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​ = 208 VZ = 12 + j9 Ωper phase

A balanced Δ-connected load with an impedance of 12 + j9 Ω per phase is connected to a balanced three-phase supply with a line-to-line voltage of 208 V. Find the total real power P absorbed by the load in kW.

VL = 208 VZ = 12 + j9 Ω per phase
P = kW
2.Three-phase powerHard
P = 50 kWφ1​S1​Q2​QC​

A balanced three-phase load takes 50 kW at a power factor of 0.75 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. The capacitors are connected in Δ. Find the capacitance Cph of each capacitor in µF.

P = 50 kWpf1 = 0.75pf2 = 0.9VL = 690 Vf = 60 Hz
Cph = µF
3.TransformersMedium
4800 V240 VIHV​ = ?ILV​75 kVA

A single-phase 75 kVA, 4800/240 V transformer operates at its rated load. Treat it as ideal. Find the current IHV in the high-voltage winding.

S = 75 kVAV1 = 4800 VV2 = 240 V
IHV = A
4.TransformersHard
pf 0.95100 kVA, η = 98%

A single-phase 100 kVA transformer has a core loss of 600 W. At rated load and a power factor of 0.95 lagging its efficiency is 98%. Find the full-load copper loss Pcu,fl in watts.

S = 100 kVAPcore = 600 Wpf = 0.95η = 98%
Pcu,fl = W
5.AC power & power factorMedium
P = 8 kWQ = ?Sφ

A single-phase motor takes 8 kW at a power factor of 0.85 lagging from a 400 V supply. Find the reactive power Q it draws.

P = 8 kWpf = 0.85V = 400 V
Q = kvar
6.AC power & power factorHard
P = 15 kWQ1​S1​φ1​QC​

A single-phase load takes 15 kW at a power factor of 0.7 lagging from a 240 V, 50 Hz supply. A capacitor connected in parallel raises the power factor to 0.92. Find the reactive power QC the capacitor must supply.

P = 15 kWpf1 = 0.7pf2 = 0.92V = 240 Vf = 50 Hz
QC = kvar
7.AC impedance & phasorsMedium
24 V500 HzR = 80 ΩL = 20 mHC = 47 µF

A series RLC circuit is connected to a 24 V (rms), 500 Hz supply. Find the phase angle φ of the impedance, in degrees (positive when the current lags the voltage).

V = 24 V (rms)f = 500 HzR = 80 ΩL = 20 mHC = 47 µF
φ = °
8.AC impedance & phasorsHard
120 V1000 HzR = 30 ΩL = 20 mHC = 100 µFI

A series RLC circuit is connected to a 120 V (rms), 1000 Hz supply. Find the rms current I.

V = 120 V (rms)f = 1000 HzR = 30 ΩL = 20 mHC = 100 µF
I = A
9.DC motorsMedium
T (N·m)n (rpm)Tst​ = ?n0​

A DC motor with k = 0.4 N·m/A and Ra = 0.25 Ω is connected to 48 V. Find its stall torque Tstall, the torque at zero speed.

V = 48 Vk = 0.4 N·m/ARa = 0.25 Ω
Tstall = N·m
10.DC motorsHard
+−240 VRs​ = ?Ra​ = 1.5 ΩM+−En = 1000 rpmT = 18 N·m

A DC motor (k = 1.2 V·s/rad, Ra = 1.5 Ω) on a fixed 240 V supply drives a load of 18 N·m. Find the series resistance Rs that slows it down to 1000 rpm.

V = 240 Vk = 1.2 V·s/radRa = 1.5 ΩT = 18 N·mn = 1000 rpm
Rs = Ω

3Solutions

1.Three-phase power

Answer: P = 6.922 kW

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.

Phase voltage

Vph = VL = 208 V

Phase current

|Z| = √(12² + 9²) = 15 Ω
Iph = 208/15 = 13.87 A

Total real power

Only the resistive part of each impedance absorbs real power.

P = 3·Iph²·R = 3·13.87²·12 = 6.922 kW

Answer

P = 6.922 kW

Check: cos φ = R/|Z| = 0.8, and √3·VL·IL·cos φ gives the same power.

2.Three-phase power

Answer: Cph = 36.92 µF

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 = 50·tan(acos 0.75) = 50·0.8819 = 44.1 kvar
Q2 = 50·tan(acos 0.9) = 50·0.4843 = 24.22 kvar

Reactive power from the capacitors

QC = Q1 − Q2 = 19.88 kvar

Capacitance per phase

In a Δ bank each capacitor is connected between two lines.

V = 690 V, ω = 2π·60 = 377 rad/s
Cph = (QC/3)/(ω·V²) = 6627/(377·690²) = 36.92 µF

Answer

Cph = 36.92 µF
3.Transformers

Answer: IHV = 15.63 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 = 75000/4800 = 15.63 A

Answer

IHV = 15.63 A
4.Transformers

Answer: Pcu,fl = 1339 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.

Output and input power

Pout = 100·0.95 = 95 kW
Pin = 95000/0.98 = 96939 W

Total and copper losses

Ploss = 96939 − 95000 = 1939 W
Pcu,fl = 1939 − 600 = 1339 W

Answer

Pcu,fl = 1339 W
5.AC power & power factor

Answer: Q = 4.958 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(0.85) = 31.79°, tan φ = 0.6197

Reactive power

Q = P·tan φ = 8·0.6197 = 4.958 kvar

Answer

Q = 4.958 kvar
6.AC power & power factor

Answer: QC = 8.913 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.

Reactive power before and after

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

Q1 = P·tan φ1 = 15·tan(45.57°) = 15.3 kvar
Q2 = P·tan φ2 = 15·tan(23.07°) = 6.39 kvar
QC = Q1 − Q2 = 8.913 kvar

Answer

QC = 8.913 kvar
7.AC impedance & phasors

Answer: φ = 35.02 °

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 = 3142·0.02 = 62.83 Ω
XC = 1/(ωC) = 1/(3142·47·10⁻⁶) = 6.773 Ω

Impedance

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

|Z| = √(R² + (XL − XC)²) = √(80² + (56.06)²) = 97.69 Ω

Phase angle

φ = arctan((XL − XC)/R) = arctan(56.06/80) = 35.02°

Answer

φ = 35.02°
8.AC impedance & phasors

Answer: I = 0.9401 A

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·1000 = 6283 rad/s
XL = ωL = 6283·0.02 = 125.7 Ω
XC = 1/(ωC) = 1/(6283·100·10⁻⁶) = 1.592 Ω

Impedance

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

|Z| = √(R² + (XL − XC)²) = √(30² + (124.1)²) = 127.6 Ω

Current

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

I = V/|Z| = 120/127.6 = 0.9401 A

Answer

I = 0.9401 A
9.DC motors

Answer: Tstall = 76.8 N·m

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.

Stall current

Ia = V/Ra = 48/0.25 = 192 A

Stall torque

Tstall = 0.4·192 = 76.8 N·m

Answer

Tstall = 76.8 N·m
10.DC motors

Answer: Rs = 6.122 Ω

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.

Current and back-EMF

Ia = 18/1.2 = 15 A
E = 1.2·104.7 = 125.7 V

Series resistance

Ra + Rs = (240 − 125.7)/15 = 7.622 Ω
Rs = 6.122 Ω

Answer

Rs = 6.122 Ω

The resistor wastes 1378 W; a chopper controls the speed with far less loss.

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