Electrical System Formulae
Electrical System Formulae
Contents
Notation
Impedance
Admittance
Reactance
Resonance
Complex Power
Per-unit System
Symmetrical Components
Fault Calculations
Instrument Transformers
Reactors
Harmonic Resonance
Notation
The symbol font is used for some notation and formulae. If the Greek symbols for
alpha beta delta do not
appear here [] the symbol font needs to be installed for correct display of
notation and formulae.
Impedance
In summary:
- use the rectangular form for addition and subtraction,
- use the polar form for multiplication and division.
Admittance
The total impedance ZS of impedances Z1, Z2, Z3,... connected in series is:
ZS = Z1 + Z1 + Z1 +...
The total admittance YP of admittances Y1, Y2, Y3,... connected in parallel is:
YP = Y1 + Y1 + Y1 +...
In summary:
- use impedances when operating on series circuits,
- use admittances when operating on parallel circuits.
Reactance
Inductive Reactance
The inductive reactance XL of an inductance L at angular frequency and frequency f
is:
XL = L = 2fL
Resonance
Series Resonance
A series circuit comprising an inductance L, a resistance R and a capacitance C has an
impedance ZS of:
ZS = R + j(XL - XC)
where XL = L and XC = 1 / C
Parallel resonance
A parallel circuit comprising an inductance L with a series resistance R, connected in
parallel with a capacitance C, has an admittance YP of:
YP = 1 / (R + jXL) + 1 / (- jXC) = (R / (R2 + XL2)) - j(XL / (R2 + XL2) - 1 / XC)
where XL = L and XC = 1 / C
Note that for the same values of L, R and C, the parallel resonance frequency is lower
than the series resonance frequency, but if the ratio R / L is small then the parallel
resonance frequency is close to the series resonance frequency.
Reactive Loads and Power Factor
When a voltage V (taken as reference) is applied across the reactive load Z, the current
I is:
I = VY = V(R / |Z|2 - jX / |Z|2) = VR / |Z|2 - jVX / |Z|2 = IP - jIQ
The active current IP and the reactive current IQ are:
IP = VR / |Z|2 = |I|cos
IQ = VX / |Z|2 = |I|sin
When a voltage V (taken as reference) is applied across the reactive load Y, the current
I is:
I = VY = V(G - jB) = VG - jVB = IP - jIQ
The active current IP and the reactive current IQ are:
IP = VG = V / R = |I|cos
IQ = VB = V / X = |I|sin
Complex Power
When a voltage V causes a current I to flow through a reactive load Z, the complex
power S is:
S = VI* where I* is the conjugate of the complex current I.
Inductive Load
Z = R + jXL
I = IP - jIQ
cos = R / |Z| (lagging)
I* = IP + jIQ
S = P + jQ
An inductive load is a sink of lagging VArs (a source of leading VArs).
Capacitive Load
Z = R - jXC
I = IP + jIQ
cos = R / |Z| (leading)
I* = IP - jIQ
S = P - jQ
A capacitive load is a source of lagging VArs (a sink of leading VArs).
For a balanced star connected load with line voltage Vline and line current Iline:
Vstar = Vline / 3
Istar = Iline
Zstar = Vstar / Istar = Vline / 3Iline
Sstar = 3VstarIstar = 3VlineIline = Vline2 / Zstar = 3Iline2Zstar
For a balanced delta connected load with line voltage Vline and line current Iline:
Vdelta = Vline
Idelta = Iline / 3
Zdelta = Vdelta / Idelta = 3Vline / Iline
Sdelta = 3VdeltaIdelta = 3VlineIline = 3Vline2 / Zdelta = Iline2Zdelta
The apparent power S, active power P and reactive power Q are related by:
S2 = P2 + Q2
P = Scos
Q = Ssin
where cos is the power factor and sin is the reactive factor
Note that for equivalence between balanced star and delta connected loads:
Zdelta = 3Zstar
Per-unit System
For each system parameter, per-unit value is equal to the actual value divided by a
base value:
Epu = E / Ebase
Ipu = I / Ibase
Zpu = Z / Zbase
Select rated values as base values, usually rated power in MVA and rated phase
voltage in kV:
Sbase = Srated = 3ElineIline
Ebase = Ephase = Eline/ 3
The base values for line current in kA and per-phase star impedance in ohms/phase
are:
Ibase = Sbase / 3Ebase ( = Sbase / 3Eline)
Zbase = Ebase / Ibase = 3Ebase2 / Sbase ( = Eline2 / Sbase)
Note that selecting the base values for any two of Sbase, Ebase, Ibase or Zbase fixes the base
values of all four. Note also that Ohm's Law is satisfied by each of the sets of actual,
base and per-unit values for voltage, current and impedance.
