1. What is 3 Phase Power Calculation?

The 3-phase power calculation estimates the real power consumed by a balanced three-phase inductive motor or load. It accounts for voltage, current, and the power factor which represents the phase difference between voltage and current.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Real power (watts)
• \( V \) — Line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Line current (amps)
• \( pf \) — Power factor (dimensionless, 0-1)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (~1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates the actual power consumed by the motor, accounting for the phase relationship between voltage and current in inductive loads.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor is crucial in AC circuits as it represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. Low power factors indicate poor electrical efficiency and may incur penalties in industrial settings.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, line current in amps, and power factor (typically 0.8-0.95 for motors). All values must be positive (voltage > 0, current > 0, 0 < pf ≤ 1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between real and apparent power?
A: Real power (watts) does actual work, while apparent power (VA) is the product of voltage and current. The ratio is power factor.

Q2: Why use √3 in the formula?
A: √3 accounts for the phase difference in balanced three-phase systems when using line-to-line voltage.

Q3: What's a typical power factor for motors?
A: Induction motors typically have 0.8-0.9 pf at full load, lower at partial loads. Synchronous motors can achieve 1.0 pf.

Q4: How can power factor be improved?
A: Using capacitors for power factor correction, synchronous condensers, or synchronous motors can improve power factor.

Q5: Does this work for unbalanced loads?
A: This formula is for balanced three-phase loads. Unbalanced loads require more complex calculations.