1. What is 3-Phase kWh Calculation?

The 3-phase kWh calculation determines the energy consumption in three-phase electrical systems. It accounts for the balanced three-phase power delivery common in industrial and commercial applications.

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 (0 to 1)
• \( h \) — Time in hours
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates real power consumption by accounting for all three phases and the power factor.

3. Importance of 3-Phase Power Calculation

Details: Accurate 3-phase energy calculation is essential for energy monitoring, billing, system design, and efficiency analysis in industrial settings.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, power factor (typically 0.8-1.0), and operating time in hours. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use √3 in the formula?
A: The √3 factor accounts for the phase difference in three-phase systems, converting line-to-line voltage to phase voltage.

Q2: 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.

Q3: Is this formula for balanced systems only?
A: Yes, this assumes a balanced three-phase load. Unbalanced systems require more complex calculations.

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

Q5: How does this differ from apparent power?
A: This calculates real power (kWh). Apparent power (kVA) would exclude the power factor term.