Power Systems and Electrical Machines: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 10 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Three-phase power

Y connection
VL = √3·Vph, IL = Iph
Δ connection
VL = Vph, IL = √3·Iph
Total real power
P = √3·VL·IL·cos φ = 3·Iph²·R
Apparent and reactive power
S = √3·VL·IL, Q = P·tan φ
Correction capacitors
QC = P(tan φ1 − tan φ2), C = QC/(3ωV²)
Voltage across each capacitor
Δ: VL Y: VL/√3
Motor input
Pin = Pout/η

Transformers

Turns ratio
a = N1/N2 = V1/V2
Current ratio
I1/I2 = N2/N1 = 1/a
Rated current
I = S/V
Referred impedance
Z1′ = a²·ZL
Copper loss at part load
Pcu = x²·Pcu,fl
Efficiency
η = x·S·pf/(x·S·pf + Pcore + x²·Pcu,fl)
Maximum efficiency
x = √(Pcore/Pcu,fl)

AC power & power factor

Real power
P = V·I·cos φ
Reactive power
Q = V·I·sin φ
Apparent power
S = V·I = √(P² + Q²)
Power factor
pf = cos φ = P/S
Correction capacitor
QC = P(tan φ1 − tan φ2), C = QC/(ωV²)

AC impedance & phasors

Impedances
ZR = R, ZL = jωL, ZC = 1/(jωC)
Angular frequency
ω = 2πf
Magnitude and angle
|Z| = √(R² + X²), φ = atan(X/R)
Phasor Ohm’s law
V = I·Z

Method

  1. Convert the frequency: ω = 2πf.
  2. Find each reactance: XL = ωL and XC = 1/(ωC).
  3. Add impedances like resistors, with Z = R + jX.
  4. Find the magnitude |Z| = √(R² + X²) and the angle φ = atan(X/R), then use Ohm’s law with phasors.

DC motors

Armature circuit
V = E + IaRa
Back-EMF and torque
E = k·ω, T = k·Ia
Speed
ω = 2π·n/60, ω = (V − IaRa)/k
No-load speed and stall torque
ω0 = V/k, Tstall = k·V/Ra
Powers
Pin = V·Ia, Pdev = E·Ia = T·ω, Pout = Pdev − Prot
Starting
Istart = V/(Ra + Rst)
Speed regulation
SR = (n0 − nFL)/nFL
Maximum developed power
Pmax = V²/(4Ra)
Chopper drive
Va = D·Vdc

Method

  1. Draw the armature circuit: supply V, resistance Ra and the back-EMF E in series.
  2. Use V = E + Ia·Ra to link voltage, current and back-EMF.
  3. Use E = k·ω for speed and T = k·Ia for torque, with ω = 2π·n/60.
  4. For power and efficiency, start from V·Ia, subtract the copper loss Ia²·Ra and then the rotational losses.

2Practice problems

1.Three-phase powerMedium
ABCVL​ = 400 VIL​ = ?M45 kW, η = 93%cos φ = 0.85

A three-phase induction motor delivers 45 kW of mechanical output power at full load. At this load its efficiency is 93% and its power factor is 0.85 lagging. The supply has a line-to-line voltage of 400 V. Find the line current IL.

Pout = 45 kWη = 93%cos φ = 0.85VL = 400 V
IL = A
2.Three-phase powerHard
P = 120 kWφ1​S1​Q2​QC​ = ?

A balanced three-phase load takes 120 kW at a power factor of 0.65 lagging from a 690 V (line-to-line), 60 Hz supply. A three-phase capacitor bank in parallel with the load must raise the overall power factor to 0.9 lagging. The real power stays the same. Find the total reactive power QC the capacitor bank must supply, in kvar.

P = 120 kWpf1 = 0.65pf2 = 0.9VL = 690 Vf = 60 Hz
QC = kvar
3.TransformersMedium
2400 V240 VIHV​ = ?ILV​25 kVA

A single-phase 25 kVA, 2400/240 V transformer operates at its rated load. Treat it as ideal. Find the current IHV in the high-voltage winding.

S = 25 kVAV1 = 2400 VV2 = 240 V
IHV = A
4.TransformersHard
pf 0.9200 kVA, 25% load

A single-phase 200 kVA transformer has a core loss of 600 W and a copper loss of 2400 W at rated load. It supplies 25% of its rated kVA at a power factor of 0.9 lagging. Find the total losses Ploss in watts at this load.

S = 200 kVAPcore = 600 WPcu,fl = 2400 Wx = 0.25pf = 0.9
Ploss = W
5.AC power & power factorMedium
P = 25 kWQ = ?Sφ

A single-phase motor takes 25 kW at a power factor of 0.75 lagging from a 240 V supply. Find the reactive power Q it draws.

P = 25 kWpf = 0.75V = 240 V
Q = kvar
6.AC power & power factorHard
400 V60 Hzload4 kW, 0.8C22 µFI

A single-phase load takes 4 kW at a power factor of 0.8 lagging from a 400 V, 60 Hz supply. A 22 µF capacitor is connected in parallel with the load. Find the new power factor cos φ seen by the supply.

