EE175 Lab-1, rev1.

2, page 1

University of California, Santa Cruz

Baskin Engineering School
Electrical Engineering Department
Laboratory 1
Introduction to PSCAD
EE175L
Power Systems Laboratory
I. DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this lab is to become familiar with the simulation tool PSCAD by modeling a
simple single phase RLC and three phase RLC system. PSCAD has a powerful graphic user
interface for modeling and analyzing electromagnetic and electromechanical circuits using a time
domain power engineering solution engine called EMTDC1. Since PSCAD simulates and
solves systems in the time domain, it is best suited to study the system response to transients and
system disturbances as opposed to more general steady-state system solutions. In future labs,
another tool called PowerWorld will be used for the purpose of steady-state system modeling.
In part 1, an AC single-phase RLC circuit will be modeled. PSCAD will be used to observe
voltage, current and power in the time-domain as well as calculate the average power and power
factor.
In part2, AC three-phase circuits will be modeled. Again, PSCAD will be used to observe
voltage, current and power in the time-domain for balanced and unbalanced circuits.
Using PSCAD requires that we remember all signals are in the time domain only. Recall that a
time domain sinusoidal signal can be represented as

where A is the rms amplitude, f is the frequency, and is the phase. Note the amplitude is
expressed as an RMS quantity since this is customary in power engineering but the time domain
form requires the peak. If the time domain signal is also steady-state, then phasor notation is also
useful. The phasor domain notation for the steady-state time signal is represented by

EMTDC ( Electromagnetic Transients including DC) represents and solves differential equations in the time domain [1]. See Introduction
to EMTDC in the PSCAD help menu for more information on how the EMTDC engine works.

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II. Procedure
Part 1: Single-Phase AC Circuit in Steady State
Refer to the attached Intro to PSCAD pdf for detailed instructions on getting started with
PSCAD.2
a. Model a single-phase ac circuit where a voltage source Vs=4.160 0(kV) at 60Hz is
supplying an RL load with impedance 5 30. Plot the waveforms for the instantaneous
voltage vs(t), the instantaneous current is(t), the instantaneous power p(t), and the average
power P delivered to the load all on the same plot. In addition, using a PSCAD Control
Panel show the power factor. Note that you will have to utilize the FFT and the CSMF
components to calculate the average power and the power factor.
b. Calculate a capacitive reactance XC to be connected in parallel with the RL load to
bringing the overall power factor seen from the source to unity. Run the simulation again.
What happens to the waveforms when the power factor is brought to 1.0? Explain what
happens and why.
Part 2: Three-Phase AC Circuit in Steady State
a. Connect a three-phase circuit in a balanced-wye configuration where the per-phase circuit
is the same as the single-phase circuit above. Note that you can use a single 3-phase
source or (3) single-phase sources with a common ground connection. Plot the
instantaneous voltage and current for one phase and the instantaneous power for one
phase. In addition, plot the sum of the three instantaneous powers p(t) = pa(t) + pb(t)+
pc(t). For a balanced three-phase load, the total instantaneous power delivered from the
load should be constant and equivalent to the average power. Verify this is the case with
your simulation. In your lab report, justify this mathematically.
b. What would happen to the instantaneous power if the load became unbalanced? Change
the impedance on one of the phases in your simulation and comment on the effect this has
on the waveforms. The study of unbalanced three-phase loads is quite complex and will
be covered later in the course. For now, just observe the difference between a balanced
and unbalanced load.
c. Using the balanced load from part 2 (a), calculate a capacitive reactance XC, to be
connected in parallel with the load in each phase, to bring the per-phase power factor to
unity. Is this the same as that calculated in part 1(b)? Run the simulation again. What
happens to the waveforms when the power factor is brought to 1.0? Why?

If you need additional assistance with PSCAD, the help menu is very useful. In addition, the Familiarization with
using PSCAD-EMTDC video, found here http://www.ece.umn.edu/groups/power/labs/ps/video_instructions.html ,
shows a step-by-step process very similar to this lab.

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III. What to Turn In

Submit a well-written report (see the handout on reporting guidelines posted on our website)
discussing the work done in this laboratory. Some of the tasks have questions, be sure to answer
these in the flow of your treatment. Include schematics and phasor diagrams where they help you
clarify things.