin with, a suitable base power and a suitable base voltage are dened, based on the operating conditions at that part of the network. Example: Base complex power may be 100 MVA; Base voltage may be 132 kV. Then we dene: Base current, in Amperes = Base impedance, in = where the subscript LN denotes line-to-neutral. Alternatively, Base impedance = = (Base voltage, kVLN )2 1000 Base kVA1 (Base voltage, kVLN )2 Base MVA1 (3) Base kVA1 Base voltage, kVLN Base voltage, VLN Base current, A (1) (2)

actual impedance, So, per unit impedance of a circuit element = base impedance, In a three-phase circuit, Base MVA3 = 3 Base MVA1 3 Base voltage, kVLN Base voltage, kVLL = Base kVA3 Base current, A = 3 Base voltage, kVLL 1 (4) (5) (6)

where the subscript LL denotes line-to-line. When the base is changed, the p.u. impedance is modied as follows: p.u. Znew = p.u. Zgiven base kVgiven base kVnew
2

base MVAnew base MVAgiven

(7)

Leakage reactance of a transformer:

Leakage reactance of a transformer, in per unit, remains the same regardless of whether it is calculated from the low tension side values, or the high tension side values, though the actual impedances may differ when measured from the two sides. However, the voltage bases of the two sides must be in the same ratio as the nominal voltage ratio of the transformer. (rated MVA) 2 (L.T. side kV) (rated MVA) = (H.T. side impedance) 2 (H.T. side kV) = (L.T. side impedance)

So, p.u. impedance

Advantages and Limitations

The typical power system contains several transformers, isolating different voltage levels. Per unit scaling allows us to remove the ideal transformer part of the transformer circuit models. Per unit scaling allows a homogeneous treatment of the entire system for various kinds of analyses. System parameters, when scaled, can fall into certain ranges that can be identied as normal, thus simplifying data error detection. Manufacturers usually specify the impedance of a piece of an apparatus in per cent or per unit on the base of the nameplate rating. The per unit impedances of machines of the same type and widely different rating usually lie within a narrow range, although ohmic values differ considerably for machines of different ratings. For this reason, when the impedance is not known denitely, it is generally possible to select from tabulated average values a per unit impedance which will be reasonably correct. Experience in working with per unit values brings familiarity with the proper values of per unit impedance for different types of apparatus. The per unit impedance of a transformer is the same, regardless of whether it is calculated from the low tension side values or the high tension side values. The way in which transformers are connected in three phase circuits does not affect the per unit impedances of the three phase circuit, although the transformer connection does determine the voltage bases on the two sides of the transformer. Since most power system analyses use numerical methods, the accuracies of such analyses depend upon the variation in magnitudes of the system parameters. Per unit scaling reduces all of these magnitudes to the neighborhood of unity, thereby improving the accuracies of the analyses. 2

Advantages:

Limitations:
There is no universal basis for selecting base values. The fact that in three phase networks we have different voltage bases for line to neutral voltage and line to line voltage may in some cases lead to a violation of circuit theory, as can be seen from the following example: Consider a balanced system where the actual line to neutral voltages are 1 p.u.: | Van |=| Vbn |=| Vcn |=| VLN |, Now, Vab = Van Vbn So, Van Vbn Vab = = 1 0 1 120 = 1.732 30 | VLN | | VLN | | VLN | i.e., | Vab |= 1.732 p.u. However, as per denition (see equation 5), we have asserted that | Vab |=| VLL |= 1.0 p.u. These denitions contradict each other. The existing method of per unit scaling fails when we consider mutual coupling between circuits at different voltage levels. In such a case, the actual values have to be used. and Van = 0

References
[1] William D. Stevenson, Jr., Elements of Power System Analysis, McGraw-Hill Book Company. [2] Charles A. Gross and Sakis P. Meliopoulos, Per Unit Scaling in Electric Power Systems, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 702708, May 1992.