EEL Module 2: Power Systems Engineering

Electrical Engineer License Certification Program

8.33% Complete

1. Power System Fundamentals

Introduction to Power Systems

Power systems are complex networks that generate, transmit, and distribute electrical energy from sources to end users. Understanding these systems is fundamental to electrical engineering practice.

Power Systems Engineering

Figure 1: Power systems overview showing generation, transmission, and distribution

P = √3 × V_L × I_L × PF (Three-Phase Power)

Generation

Power Plants

Coal, Gas, Nuclear, Hydro, Wind, Solar

Transformation

Step-up Substations

Increases voltage for transmission

Transmission

High Voltage Lines

138kV - 765kV

Sub-transmission

Step-down Substations

Reduces to distribution level

Distribution

Medium/Low Voltage

12kV - 480V

Load

End Users

Residential, Commercial, Industrial

Key System Characteristics:

  • Alternating current (AC) systems dominate worldwide
  • Three-phase systems for efficient power transmission
  • Voltage transformation at multiple levels
  • Interconnected grids for reliability and economics
  • Real-time balance between generation and load

Voltage Levels and Applications

Ultra High Voltage

500kV - 1000kV

Long-distance bulk transmission

High Voltage

138kV - 345kV

Regional transmission

Medium Voltage

12kV - 69kV

Sub-transmission and industrial

Low Voltage

120V - 600V

Distribution and utilization

Power System Components

Generators

Synchronous generators convert mechanical energy to electrical energy:

P = √3 × V × I × cos(φ)

Where P = Real power, V = Line voltage, I = Line current, cos(φ) = Power factor

Steam Turbine Generator
Typical Size: 100MW - 1000MW
Efficiency: 35-45%
Fuel: Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear
Hydroelectric Generator
Typical Size: 10MW - 1000MW
Efficiency: 85-95%
Fuel: Water (Renewable)
Wind Turbine Generator
Typical Size: 1.5MW - 8MW
Capacity Factor: 25-45%
Fuel: Wind (Renewable)

Transformers

Transformers change voltage levels while maintaining power balance:

V₁/V₂ = N₁/N₂ = I₂/I₁

Transformer Efficiency

Large power transformers: 98-99.5% efficient

Efficiency Calculation:
η = (Output Power / Input Power) × 100%
= (P_out / (P_out + P_losses)) × 100%
= P_out / (P_out + P_cu + P_core) × 100%

Power System Stability

Power system stability refers to the ability of the system to return to normal operation after a disturbance.

Types of Stability:

  • Rotor Angle Stability: Maintains synchronism between generators
  • Voltage Stability: Maintains acceptable voltage levels
  • Frequency Stability: Maintains system frequency within limits

Frequency Deviation Calculation:

Given: System frequency drops from 60.0Hz to 59.8Hz
Frequency Error:
Δf = 60.0 - 59.8 = 0.2Hz
Percentage deviation = (0.2/60.0) × 100% = 0.33%
Generation-Load Imbalance:
Imbalance ≈ Δf × K (where K = system frequency response coefficient)
For K = 1000 MW/Hz: Imbalance ≈ 0.2 × 1000 = 200MW deficit

2. Three-Phase Power Systems

Three-Phase System Advantages

Three-phase systems are the standard for power transmission and distribution due to several advantages over single-phase systems.

Three-Phase Benefits:

  • Constant power delivery (no pulsating torque)
  • Reduced conductor material for same power transfer
  • Better utilization of transformer cores
  • Smoother motor operation
  • Reduced neutral current in balanced systems

Three-Phase Voltage Relationships

For a balanced three-phase system:

Line-to-Line Voltage:
V_LL = √3 × V_LN
Line-to-Neutral Voltage:
V_LN = V_LL / √3
Total Power:
P_total = √3 × V_LL × I_L × cos(φ)

Example: 480V Three-Phase System

Given: Line-to-line voltage = 480V, Line current = 100A, Power factor = 0.85
Line-to-neutral voltage:
V_LN = 480V / √3 = 277V
Total power:
P = √3 × 480V × 100A × 0.85 = 70.7 kW

Phase Sequence and Rotation

Phase sequence determines the direction of rotation for three-phase motors and affects system operation.

