Three Phase Power Calculator
The three-phase power calculator calculates the apparent, active and reactive power for three-phase AC systems.
Power Triangle Diagram
1. Apparent Power (S)
Apparent power represents the total power delivered to a circuit. In three-phase systems, it's calculated using:
\[S = \sqrt{3} \times V_{L-L} \times I\]Where:
- \(V_{L-L}\): Line-to-line voltage (V)
- \(I\): Line current (A)
- \(\sqrt{3}\): Three-phase constant (≈ 1.732)
Unit: Volt-Ampere (VA)
2. Active Power (P)
Active power, also known as real power, represents the actual power consumed by the load to perform useful work:
\[P = S \times pf\]Where:
- \(S\): Apparent power (VA)
- \(pf\): Power factor (0 to 1)
Unit: Watt (W)
3. Reactive Power (Q)
Reactive power is the power used to maintain electromagnetic fields in inductive or capacitive loads:
\[Q = \sqrt{S^2 - P^2}\]Where:
- \(S\): Apparent power (VA)
- \(P\): Active power (W)
Unit: Volt-Ampere Reactive (VAR)
Key Points
- Power factor (pf) indicates how efficiently electrical power is being used
- Higher power factor (closer to 1) means more efficient power usage
- Lower reactive power generally indicates better system efficiency