1. What is 3-Phase Power Calculation?

The 3-phase power calculation determines the real power (kW) in a three-phase electrical system. It accounts for the voltage, current, and power factor to provide an accurate measurement of the actual power being used, as opposed to just apparent power (kVA).

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, between 0 and 1)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates real power by accounting for the phase difference between voltage and current in AC systems through the power factor.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. A lower power factor means more current is required to deliver the same amount of real power, leading to inefficiencies in the system.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between kW and kVA?
A: kW is real power (actual work being done), while kVA is apparent power (voltage × current). kW = kVA × power factor.

Q2: Why is √3 used in 3-phase calculations?
A: √3 accounts for the phase difference (120°) between the three phases in a balanced system.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Motors typically have 0.8-0.9 PF, resistive loads have 1.0 PF, and heavily inductive loads can have 0.6 PF or lower.

Q4: How does power factor affect energy costs?
A: Utilities often charge penalties for low power factor (<0.9) as it increases current requirements and system losses.

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