Standard Phase Sequences

ABC Sequence (Positive)
V_A = V_m∠0°
V_B = V_m∠-120°
V_C = V_m∠+120°
ACB Sequence (Negative)
V_A = V_m∠0°
V_B = V_m∠+120°
V_C = V_m∠-120°

Three-Phase Connections

Wye (Y) Connection

Components connected to a common neutral point:

  • Each phase voltage measured to neutral
  • Line voltages are √3 times phase voltages
  • Provides flexibility for single-phase loads
  • Common in distribution systems

Delta (Δ) Connection

Components connected in a closed loop:

  • No neutral connection
  • Line currents are √3 times phase currents
  • Higher reliability (open delta operation)
  • Common in transmission systems

Delta vs. Wye Comparison

Same voltage application to both connections:
Wye: V_phase = 480V/√3 = 277V
Delta: V_phase = 480V
Same current per phase:
Wye: I_line = I_phase
Delta: I_line = √3 × I_phase

Power Factor in Three-Phase Systems

Power factor affects the efficiency and capacity of three-phase systems.

Power Factor Components:

  • Displacement Power Factor: Due to phase shift between voltage and current
  • Distortion Power Factor: Due to harmonics
  • Overall Power Factor: Product of displacement and distortion factors

Power Factor Correction

Given: System: 480V, 200A, PF = 0.75 lag, Target PF = 0.95 lag
Initial conditions:
Real power P = √3 × 480 × 200 × 0.75 = 124.7 kW
Reactive power Q₁ = √3 × 480 × 200 × sin(41.4°) = 115.3 kVAR
Target conditions:
Required PF angle: arccos(0.95) = 18.2°
Required reactive power Q₂ = P × tan(18.2°) = 40.9 kVAR
Capacitor required Qc = Q₁ - Q₂ = 115.3 - 40.9 = 74.4 kVAR

Unbalanced Three-Phase Systems

Unbalanced conditions occur when loads or voltages are not equal across all phases.

Sequence Components Method

Any unbalanced three-phase system can be represented as sum of three balanced systems:

Positive Sequence: Balanced, rotates in forward direction
V₁ = (1/3)[V_A + aV_B + a²V_C]
Negative Sequence: Balanced, rotates in reverse direction
V₂ = (1/3)[V_A + a²V_B + aV_C]
Zero Sequence: All phases in phase
V₀ = (1/3)[V_A + V_B + V_C]

Where a = 1∠120° (120° operator)

3. Power Flow Analysis

Introduction to Power Flow

Power flow analysis (also called load flow) determines the steady-state operating conditions of a power system, including voltages, currents, and power flows.

Power Flow Applications:

  • System planning and expansion studies
  • Operational planning and control
  • Contingency analysis
  • Optimal power flow studies
  • Economic dispatch calculations

Power Flow Equations

The fundamental power flow equations for each bus (node) in the system:

Bus Power Equations

Complex Power at Bus i:
S_i = P_i + jQ_i = V_i × I_i*
= V_i × Σ(j=1 to n) Y_ij × V_j*

Where:

  • P_i, Q_i = Real and reactive power at bus i
  • V_i = Voltage magnitude at bus i
  • Y_ij = Admittance matrix element
  • n = Total number of buses

Bus Classification

Buses in power systems are classified based on known quantities:

Swing Bus (Slack Bus)
Known: |V|, ∠θ
Unknown: P, Q
Purpose: System reference, supplies losses
Generator Bus (PV Bus)
Known: P, |V|
Unknown: Q, ∠θ
Purpose: Generator voltage regulation
Load Bus (PQ Bus)
Known: P, Q
Unknown: |V|, ∠θ
Purpose: Represents system loads

Gauss-Seidel Method

An iterative technique for solving power flow equations:

Gauss-Seidel Iteration

Iteration Formula:
V_i^(k+1) = (1/Y_ii) × [S_i*/V_i*^(k) - Σ(j≠i) Y_ij × V_j^(k)]
Steps:
1. Initialize voltages (usually 1.0∠0° for all buses)
2. Update each bus voltage using previous values
3. Check for convergence (|ΔV| < ε)
4. Repeat until converged
Convergence Criteria:
|V_i^(k+1) - V_i^(k)| < 10^-6 per unit

Newton-Raphson Method

A more robust and faster-converging method using Taylor series expansion:

Newton-Raphson Formulation:
[ΔP/ΔQ] = [J] × [Δθ/ΔV]

Where J is the Jacobian matrix containing partial derivatives:

  • ∂P/∂θ = Power-angle derivatives
  • ∂P/∂V = Power-voltage derivatives
  • ∂Q/∂θ = Reactive power-angle derivatives
  • ∂Q/∂V = Reactive power-voltage derivatives

