Power Calculation in A.

C Circuit Week 3
At the end of this week, the students are expected to:
♦ Explain apparent power, reactive power and active power
♦ Solve problems on power factor, active power apparent power reactive power and
power factor
1.4 APPARENT POWER, REACTIVE POWER AND ACTIVE
POWER
1.4.1 Apparent power I

+
S load V
_

Fig 1.9: Apparent power S = VI

When a load has voltage V across it and current I through it as in figure 1.9, the power
that appears to flow to it is VI. However, if the load contains both resistance and
reactance, this product represents neither active power nor reactive power. Since VI
appears to represent power, it is called apparent power. Apparent power is given the
symbol S and units of volt-amperes (VA). Thus
S = VI (VA) (1.5)
where V and I are the magnitude of the r.m.s voltage and current respectively.
1.4.2 Reactive Power
Consider figure 1.3. During the intervals that instantaneous power PL(t) is negative,
power is being returned from the load. (This can only happen if the load contains
reactive elements: L or C.) The portion of power that flows into the load then back out
is called reactive power. Reactive power is given by the symbol Q and units of volt-
ampere reactive (VAr). Thus
Q = VIsinθ (1.6)
1.4.3 Active power
Consider again figure 1.3. Since PL represents the power flowing to the load; its
average will be the average power to the load. Denote this average by the letter P. If P
has a positive value, it represents the power that is really dissipated by the load. For

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 this reason, P is called Real power. In modern terminology, real power is also called
active power. The unit of active power is in watt (W). Thus
P = VIcosθ (W) (1.7)
1.5 SOLVED PROBLEMS ON POWER FACTOR, ACTIVE POWER,
APPARENT POWER, REACTIVE POWER AND POWER
FACTOR CORRECTIONS

Example 1.7: In figure 1.10, find the following:

(a) The active power (b) the apparent power (c) the reactive power and (d) the
power factor.

R = 8Ω

XL = 7Ω XC = 15Ω
V = 100

Fig 1.10
Solution
Z = √{R2 + (XC – XL)2} = √{82 + (15 – 7)2} = 11.314Ω
I = E = 100 = 8.84A
Z 11.314
From the phasor diagram of RLC series circuit shown in fig 1.11
VL

V
V L - VC

φ
I
VR
Fig 1.11

VC

φ = cos-1 (VR/V), where VR = IR = 8.84 x 8 = 70.72V

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 ∴ φ = cos-1 (70.72/100) = 450
(a) P = VIcosφ = 100 x 8.84 x cos450 = 625W
(b) S = VI = 100 x 8.84 = 884VA
(c) Q = VIsinφ = 100 x 8.84 x sin450 = 625VAr
(d) P.f = cosφ = cos450 = 0.707

Example 1.8: A resistor of 40Ω is connected in parallel with a 67.6mH inductor, the
combination being supplied by a 120V, 50Hz supply. Calculate (a) the power factor
(b) the active power (c) the apparent power (d) the reactive volt-amperes consumed
Solution
IR = VS/R = 120/40 = A
IL = VS = 120 = 5.65A
-3
2πfL 2π x 50 x 67.6 x 10
I = √(IR2 + IL2) = √(32 + 5.652) = 6.397A
From the phasor diagram of RL parallel circuit (fig 1.12)

IR
φ VS

IL I

Fig 1.12

(a) P.f = cosφ = IR/I = 3/6.397 = 0.4690

(b) P = VIcosφ = 120 x 6.397 x 0.4690 = 360W
(c) S = VI = 120 x 6.397 = 767.64VA
(d) Q = VIsinφ, φ = cos-1(0.469) = 620
= 120 x 6.397 x sin620 = 677.8VAr

Example 1.9: A load of P = 1000KW with p.f = 0.5lagging is fed by a 5KV, 50Hz source. A
capacitor is added in parallel such that the power factor is improved to 0.8. Find the value of
the shunt capacitance needed to improve the power factor

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Solution
The value of the shunt capacitance is given by
C = P(tanφ1 - tanφ2)
2πfV2
Before improvement.
P = 1000KW, cosφ1 = 0.5, ⇒ φ1 = cos-1(0.5) = 600
∴ Ptanφ1 = 1000K x tan600 = 1732.05KVAr
∴ C = 1732.05 – 750.82 ≅ 125µF
2π x 50 x (5000)2

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Three Phase Systems Week 4
At the end of this week, the students are expected to:
♦ Define polyphase system
♦ Explain the basic differences between single phase and three phase systems
♦ Explain phase sequence of a three phase system
♦ State the advantages of three phase circuits.
2.1 POLYPHASE SYSTEM
Circuits or system in which the ac sources operate at the same frequency but different
phases are known as polyphase systems.
2.2 BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SINGLE PHASE AND THREE
PHASE SYSTEMS
2.2.1 Single-Phase Systems
A single phase a.c power system consists of a generator connected through a pair of
wires (a transmission line) to a load. Figure 2.1 depicts a single phase two wire
system, where VP is the magnitude of the source voltage and φ is the phase. The
power in a single phase system is pulsating (not constant). For large motors, pulsating
power supply causes excessive vibration. Besides, it has neither delta nor star type of
connection.

