PER UNIT CALCULATIONS

Advantages:
x
x

Per unit representation yields more meaningful and easily correlated data.
Network calculations are done in a much handier fashion with less chance of mix-up between
phase and line voltages
single phase and three-phase powers, and
primary and secondary voltages.

To express one quantity in per unit, i.e., as a decimal fraction of another would indicate that
some base value is inferred
The choice of the value of power base is usually selected to match the KVA rating of an
equipment, or is fixed as a matter of company policy. In both NAPOCOR and MERALCO systems,
for example, a power base of 100MVA is used in system studies.
A common power base is used for the entire system.

PROBLEM:
A single phase transformer is rated 25,000 KVA, 66,000 to 14,500 V and has a reactance of 7%.
a) What is the equivalent reactance in ohms referred to the high voltage side?
Given: = 25( ; ) = 66; = 7%
( ) (66 10 )
=
= 174.24
( ) =

25 10
= ( ) = 0.07 174.24 = 12.20
b) What is the equivalent reactance in ohms referred to the low voltage side?
( ) = 14.5; ( )

( ) (14.5 10 )
=
=
= 8.41

25 10

= ( ) = 0.07 8.41 = 0.59

c) If the low voltage side were short-circuited, what voltage impressed on the high voltage side
would cause rated current to flow?
= = 1.0 0.07 = 0.07 . .
= 0.07 (66 10 ) = 4.62

College notes (APM)

d) Calculate the voltage regulation for full load current at 80% power factor.
= 0.8
= +
= 1.0 + 1.0 cos (0.8) 0.07
= 1.0 + (0.8 0.6) 0.07
= 1.0 + 0.042 + 0.056 = 1.042 + 0.056
= 1.0435 3.08
V.R. =

1.0435 1.0
= 0.0435 = 4.35%
1.0

Changing the Base of Per Unit Quantities

If a piece of equipment has a per unit impedance Z u1 on a power base S b1 and voltage base V b1 , the
new value of per unit impedance on a new base voltage and base power is found as follows:
=

= =
=

( )

( )

( )

=
=

( )

PROBLEM:
The two single-phase transformers described below are connected in parallel and are supplied
from an infinite bus at 6,700 V. If a short circuit occurs on their secondary, what current will the
bus supply to the bank?
Transformer A: 25KVA, 6900V/220V, Z = 5%
Transformer B: 10KVA, 6900V/220V, Z = 5%
(TRIVIA: An infinite bus is a source having zero impedance)

College notes (APM)

Transformer A: 25KVA, 6900V/220V, Z = 5%

Transformer B: 10KVA, 6900V/220V, Z = 5%

Solution A:
Choose = 10KVA, = 6900V
= 0.05

10
= 0.05
= 0.02
25
6700
=
= 0.971pu
6900

= 0.02 0.05 = 170 = 0.01428pu

=
=

0.971
= 68pu
0.01428

10 10
=
= 1.449A

6900

= = 68 1.449 = 98.509A

Solution B:
Choose = 25KVA, = 6900V
= 0.05

25
= 0.05
= 0.125
10
= 0.971pu

= 0.125 0.05 = 128 = 0.03571pu

College notes (APM)

 =
=

0.971
= 27.191pu
0.03571

25 10
=
= 3.623A

6900

= = 27.191 3.623 = 98.509A

Solution C:
Choose = 10KVA, = 6700V
10
6900

= 0.02121
= 0.05
25
6700

6900
= 0.05
= 0.05303
6700

= 1.0pu
= 0.02121 0.05303 = 0.01515pu
=
=

1.0
= 66.0008pu
0.01515

10 10
=
= 1.49254A

6700

= = 66.0008 1.49254 = 98.509A

College notes (APM)