Newton-Raphson Solution Process

Step 1: Calculate power mismatches
ΔP_i = P_scheduled,i - P_calculated,i
ΔQ_i = Q_scheduled,i - Q_calculated,i
Step 2: Form Jacobian matrix
Calculate partial derivatives at current voltage values
Step 3: Solve for voltage corrections
[Δθ/ΔV] = [J]^-1 × [ΔP/ΔQ]
Step 4: Update voltages
θ^(k+1) = θ^(k) + Δθ
V^(k+1) = V^(k) + ΔV
Step 5: Check convergence
|ΔP|, |ΔQ| < tolerance (typically 1 MW/MVAR)

Fast Decoupled Load Flow

A simplified Newton-Raphson method that decouples real and reactive power:

Decoupled Equations

Real Power - Voltage Angle:
[ΔP/V] = [B'] × [Δθ]
Reactive Power - Voltage Magnitude:
[ΔQ/V] = [B''] × [ΔV]

Advantages:

  • Reduced computational requirements
  • Smaller Jacobian matrices
  • Faster iterations
  • Good convergence for normal operation

Power Flow Solution Interpretation

Voltage Analysis

  • Voltage magnitudes should be within ±5% of nominal
  • Large voltage drops indicate overloaded lines
  • Voltage angles indicate power flow direction
  • Voltage regulation affects power quality

Line Loading Analysis

Line Loading Calculation

Given: Line impedance Z = 0.1 + j0.4 Ω, Current I = 200A
Line losses:
P_loss = I² × R = (200)² × 0.1 = 4000W = 4kW
Voltage drop:
ΔV = I × Z = 200 × (0.1 + j0.4) = 20 + j80V
|ΔV| = √(20² + 80²) = 82.5V

4. Short Circuit Analysis

Introduction to Short Circuit Studies

Short circuit analysis determines fault currents that flow when abnormal conditions cause unintended connections between energized conductors or to ground.

Short Circuit Study Purposes:

  • Determine maximum fault current levels
  • Select and coordinate protective devices
  • Ensure system equipment can withstand fault currents
  • Verify system safety and protection schemes
  • Meet code requirements (NEC, IEC)

Types of Faults

Different fault types have different characteristics and occur with different frequencies:

Three-Phase Fault (3φ)
Frequency: 5-10% of faults
Current: Highest magnitude
Symmetry: Balanced
Line-to-Line Fault (φ-φ)
Frequency: 10-15% of faults
Current: ~87% of 3φ fault
Symmetry: Unbalanced
Line-to-Ground Fault (φ-G)
Frequency: 65-70% of faults
Current: Variable
Symmetry: Unbalanced
Double Line-to-Ground (φ-φ-G)
Frequency: 10-15% of faults
Current: High magnitude
Symmetry: Unbalanced

Symmetrical Components Theory

Symmetrical components is a powerful technique for analyzing unbalanced systems by decomposing them into balanced sequence components.

Sequence Component Transformation

Forward Transformation:
[V₀ V₁ V₂]ᵀ = [A] × [V_A V_B V_C]ᵀ
Inverse Transformation:
[V_A V_B V_C]ᵀ = [A]⁻¹ × [V₀ V₁ V₂]ᵀ

Where A is the transformation matrix:

A = [1 1 1
1 a a²
1 a² a]

a = 1∠120° = -0.5 + j0.866

Fault Current Calculations

Three-Phase Fault

For a balanced three-phase fault:

I_f = V_pre-fault / Z₁

Where Z₁ is the positive sequence impedance

Single Line-to-Ground Fault

The most common fault type:

I_f = 3 × V_pre-fault / (Z₀ + Z₁ + Z₂)

Where Z₀, Z₁, Z₂ are zero, positive, and negative sequence impedances

Fault Current Calculation

Given System:
Source voltage: 480V (line-to-line)
Source impedance: Z = j0.1Ω per phase
Fault type: Three-phase fault at generator terminals
Pre-fault voltage (line-to-neutral):
V_phase = 480V / √3 = 277V
Fault current:
I_f = 277V / j0.1Ω = 2770∠-90° A
Symmetrical RMS current:
I_rms = 2770 / √2 = 1960A

Impedance Calculations

Accurate system impedance values are critical for fault current calculations.

