1. What is 3 Phase Power Consumption?

The 3-phase power consumption formula calculates the energy used by a three-phase electrical system over time. It accounts for voltage, current, power factor, and time to determine kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amperes)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0 to 1)
• \( h \) — Time duration (hours)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates real power consumption by accounting for the phase difference in AC systems through the power factor.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor (PF) represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. A PF of 1 means all power is effectively used, while lower PF indicates energy is being wasted in the system.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, power factor (typically 0.8-0.95 for industrial systems), and operating hours. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between line-to-line and line-to-neutral voltage?
A: In 3-phase systems, line-to-line voltage is √3 times the line-to-neutral voltage (e.g., 400V line-to-line = 230V line-to-neutral).

Q2: Why is power factor important?
A: Low power factor means higher current is needed for the same real power, increasing energy losses and infrastructure costs.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Industrial motors typically have 0.8-0.9 PF, while corrected systems aim for ≥0.95. Pure resistive loads have PF=1.

Q4: Can this be used for single-phase systems?
A: No, for single-phase use: kWh = (V × I × PF × h)/1000 (without the √3 factor).

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides theoretical consumption. Actual usage may vary due to voltage fluctuations, harmonics, and PF variations.