1. What is 3-Phase kWh Calculation?

The 3-phase kWh calculation determines the energy consumption of a three-phase electrical system. It accounts for the balanced three-phase power delivery commonly used 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 (unitless, 0 to 1)
• \( h \) — Time duration (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, then converts to kilowatt-hours.

3. Importance of 3-Phase Power Calculation

Details: Accurate energy calculation is essential for transformer sizing, energy billing, efficiency analysis, and electrical system design in industrial settings.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, power factor (typically 0.8-0.95 for industrial loads), and operating hours. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between line-to-line and line-to-neutral voltage?
A: In 3-phase systems, line-to-line voltage is √3 times the line-to-neutral voltage (e.g., 400V line-to-line = 230V line-to-neutral).

Q2: Why is power factor important?
A: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. Lower PF means more current is needed for the same real power, increasing losses.

Q3: Can I use this for single-phase systems?
A: No, for single-phase use: kWh = (V × I × PF × h) / 1000 (without the √3 factor).

Q4: What's typical power factor for transformers?
A: Depends on load - resistive loads have PF≈1, inductive loads (motors) typically 0.8-0.9, and heavily inductive loads may be lower.

Q5: How does this relate to transformer sizing?
A: Transformer capacity (kVA) = √3 × V × I / 1000. Energy consumption (kWh) depends on actual load and duration.