Vp ∠Φ _+ ZL

Fig 2.1: single-phase system two-wire type.

2.2.2 Three Phase Systems
Figure 2.2 shows a three phase four wire systems. As distinct from a single phase
system, a three phase system is produced by a generator consisting of three sources
having the same amplitude and frequency but out of phase with each other by 1200.
When one phase or two phase inputs are required, they are taken from the three phase
system rather than generated independently. The instantaneous power in a three phase
system can be constant. This result in uniform power transmission and less vibration
of three phase machines. Generally, three-phase systems have two type of connection,
which are star and delta connections

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 Vp 00 a A ZL1
_
+

Vp -12 00
_ b B
ZL2
+

Vp +12 00
_ c C ZL3
+

n N

Fig 2.2: Three phase four wire-systems

2.3 PHASE SEQUENCE OF A THREE PHASE SYSTEM

Consider the waveform of three phase e.m.f shown in fig 2.3. From the waveform it is
seen that the e.m.f of phase A lead that of B by 1200, and in similar way, the e.m.f of
phase B lead that of C by 1200. Hence, the order in which the e.m.fs of phases A, B
and C attain their maximum values is ABC. It is called phase sequence ABC.
Therefore, Phase sequence is the order in which the three phases (A,B and C) reach
their maximum value.
e

A B C

ωt
0
120
2400

Fig 2.3: three phase waveforms

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2.4 ADVANTAGES OF 3-PHASE CIRCUITS
1. The instantaneous power in a three phase system can be held constant. This
results in uniform transmission.
2. Three phase systems are more economical than single phase systems.
3. Three phase systems are more efficient

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Three Phase Systems Week 5
At the end of this week, the students are expected to:
♦ Explain how 3-phase e.m.fs are produced
♦ Distinguish between star and delta three-phase system
♦ Derive the relationship between line and phase values of voltages and currents in a
star and delta connected windings
2.5 GENERATION OF THREE PHASE E.M.F’s

B1 A
C1

N S

C B
A1
Fig 2.4: Generation of 3-φ e.m.f’s
In figure 2.4, three similar coils (A,B, and C) are displaced from one another by 120
electrical degrees. If the coils are rotated within the magnetic field, emf would be
induced or generated in the three coils. It is evident that counterclockwise rotation
results in coil sides A, B, and C in the order A-B-C. The result for the three coils is as
shown in fig 2.3. Voltage B is 120 electrical degrees later than A, and C is 2400 later.
Changing the direction of rotation would result in A-C-B, which is called the ACB
phase sequence.
2.6 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAR AND DELTA 3–PHASE
SYSTEM
2.6.1 Star-Connected 3-Phase System
1. Neutral wire is available
2. Phase current = line current
3. Phase voltage = line voltage
√3
4. It can handle both lighting and power loads

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2.6.2 Delta-Connected 3-Phase system
1. Neutral wire is not present

2. Phase current = line current

√3
3. Phase voltage = line voltage
4. It can handle power loads only
2.7 DERIVATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LINE AND
PHASE VALUES OF VOLTAGES AND CURRENT IN A STAR
AND DELTA CONNECTED WINDINGS
2.7.1 Line voltages and phase voltages in a star connected windings

Line 1

VR

VRY
VBR
VB
Vy
Line2
VYB
Line3
(a)
Fig 2.5: (a) Star connection of a 3-Φ circuit

VRY

VR

-VY -VB
300

VYB
VB
VY

-VR
VBR

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Fig 2.6: phasor diagram of a star connected load

Consider the star connection of a three phase circuit shown in fig 2.5. It phasor
diagram is as shown in fig 2.6. To obtain the line voltages we proceed as under:
Let VRY = line voltage between red phase and yellow phase
VYB = line voltage between yellow phase and blue phase
VBR = line voltage between blue phase and red phase
VR = voltage across the red phase
VY = voltage across the yellow phase
VB = voltage across the blue phase
Thus, VYB, VBR and VYB are called line voltages, while VB, VR and VY are called
phase voltages.
The p.d between line 1 and 2 in (fig 2.5) is VRY. Hence, VRY is found by
compounding VR and VY reversed and its value is given by the diagonal of the
parallelogram of fig 2.6. Obviously, the angle between VR and VY reversed is 600.
The parallelogram is shown in fig 2.7 below.

VY VRY

o 300
VR
Fig 2.7: parallelogram of fig 2.6
From fig 2.7, ox = ½ VRY (2.1)
0
Also, ox = VR cos 30 (2.2)
Equating (2.2) to equation (2.1) gives
VRY = 2 (VRcos300)
= √3 VR = √3 Vph
Considering that the system is balanced,
∴ VYB = √3 Vph
also, VBR = √3 Vph
Now VRY = VYB = VBR = line voltage, say VL. Hence, in star connection
VL = √3Vph (2.3)

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