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Conversion Formula:
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The conversion from kilovolt-amps (kVA) to kilowatts (kW) is essential in electrical engineering to determine the real power consumption from the apparent power. The power factor (PF) represents the efficiency of power usage in AC circuits.
The calculator uses the conversion formula:
Where:
Explanation: The power factor accounts for the phase difference between voltage and current in AC circuits, converting apparent power to real power.
Details: Power factor indicates how effectively electrical power is being used. A higher power factor (closer to 1) means more efficient power usage, while a lower power factor indicates poor efficiency and potential energy waste.
Tips: Enter kVA value (must be positive), and power factor value between 0 and 1. The calculator will provide the equivalent real power in kilowatts.
Q1: What's the difference between kVA and kW?
A: kVA measures apparent power (voltage × current), while kW measures real power (actual power consumed). The difference is accounted for by the power factor.
Q2: What is a typical power factor value?
A: Industrial facilities typically aim for 0.95 or higher. Residential power factors are usually between 0.85-0.95. Values below 0.8 indicate poor power efficiency.
Q3: Can power factor be greater than 1?
A: No, power factor ranges from 0 to 1. A value of 1 represents perfect efficiency with no reactive power.
Q4: Why is power factor correction important?
A: Improving power factor reduces energy losses, increases system capacity, and can lower electricity bills by reducing reactive power charges.
Q5: How do I improve power factor?
A: Power factor can be improved by adding capacitors to the electrical system, which compensate for inductive loads and reduce phase difference.