Transformer Impedance

Transformer Impedance Calculation

Given: 500kVA, 480V/12kV transformer, Z% = 5.5%
Base current calculation:
I_base = 500,000VA / (√3 × 480V) = 601A (LV side)
Actual impedance:
Z = (Z% × V_base²) / (100 × S_base)
Z = (5.5 × 480²) / (100 × 500,000) = 0.025Ω

Line Impedance

Transmission and distribution line impedances:

  • Positive sequence: R + jX
  • Negative sequence: R + jX (same as positive for overhead lines)
  • Zero sequence: R₀ + jX₀ (varies with configuration)

Line Impedance Example

Given: 230kV line, 100km length
Positive sequence: Z₁ = 0.1 + j0.4 Ω/km
Zero sequence: Z₀ = 0.3 + j1.2 Ω/km
Total line impedance:
Z₁_total = 100km × (0.1 + j0.4) = 10 + j40Ω
Z₀_total = 100km × (0.3 + j1.2) = 30 + j120Ω

Fault Current Components

Fault currents contain both AC and DC components that decay over time.

Total Fault Current

i(t) = i_AC(t) + i_DC(t)

i_AC(t) = √2 × I_f × sin(ωt + θ - φ) × e^(-t/τ)

i_DC(t) = √2 × I_f × sin(φ) × e^(-t/τ)

Where:

  • I_f = RMS value of AC component
  • θ = Voltage angle at fault initiation
  • φ = System impedance angle
  • τ = DC time constant = L/R

X/R Ratio Effects

The X/R ratio of the system affects the DC offset and first-cycle current.

X/R Ratio Impacts:

  • Higher X/R → More severe DC offset
  • Affects breaker interrupting capability
  • Impacts protective device coordination
  • Important for equipment rating calculations

X/R Ratio Analysis

Given: System impedance Z = 0.5 + j2.5Ω
X/R calculation:
X/R = 2.5 / 0.5 = 5.0
System impedance angle:
φ = arctan(X/R) = arctan(5) = 78.7°
DC time constant:
τ = L/R = X/(ωR) = (5R)/(2πfR) = 5/(2π × 60) = 0.0133s

5. Power System Protection

Protection System Fundamentals

Power system protection is designed to detect and isolate faults quickly to minimize damage and maintain system stability.

Protection System Objectives:

  • Detect fault conditions accurately
  • Isolate faulty equipment quickly
  • Minimize impact on healthy system portions
  • Provide backup protection
  • Ensure safety of personnel and equipment

Protection System Components

1. Current Transformers (CTs)

Transform high fault currents to measurable levels:

I_secondary = I_primary / CT_ratio

Standard ratios: 50:5, 100:5, 200:5, 400:5, 800:5, 1200:5, etc.

2. Potential Transformers (PTs)

Step down high voltages for protection and metering:

V_secondary = V_primary / PT_ratio

Common ratios: 480:120, 4160:120, 13800:120, etc.

3. Protective Relays

Intelligent devices that detect abnormal conditions:

  • Overcurrent relays
  • Distance relays
  • Differential relays
  • Voltage relays
  • Frequency relays

4. Circuit Breakers

Switching devices that can interrupt fault currents:

  • Air magnetic breakers (low voltage)
  • Oil circuit breakers
  • SF₆ gas breakers
  • Vacuum breakers

Protection Zones and Coordination

Protection systems are divided into overlapping zones to ensure complete coverage and selective operation.

Typical Protection Zones

Generator

97% Diff + Backup OC

Transformer

87% Diff + 51G

Bus

87% Diff

Line

21 + 50/51

Load

50/51 + Fuse

Protection Relay Types

Overcurrent Protection

Detects current exceeding normal levels, indicating possible faults.

Overcurrent Relay Setting

Given:
Normal load current: 100A
Expected fault current: 1000A
CT ratio: 200:5
Load factor: 1.25
Pickup current calculation:
I_pickup = 1.25 × Load current = 125A
Secondary pickup = 125A / 40 = 3.125A (200:5 CT)
Time dial setting:
Select to provide coordination with upstream device
Typically 0.5-1.0 for distribution systems

Differential Protection

Compares current entering and leaving a protected zone:

I_diff = I_primary - I_secondary

Operates when difference exceeds a threshold (slope characteristic)

Distance Protection

Measures impedance to fault location:

Z_fault = V_fault / I_fault

Operates when measured impedance is less than reach setting

Coordination Principles

Protection coordination ensures that only the device closest to the fault operates.

