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 usable power.

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)

Explanation: The formula calculates real power by accounting for the phase relationship in 3-phase systems and the power factor which represents the efficiency of power usage.

3. Importance of Power Factor

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

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (typically between 0.8 and 1 for most industrial applications). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between kW and kVA?
A: kW measures real power while kVA measures apparent power. The ratio between them is the power factor (kW = kVA × PF).

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

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Industrial systems typically range from 0.8 to 0.95. Unity (1.0) is ideal but rarely achieved in practice.

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

Q5: How does voltage affect power calculation?
A: Higher voltage at the same current results in higher power. The relationship is directly proportional in this formula.