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3-Phase Power Factor Formula:
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The power factor (PF) in a 3-phase system is the ratio of real power (P) flowing to the load to the apparent power in the circuit. It's a dimensionless number between 0 and 1 that indicates how effectively electrical power is being converted into useful work output.
The calculator uses the 3-phase power factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the ratio of real power to apparent power in a balanced 3-phase AC system.
Details: Power factor is crucial in electrical systems because it affects efficiency. A low power factor (typically <0.95) indicates poor utilization of electrical power, leading to higher currents and energy losses in distribution systems.
Tips: Enter real power in watts, line-to-line voltage in volts, and current in amperes. All values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the power factor between 0 and 1.
Q1: What is a good power factor value?
A: Ideally, power factor should be as close to 1 as possible. Values above 0.95 are generally considered good, while values below 0.85 may require power factor correction.
Q2: What causes low power factor?
A: Low power factor is typically caused by inductive loads (motors, transformers) that create reactive power, or by non-linear loads that distort the current waveform.
Q3: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor can be improved by adding capacitors (for inductive loads), using synchronous condensers, or employing active power factor correction circuits.
Q4: What's the difference between single-phase and 3-phase power factor?
A: The fundamental concept is the same, but 3-phase calculations include the √3 factor to account for the phase relationships between the three conductors.
Q5: Does power factor affect electricity bills?
A: In industrial settings, utilities often charge penalties for low power factor. Residential customers typically aren't charged for power factor.