Coordination Guidelines:

  • Time coordination: Downstream devices trip faster
  • Current coordination: Downstream devices have lower pickup
  • Zone selectivity: Only affected zones operate
  • Backup protection: Upstream devices provide backup

Coordination Time Calculation

Given:
Downstream breaker clearing time: 0.1s
Relay coordination margin: 0.3s
Upstream breaker clearing time: 0.15s
Required relay time:
T_upstream ≥ T_downstream + Margin + ΔT_breaker
T_upstream ≥ 0.1 + 0.3 + 0.15 = 0.55s

Protection System Grading

Systematic approach to setting protection devices for selective operation.

Inverse Time Characteristics

Operating time decreases as current increases above pickup:

t = TMS × (K/I_pickup)^α

Where K and α are characteristic constants

Standard Inverse
K: 0.14
α: 0.02
Application: General distribution
Very Inverse
K: 13.5
α: 1.0
Application: Feeder protection
Extremely Inverse
K: 80
α: 2.0
Application: Transformer backup

Communication-Aided Protection

Modern protection systems use communication for improved selectivity and speed.

Pilot Protection Schemes

  • Directional Comparison: Compares local and remote relay signals
  • Transfer Trip: Sends trip signal from remote end
  • Permissive Underreach: Allows tripping when both ends see fault
  • Permissive Overreach: Permits tripping based on local reach

IEC 61850 Digital Communication

  • Ethernet-based communication protocol
  • Substation automation integration
  • Standardized object models
  • High-speed generic object oriented substation events (GOOSE)

6. Power Quality Analysis

Introduction to Power Quality

Power quality refers to the characteristics of the electrical power supply that affect the operation of electrical equipment.

Power Quality Factors:

  • Voltage magnitude and variations
  • Frequency stability
  • Voltage waveform distortion (harmonics)
  • Voltage fluctuations and flicker
  • Voltage sags, swells, and interruptions
  • Transients and surge events

Voltage Variations

Voltage Sags (Dips)

Sudden reduction in voltage magnitude, typically lasting 0.5-30 cycles.

Voltage Sag = (V_nominal - V_min) / V_nominal × 100%

Voltage Sag Analysis

Given:
Nominal voltage: 480V
Measured minimum voltage during event: 350V
Duration: 10 cycles at 60Hz
Sag magnitude:
Sag % = (480 - 350) / 480 × 100% = 27.1%
Sag duration:
Duration = 10 cycles / 60 cycles/sec = 0.167 seconds

Voltage Swells

Temporary increase in voltage above normal levels.

Voltage Swell Analysis

Given:
Nominal voltage: 480V
Peak voltage during swell: 580V
Duration: 5 cycles
Swell magnitude:
Swell % = (580 - 480) / 480 × 100% = 20.8%

Voltage Interruptions

Complete loss of voltage supply:

  • Instantaneous: < 0.5 cycles
  • Momentsary: 0.5 cycles to 3 seconds
  • Temporary: 3 seconds to 1 minute
  • Sustained: > 1 minute

Harmonic Analysis

Harmonics are sinusoidal components of a periodic waveform having frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental frequency.

Harmonic Components

Fundamental Frequency: 50 or 60 Hz
2nd Harmonic: 100 or 120 Hz (2 × fundamental)
3rd Harmonic: 150 or 180 Hz (3 × fundamental)
n-th Harmonic: n × fundamental frequency

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

Measure of harmonic distortion in the voltage or current waveform:

THD_V = √(Σ(h=2 to ∞) V_h²) / V_1 × 100%

Where V_h is the RMS value of the h-th harmonic component

THD Calculation

Given Harmonic Spectrum:
V₁ (fundamental) = 480V
V₃ (3rd harmonic) = 24V
V₅ (5th harmonic) = 19.2V
V₇ (7th harmonic) = 9.6V
THD calculation:
THD = √(24² + 19.2² + 9.6²) / 480 × 100%
THD = √(576 + 368.64 + 92.16) / 480 × 100%
THD = √1036.8 / 480 × 100% = 5.26%

IEEE 519 Harmonic Limits

Standard for harmonic current limits:

Isc/IL < 20
Individual H harmonic: 4.0%
Total THD: 5.0%
20 ≤ Isc/IL < 50
Individual H harmonic: 7.0%
Total THD: 8.0%
Isc/IL ≥ 50
Individual H harmonic: 15.0%
Total THD: 15.0%

Where Isc = Short circuit current, IL = Load current

Power Factor and Displacement Factor

Power Factor Components

PF = DP × DF

Where DP = Displacement factor (due to phase shift)
DF = Distortion factor (due to harmonics)

Power Factor Correction with Harmonics

Given:
Fundamental current: 100A ∠-30°
5th harmonic: 10A ∠150°
7th harmonic: 5A ∠210°
Fundamental power factor:
PF_fundamental = cos(30°) = 0.866 lag
Distortion factor:
DF = I₁ / √(I₁² + I₃² + I₅²) = 100 / √(100² + 10² + 5²) = 0.89
Total power factor:
PF = 0.866 × 0.89 = 0.77

Transient Events

Short-duration, high-frequency disturbances in electrical systems.

