Windows-based rapid and precise electrical power systems calculations

This paper describes three “free-standing” programs for performing various power systems calculations-specifically-motor starting voltage drop, power flow and asymmetrical current/current limitation calculations. The programs were developed for professional engineering and educational purposes. The are part of a series of personal computer based programs that were developed over a period of years in industry and at the University of Houston. The readily available and powerful PC programs-such as Lotus and Excel-provide opportunities to improve calculation methods as well as to improve our understanding of power systems; the Excel 97 programs included in this paper are intended to support this point. The programs are based only on classical principles, there are no shortcuts and assumptions are not necessary. Immediate and precise results are provided. Primary advantages in using these programs include: the programs are easy to use and understand; results are provided rapidly. The programs are useful for testing the results of other programs, for performing “what-if” analyses and for training or for IEEE seminar purposes. The programs should be especially useful in communicating calculated results with others, domestically and internationally since the programs are free-standing and are based on classical principles; “local” conventions are avoided. In general, use of the programs should result in saving paper, time and labor