P = 4 kWpf1 = 0.8V = 400 Vf = 60 HzC = 22 µF
cos φ =
7.AC impedance & phasorsMedium
12 V500 HzR = 100 ΩL = 200 mHC = 4.7 µF

A series RLC circuit is connected to a 12 V (rms), 500 Hz supply. Find the phase angle φ of the impedance, in degrees (positive when the current lags the voltage).

V = 12 V (rms)f = 500 HzR = 100 ΩL = 200 mHC = 4.7 µF
φ = °
8.AC impedance & phasorsHard
50 V100 HzR = 80 ΩL = 150 mHC = 47 µF+−VC​

A series RLC circuit is connected to a 50 V (rms), 100 Hz supply. Find the rms voltage VC across the capacitor.

V = 50 V (rms)f = 100 HzR = 80 ΩL = 150 mHC = 47 µF
VC = V
9.DC motorsMedium
T (N·m)n (rpm)n0​ = ?

A DC motor with k = 1 V·s/rad runs from 220 V. Neglecting all losses at no load, find its no-load speed n0 in rpm.

V = 220 Vk = 1 V·s/rad
n0 = rpm
10.DC motorsHard
+−240 VRa​ = 0.4 ΩIa​: 30 → 7.5 AM+−En = ?T

A separately excited DC motor on 240 V (Ra = 0.4 Ω) runs at 1500 rpm with an armature current of 30 A. The load changes and the current becomes 7.5 A, with the field unchanged. Find the new speed n2.

V = 240 VRa = 0.4 Ωn1 = 1500 rpmIa1 = 30 AIa2 = 7.5 A
n2 = rpm

3Solutions

1.Three-phase power

Answer: IL = 82.17 A

Balanced three-phase systems: in a Y (star) connection the line-to-line voltage is √3 times the phase voltage, VL = √3·Vph, and the line current equals the phase current. In a Δ (delta) connection the line-to-line voltage equals the phase voltage and the line current is √3 times the phase current, IL = √3·Iph. The total power is three times the power of one phase: P = 3·Vph·Iph·cos φ = √3·VL·IL·cos φ.

Electrical input power

Pin = Pout/η = 45/0.93 = 48.39 kW

Line current

IL = Pin/(√3·VL·cos φ) = 48387/(√3·400·0.85) = 82.17 A

Answer

IL = 82.17 A
2.Three-phase power

Answer: QC = 82.18 kvar

Balanced three-phase systems: in a Y (star) connection the line-to-line voltage is √3 times the phase voltage, VL = √3·Vph, and the line current equals the phase current. In a Δ (delta) connection the line-to-line voltage equals the phase voltage and the line current is √3 times the phase current, IL = √3·Iph. The total power is three times the power of one phase: P = 3·Vph·Iph·cos φ = √3·VL·IL·cos φ. Power factor correction: capacitors supply reactive power locally, QC = P·(tan φ1 − tan φ2). Each of the three capacitors supplies QC/3 = V²·ω·C, where V is the voltage across that capacitor: VL in a Δ bank, VL/√3 in a Y bank.

Reactive power before and after

The real power is unchanged, so each power factor fixes the reactive power: Q = P·tan φ.

Q1 = 120·tan(acos 0.65) = 120·1.169 = 140.3 kvar
Q2 = 120·tan(acos 0.9) = 120·0.4843 = 58.12 kvar

Reactive power from the capacitors

QC = Q1 − Q2 = 82.18 kvar

Answer

QC = 82.18 kvar
3.Transformers

Answer: IHV = 10.42 A

Ideal transformer: the voltages are in the ratio of the turns and the currents in the inverse ratio: V₁/V₂ = N₁/N₂ = a and I₁/I₂ = N₂/N₁ = 1/a, so the power in equals the power out, V₁·I₁ = V₂·I₂. A load impedance Z on the secondary looks like a²·Z from the primary.

Rated current

Both windings carry the same apparent power.

IHV = S/V = 25000/2400 = 10.42 A

Answer

IHV = 10.42 A
4.Transformers

Answer: Ploss = 750 W

Transformer losses: the core loss (hysteresis and eddy currents) depends on the voltage and is the same at any load. The copper loss in the windings goes with the current squared, so at a fraction x of rated load it is x²·Pcu,fl. Efficiency η = Pout/(Pout + Pcore + Pcu), with Pout = x·S·pf. The efficiency is highest at the load where the copper loss equals the core loss.

Copper loss at this load

Pcu = x²·Pcu,fl = 0.0625·2400 = 150 W

Total losses

The core loss is the same at any load.

Ploss = 600 + 150 = 750 W

Answer

Ploss = 750 W

The efficiency at this load is η = 98.36%.

