Per-Unit Representation

• The per-unit (pu) system is used

extensively in power system calculations.
• The definition of the per-unit value of any
quantity is given as:
• If any two of these quantities are chosen
arbitrarily, the other two become fixed. For
example, selecting base values for voltage and
power fixes the base values for current and
impedance. Therefore, on a per phase basis the
following relationships hold:

base VA

base power = base VA base impedance 

base voltage2
baseVA
Example
• Calculate the base impedance and base
current for a single-phase system if the
base voltage is 7.2 kV and the base
apparent power is 10 MVA.
Per unit impedances in single phase
transformers
• The ohmic values of resistance and
leakage reactance of a transformer
depend on whether they are measured on
the high or low tension side of the
transformer.
• If they are expressed in per unit, the base
volt-amperes is understood to be the
rating of the transformer.
• The base voltage is understood to be the
voltage rating of the low tension winding if
the ohmic values of resistance and
leakage reactance are referred to the low
tension side of the transformer and to be
the voltage rating of the high tension
winding if they are referred to the high
tension side of the transformer.
Example
• A single phase transformer is rated
110/440 V, 2.5 kVA. Leakage reactance
measured from the low tension side is
0.06 ohms. Determine leakage reactance
in per unit.
 Solution base impedance 
base voltage2
baseVA
• Base voltage for the LTS=110 v
• Base VA = 2500 VA
• Low tension base impedance = 110^2/2500 = 4.84 ohms
• Xpu = 0.06/4.84 = 0.0124 pu
• If leakage reactance had been measured on the high tension
side, the value would be:
• X = 0.06 (440/110)^2 = 0.96 ohms.
• Base voltage for the HTS=440 v
• High tension base impedance = 440^2/2500 = 77.5 ohms
• Xpu = 0.96/77.5 = 0.0124 pu
Three phase system
Example
• A three-phase system delivers 18,000 kW to a
pure resistive wye-connected load. The line-to-
line voltage at the load terminals is 108 kV.
Assuming the three-phase power base is 30,000
kVA and the voltage base is 120 kV, find the
following per unit quantities for the load:
• a) the per unit voltage,
• b) the per unit power,
• c) the per unit current, and
• d) the per unit impedance.
Example
• A three phase transformer is rated
220Y/22 Δ kV, 400 MVA. Leakage
reactance measured from the low voltage
side is 0.121 ohms. Determine leakage
reactance in per unit.
solution
• Base voltage at the LVS = 22kv
• Base MVA = 400 MVA
• Base impedance at the LVS =
22000^2/400,000000 = 1.21 ohms
• Leakage reactance = 0.121/1.21 = 0.1 pu
Example
• Three single phase transformers are rated
38.1 Y/3.81 Δ kV, 25 MVA each and
connected to 0.6 Y resistor at the LTS.
Calculate the per unit resistance load.
• Choose a base of 75 MVA, 66 kV for the
high tension side of the transformer.
 solution
• The rating of the transformer as a three phase transformer:
25*3 = 75 MVA & 38.1* 3 Y/ Δ 3.81 kV
= 75 MVA & 66 /3.81 kV
The base quantities for the LTS:75 MVA &
66*(3.81/66)= 3.81 kV
Base impedance for the LTS = 3.81^2/75
= 0.1935 ohms
RL = 0.6/0.1935 = 3.1 pu
Alternatively
Base impedance for the HTS = 66^2/75 = 58.1 ohms
RL referred to the HTS = 0.6*(66/3.81)^2 = 180 ohms
RL = 180/58.1 = 3.1 pu
Changing the Base of Per-Unit Quantities
• Often the per-unit impedance of a
component of a system is expressed on a
base other than the one selected as base
for the part of the system in which the
component is located.
• It is necessary to have a means of
converting per-unit impedances from one
base to another.
Example
• The per phase reactance of a three-phase,
220 kV, 6.25 kVA transmission line is 8.4
ohms. Find the reactance value in per
unit, based on the rated values of the line.
Convert the per unit reactance value to a
230 kV, 7.5 kVA base.