1. What is the 3 Phase kW Formula?

The 3-phase power formula calculates real power (kW) in a three-phase electrical system. It accounts for the phase relationship between voltage and current through the power factor (PF).

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)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)
• 1000 — Conversion factor from watts to kilowatts

Explanation: The formula calculates real power by accounting for both the magnitude and phase relationship (power factor) between voltage and current in a balanced 3-phase system.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor represents the ratio of real power (kW) to apparent power (kVA). A higher PF (closer to 1) indicates more efficient power usage with less reactive power.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (0 to 1). Typical power factors are 0.8-0.95 for industrial loads.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between kW and kVA?
A: kW is real power (does actual work), while kVA is apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power). kW = kVA × PF.

Q2: What is a good power factor?
A: Generally 0.95 or higher is excellent, 0.85-0.95 is good, below 0.85 may need correction.

Q3: How does voltage affect power calculation?
A: Power is directly proportional to voltage - doubling voltage (with same current) doubles power.

Q4: Why use line-to-line voltage?
A: In 3-phase systems, line-to-line voltage is the standard measurement between any two phases.

Q5: Can this be used for single-phase systems?
A: No, for single-phase use: kW = (V × I × PF)/1000 (without the √3 factor).