Switching Transients

  • Caused by capacitor switching, transformer energizing
  • Frequency: 300 Hz to 3000 Hz
  • Duration: microseconds to milliseconds
  • Magnitude: up to 2-3 times nominal voltage

Lightning Surges

  • Caused by direct lightning strikes or electromagnetic coupling
  • Front time: 0.1-10 μs
  • Tail time: 20-100 μs
  • Magnitude: up to 100 kV for distribution systems

Power Quality Standards

IEEE Standards

  • IEEE 519: Harmonic control in electrical power systems
  • IEEE 1159: Power quality monitoring recommendations
  • IEEE 1547: Interconnection of distributed resources
  • IEEE 1453: Flicker measurement and mitigation

IEC Standards

  • IEC 61000: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) series
  • IEC 61000-3-2: Harmonic current emissions
  • IEC 61000-3-3: Voltage changes and flicker
  • IEC 61000-4-30: Power quality measurement methods

Mitigation Techniques

Harmonic Mitigation

  • Passive Filters: LC circuits tuned to harmonic frequencies
  • Active Filters: Electronic devices that inject compensating currents
  • Phase-Shifting Transformers: Cancel harmonics from multiple converters

Voltage Sag Mitigation

  • Dynamic Voltage Restorers (DVR): Inject voltage to maintain nominal levels
  • Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS): Provide backup power
  • Energy Storage Systems: Battery or flywheel systems

Assessment Quiz

Test Your Knowledge

Answer the following questions to assess your understanding of power systems engineering.

Question 1: Three-Phase Power

In a 480V three-phase system with 100A line current and 0.9 power factor, what is the total power?

  • A) 62.4 kW
  • B) 74.9 kW
  • C) 83.0 kW
  • D) 96.0 kW

Question 2: Power Flow

In power flow analysis, a PV bus is characterized by having which quantities known?

  • A) Voltage magnitude and angle
  • B) Real power and reactive power
  • C) Real power and voltage magnitude
  • D) Reactive power and voltage angle

Question 3: Short Circuit Current

For a three-phase fault, the fault current is approximately equal to:

  • A) V/Z₀ (zero sequence impedance)
  • B) V/Z₁ (positive sequence impedance)
  • C) V/Z₂ (negative sequence impedance)
  • D) 3V/Z₁

Question 4: Symmetrical Components

The positive sequence component represents:

  • A) Balanced system rotating in reverse direction
  • B) Balanced system rotating in forward direction
  • C) Unbalanced component common to all phases
  • D) DC offset component

Question 5: Protection Coordination

In a coordinated protection system, the downstream device should operate:

  • A) Slower than upstream devices
  • B) At the same time as upstream devices
  • C) Faster than upstream devices
  • D) Only during sustained faults

Question 6: Harmonic Distortion

If the fundamental voltage is 480V and the 5th harmonic is 24V, what is the individual 5th harmonic distortion?

  • A) 2%
  • B) 5%
  • C) 10%
  • D) 24%

Question 7: Voltage Levels

Which voltage level is typically used for long-distance bulk power transmission?

  • A) 120V - 240V
  • B) 480V - 600V
  • C) 12kV - 35kV
  • D) 138kV - 765kV

Question 8: Power Factor Correction

A system has real power of 100kW at 0.7 power factor lag. To correct to 0.95 lag, what capacitor kVAR is needed?

  • A) 50 kVAR
  • B) 63 kVAR
  • C) 102 kVAR
  • D) 143 kVAR

Question 9: Transformer Efficiency

A 500kVA transformer has losses of 5kW. What is its efficiency at full load?

  • A) 99%
  • B) 98.5%
  • C) 97%
  • D) 95%

Question 10: Voltage Sag

A 480V system experiences a voltage sag where the minimum voltage is 360V. What is the sag magnitude?

  • A) 10%
  • B) 20%
  • C) 25%
  • D) 33%

Quiz Results