Transformers
The primary and secondary MVA ratings of a transformer are equal, but the voltages
and currents in the primary (subscript 1) and the secondary (subscript 2) are usually
different:
3E1lineI1line = S = 3E2lineI2line
The impedance Z21pu referred to the primary side, equivalent to an impedance Z2pu on
the secondary side, is:
Z21pu = Z2pu(E1base / E2base)2
The impedance Z12pu referred to the secondary side, equivalent to an impedance Z1pu on
the primary side, is:
Z12pu = Z1pu(E2base / E1base)2
Symmetrical Components
In any three phase system, the line currents Ia, Ib and Ic may be expressed as the
phasor sum of:
- a set of balanced positive phase sequence currents Ia1, Ib1 and Ic1 (phase sequence a-
b-c),
- a set of balanced negative phase sequence currents Ia2, Ib2 and Ic2 (phase sequence a-
c-b),
- a set of identical zero phase sequence currents Ia0, Ib0 and Ic0 (cophasal, no phase
sequence).
The positive, negative and zero sequence currents are calculated from the line currents
using:
Ia1 = (Ia + hIb + h2Ic) / 3
Ia2 = (Ia + h2Ib + hIc) / 3
Ia0 = (Ia + Ib + Ic) / 3
The positive, negative and zero sequence currents are combined to give the line
currents using:
Ia = Ia1 + Ia2 + Ia0
Ib = Ib1 + Ib2 + Ib0 = h2Ia1 + hIa2 + Ia0
Ic = Ic1 + Ic2 + Ic0 = hIa1 + h2Ia2 + Ia0
Similarly, for phase-to-earth voltages Vae, Vbe and Vce, the residual voltage Vr is equal to
the total zero sequence voltage:
Vr = Va0 + Vb0 + Vc0 = 3Va0 = Vae + Vbe + Vce = 3Vne
which is measured using an earthed-star / open-delta connected voltage transformer.
Vne is the neutral displacement voltage of the system.
The h-operator
The h-operator (1120°) is the complex cube root of unity:
h = - 1 / 2 + j3 / 2 = 1120° = 1-240°
h2 = - 1 / 2 - j3 / 2 = 1240° = 1-120°
Fault Calculations
The different types of short-circuit fault which occur on a power system are:
- single phase to earth,
- double phase,
- double phase to earth,
- three phase,
- three phase to earth.
I f = fault current
Ie = earth fault current
Ea = normal phase voltage at the fault location
Z1 = positive phase sequence network impedance to the fault
Z2 = negative phase sequence network impedance to the fault
Z0 = zero phase sequence network impedance to the fault
Va = 0 Ia1 = Ia2 = Ia0 = Ia / 3 Ia1 = Ea / (Z1 + Z2 + Z0) I f = 3Ia0 = 3Ea / (Z1 + Z2 + Z0) = Ie
Ib = Ic = 0 Va1 + Va2 + Va0 = 0 Ia2 = Ia1 Ia = I f = 3Ea / (Z1 + Z2 + Z0)
I f = Ia = Ie Ia0 = Ia1
Double phase to earth - fault from phase 'b' to phase 'c' to earth:
Znet = Z1 + Z2Z0 / (Z2 + Z0) and zz = Z1Z2 + Z2Z0 + Z0Z1 = (Z2 + Z0)Znet
Three phase (and three phase to earth) - fault from phase 'a' to phase 'b' to phase 'c' (to
earth):
The values of Z1, Z2 and Z0 are each determined from the respective positive, negative
and zero sequence impedance networks by network reduction to a single impedance.
Note that the single phase fault current is greater than the three phase fault current if Z0
is less than (2Z1 - Z2).
Note also that if the system is earthed through an impedance Zn (carrying current 3I0)
then an impedance 3Zn (carrying current I0) must be included in the zero sequence
impedance network.
The symmetrical three phase short-circuit current Isc of a power system with no-load line
and phase voltages Eline and Ephase and source impedance ZS per-phase star is:
Isc = Ephase / ZS = Eline / 3ZS
The three phase fault level Ssc of the power system is:
Ssc = 3Isc2ZS = 3EphaseIsc = 3Ephase2 / ZS = Eline2 / ZS
Note that if the X / R ratio of the source impedance ZS (comprising resistance RS and
reactance XS) is sufficiently large, then ZS XS.
Transformers
If a transformer of rating ST (taken as base) and per-unit impedance ZTpu is fed from a
source with unlimited fault level (infinite busbars), then the per-unit secondary short-
circuit current I2pu and fault level S2pu are:
I2pu = E2pu / ZTpu = 1.0 / ZTpu
S2pu = I2pu = 1.0 / ZTpu
If the source fault level is limited to SS by per-unit source impedance ZSpu (to the same
base as ZTpu), then the secondary short-circuit current I2pu and fault level S2pu are
reduced to:
I2pu = E2pu / (ZTpu + ZSpu) = 1.0 / (ZTpu + ZSpu)
S2pu = I2pu = 1.0 / (ZTpu + ZSpu)
where ZSpu = ST / SS
If a conductor which is rated to carry full load current Iload continuously is rated to carry a
maximum fault current Ilimit for a time tlimit, then a lower fault current Ifault can be carried
for a longer time tfault according to:
( Ilimit - Iload )2 tlimit = ( Ifault - Iload )2 tfault
Note that if the current Ifault is reduced by a factor of two, then the time tfault is increased
by a factor of four.