5.AC power & power factor

Answer: Q = 22.05 kvar

AC power: apparent power S = V·I (VA) splits into real power P = S·cos φ (W), which does useful work, and reactive power Q = S·sin φ (var), which moves back and forth between source and load. The power factor is cos φ. A capacitor in parallel supplies reactive power locally, so the line current drops for the same real power.

Angle

φ = arccos(0.75) = 41.41°, tan φ = 0.8819

Reactive power

Q = P·tan φ = 25·0.8819 = 22.05 kvar

Answer

Q = 22.05 kvar
6.AC power & power factor

Answer: cos φ = 0.9226

AC power: apparent power S = V·I (VA) splits into real power P = S·cos φ (W), which does useful work, and reactive power Q = S·sin φ (var), which moves back and forth between source and load. The power factor is cos φ. A capacitor in parallel supplies reactive power locally, so the line current drops for the same real power.

Reactive power before and after

The real power P does not change; only the reactive power drawn from the supply does.

Q1 = 4·tan(arccos 0.8) = 3 kvar
QC = V²·2πf·C = 400²·2π·60·22·10⁻⁶ = 1327 var = 1.327 kvar
Q2 = 3 − 1.327 = 1.673 kvar

New apparent power

S2 = √(4² + 1.673²) = 4.336 kVA

New power factor

cos φ = P/S2 = 4/4.336 = 0.9226

Answer

cos φ = 0.9226
7.AC impedance & phasors

Answer: φ = 79.89 °

AC circuits with phasors: resistors, inductors and capacitors have impedances R, jωL and 1/(jωC), with ω = 2πf. In series, impedances add like resistances, but as complex numbers. Rms current and voltage follow Ohm’s law with |Z|.

Reactances

ω = 2πf = 2π·500 = 3142 rad/s
XL = ωL = 3142·0.2 = 628.3 Ω
XC = 1/(ωC) = 1/(3142·4.7·10⁻⁶) = 67.73 Ω

Impedance

In series the impedances add as complex numbers: Z = R + j(XL − XC).

|Z| = √(R² + (XL − XC)²) = √(100² + (560.6)²) = 569.4 Ω

Phase angle

φ = arctan((XL − XC)/R) = arctan(560.6/100) = 79.89°

Answer

φ = 79.89°
8.AC impedance & phasors

Answer: VC = 16.89 V

AC circuits with phasors: resistors, inductors and capacitors have impedances R, jωL and 1/(jωC), with ω = 2πf. In series, impedances add like resistances, but as complex numbers. Rms current and voltage follow Ohm’s law with |Z|.

Reactances

ω = 2πf = 2π·100 = 628.3 rad/s
XL = ωL = 628.3·0.15 = 94.25 Ω
XC = 1/(ωC) = 1/(628.3·47·10⁻⁶) = 33.86 Ω

Impedance

In series the impedances add as complex numbers: Z = R + j(XL − XC).

|Z| = √(R² + (XL − XC)²) = √(80² + (60.39)²) = 100.2 Ω

Current

The same current flows through every element of a series circuit.

I = V/|Z| = 50/100.2 = 0.4988 A

Voltage across the capacitor

VC = I·XC = 0.4988·33.86 = 16.89 V

Answer

VC = 16.89 V
9.DC motors

Answer: n0 = 2101 rpm

DC motor: the armature is a resistance Ra in series with the back-EMF E, so V = E + Ia·Ra. The back-EMF grows with speed, E = k·ω, and the torque with current, T = k·Ia, with the same motor constant k (V·s/rad = N·m/A) in SI units. Convert speeds with ω = 2π·n/60. The developed power is E·Ia = T·ω; the input power is V·Ia, and the copper loss Ia²Ra and the rotational loss make the difference. The speed falls in a straight line with torque, ω = V/k − Ra·T/k², from the no-load speed V/k to zero at the stall torque k·V/Ra. At standstill E = 0, so the starting current V/Ra is large unless a resistor limits it.

No-load speed

ω₀ = V/k = 220/1 = 220 rad/s
n0 = 60·220/(2π) = 2101 rpm

Answer

n0 = 2101 rpm
10.DC motors

Answer: n2 = 1559 rpm

DC motor: the armature is a resistance Ra in series with the back-EMF E, so V = E + Ia·Ra. The back-EMF grows with speed, E = k·ω, and the torque with current, T = k·Ia, with the same motor constant k (V·s/rad = N·m/A) in SI units. Convert speeds with ω = 2π·n/60. The developed power is E·Ia = T·ω; the input power is V·Ia, and the copper loss Ia²Ra and the rotational loss make the difference. The speed falls in a straight line with torque, ω = V/k − Ra·T/k², from the no-load speed V/k to zero at the stall torque k·V/Ra. At standstill E = 0, so the starting current V/Ra is large unless a resistor limits it.

Back-EMF before and after

E1 = 240 − 30·0.4 = 228 V
E2 = 240 − 7.5·0.4 = 237 V

New speed

n2 = 1500·237/228 = 1559 rpm

Answer

n2 = 1559 rpm

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