Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering

Lecture 16

Talha Asghar

Recap
Phasor Phase Shift Average RMS or effective value

Talha Asghar

Introduction
At any given instant, the power to a load is equal to the product of voltage times current This means that if voltage and current vary with time, so will power. This time-varying power is referred to as instantaneous power and is given the symbol p(t) or just p. =
Talha Asghar 3

Introduction (cont.)
Now consider the case of sinusoidal ac. Since voltage and current are positive at various times during their cycle and negative at others, instantaneous power may also be positive at some times and negative at others.

Talha Asghar

Introduction (cont.)

Talha Asghar

Introduction (cont.)
A positive value for p means that power transfer is in the direction of the reference arrow, while a negative value means that it is in the opposite direction. Thus, during positive parts of the power cycle, power flows from the source to the load. While during negative parts, it flows out of the load back into the circuit.
Talha Asghar 6

Active Power
Since p represents the power flowing to the load, its average will be the average power to the load (P). If P is positive, then, on average, more power flows to the load than is returned from it. If P is zero, all power sent to the load is returned.

Talha Asghar

Active Power (cont.)

Thus, if P has a positive value, it represents the power that is really dissipated by the load. For this reason, P is called real power or active power. Thus, active power is the average value of the instantaneous power, and the terms real power, active power, and average power mean the same thing.
Talha Asghar 8

Reactive Power
During the interval p is negative, power is being returned from the load. The portion of power that flows into the load then back out is called reactive power. Since it first flows one way then the other, its average value is zero. Thus, reactive power contributes nothing to the average power to the load.
Talha Asghar 9

Reactive Power (cont.)

Although reactive power does no useful work, it cannot be ignored. Extra current is required to create reactive power, and this current must be supplied by the source.

Talha Asghar

10

Reactive Power (cont.)

This also means that conductors, circuit breakers, switches, transformers, and other equipment must be made physically larger to handle the extra current. This increases the cost of a system.

Talha Asghar

11

Reactive Power (cont.)

It should be noted that real power and reactive power do not exist as separate entities. Rather, they are components of the power waveform.

Talha Asghar

12

Apparent Power
When a load has voltage V across it and current I through it as in Figure, the power that appears to flow to it is VI However, if the load contains both resistance and reactance, this product represents neither real power nor reactive power.

Talha Asghar

13

Apparent Power (cont.)

Since it appears to represent power, it is called apparent power. Apparent power is given the symbol S and has units of volt-amperes (VA). = () Where V and I are the magnitudes of the rms voltage and current respectively

Talha Asghar

14

Apparent Power (cont.)

Since V = IZ and I = V/Z, S can also be written as 2 = 2 = () For small equipment VA is a convenient unit. However, for heavy power apparatus it is too small and kVA (kilovolt-amps) is frequently used.
Talha Asghar 15

Apparent Power (cont.)

In addition to its VA rating, it is common practice to rate electrical apparatus in terms of its operating voltage. Once you know these two, it is easy to determine rated current. For example, a piece of equipment rated at 250 kVA, 4.16 kV has a rated current of 250 103 = = = 60.1 3 4.16 10
Talha Asghar 16