Instrument Transformers
Voltage Transformer
For a voltage transformer of voltampere rating S, rated primary voltage VP and rated
secondary voltage VS, the maximum secondary current ISmax, maximum secondary
burden conductance GBmax and maximum primary current IPmax are:
ISmax = S / VS
GBmax = ISmax / VS = S / VS2
IPmax = S / VP = ISmaxVS / VP
Current Transformer
For a measurement current transformer of voltampere rating S, rated primary current IP
and rated secondary current IS, the maximum secondary voltage VSmax, maximum
secondary burden resistance RBmax and maximum primary voltage VPmax are:
VSmax = S / IS
RBmax = VSmax / IS = S / IS2
VPmax = S / IP = VSmaxIS / IP
For a protection current transformer of voltampere rating S, rated primary current IP,
rated secondary current IS and rated accuracy limit factor F, the rated secondary
reference voltage VSF, maximum secondary burden resistance RBmax and equivalent
primary reference voltage VPF are:
VSF = SF / IS
RBmax = VSF / ISF = S / IS2
VPF = SF / IP = VSFIS / IP
Impedance Measurement
If the primary voltage Vpri and the primary current Ipri are measured at a point in a
system, then the primary impedance Zpri at that point is:
Zpri = Vpri / Ipri
If the no-load (source) voltage Epri is also measured at the point, then the source
impedance ZTpri to the point is:
ZTpri = (Epri - Vpri) / Ipri = (Esec - Vsec)NV / IsecNI = ZTsecNV / NI = ZTsecNZ
If an inductive load with an active power demand P has an uncorrected power factor of
cos1 lagging, and is required to have a corrected power factor of cos2 lagging, the
uncorrected and corrected reactive power demands, Q1 and Q2, are:
Q1 = P tan1
Q2 = P tan2
where tann = (1 / cos2n - 1)½
The leading (capacitive) reactive power demand QC which must be connected across
the load is:
QC = Q1 - Q2 = P (tan1 - tan2)
The uncorrected and corrected apparent power demands, S1 and S2, are related by:
S1cos1 = P = S2cos2
Comparing corrected and uncorrected load currents and apparent power demands:
I2 / I1 = S2 / S1 = cos1 / cos2
If the load is required to have a corrected power factor of unity, Q2 is zero and:
QC = Q1 = P tan1
I2 / I1 = S2 / S1 = cos1 = P / S1
Shunt Capacitors
For star-connected shunt capacitors each of capacitance Cstar on a three phase system
of line voltage Vline and frequency f, the leading reactive power demand QCstar and the
leading reactive line current Iline are:
QCstar = Vline2 / XCstar = 2fCstarVline2
Iline = QCstar / 3Vline = Vline / 3XCstar
Cstar = QCstar / 2fVline2
Series Capacitors
For series line capacitors each of capacitance Cseries carrying line current Iline on a three
phase system of frequency f, the voltage drop Vdrop across each line capacitor and the
total leading reactive power demand QCseries of the set of three line capacitors are:
Vdrop = IlineXCseries = Iline / 2fCseries
QCseries = 3Vdrop2 / XCseries = 3VdropIline = 3Iline2XCseries = 3Iline2 / 2fCseries
Cseries = 3Iline2 / 2fQCseries
Note that the apparent power rating Srating of the set of three series line capacitors is
based on the line voltage Vline and not the voltage drop Vdrop:
Srating = 3VlineIline
Reactors
Shunt Reactors
For star-connected shunt reactors each of inductance Lstar on a three phase system of
line voltage Vline and frequency f, the lagging reactive power demand QLstar and the
lagging reactive line current Iline are:
QLstar = Vline2 / XLstar = Vline2 / 2fLstar
Iline = QLstar / 3Vline = Vline / 3XLstar
Lstar = Vline2 / 2fQLstar
For delta-connected shunt reactors each of inductance Ldelta on a three phase system of
line voltage Vline and frequency f, the lagging reactive power demand QLdelta and the
lagging reactive line current Iline are:
QLdelta = 3Vline2 / XLdelta = 3Vline2 / 2fLdelta
Iline = QLdelta / 3Vline = 3Vline / XLdelta
Ldelta = 3Vline2 / 2fQLdelta
Series Reactors
For series line reactors each of inductance Lseries carrying line current Iline on a three
phase system of frequency f, the voltage drop Vdrop across each line reactor and the
total lagging reactive power demand QLseries of the set of three line reactors are:
Vdrop = IlineXLseries = 2fLseriesIline
QLseries = 3Vdrop2 / XLseries = 3VdropIline = 3Iline2XLseries = 6fLseriesIline2
Lseries = QLseries / 6fIline2
Note that the apparent power rating Srating of the set of three series line reactors is
based on the line voltage Vline and not the voltage drop Vdrop:
Srating = 3VlineIline
Harmonic Resonance
The reactive power rating QC of the power factor correction capacitors for a capacitive
reactance XC per phase at phase voltage E is:
QC = 3E2 / XC