1. What is the Three Phase Power Formula?

The three phase power formula calculates the real power (kilowatts) in a three-phase electrical system. It accounts for voltage, current, power factor, and the √3 constant that represents the phase relationship in three-phase systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the three phase power formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amps)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Square root of 3 (approximately 1.732)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (dimensionless, between 0 and 1)
• \( 1000 \) — Conversion factor from watts to kilowatts

Explanation: The formula calculates the actual power consumption in kilowatts by accounting for both the apparent power and the power factor, which represents the phase difference between voltage and current.

3. Importance of Kilowatt Calculation

Details: Accurate kilowatt calculation is essential for electrical system design, load analysis, energy consumption monitoring, and determining appropriate circuit protection and wiring sizes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amps, and power factor as a decimal between 0 and 1. All values must be valid (voltage > 0, current > 0, 0 ≤ PF ≤ 1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor and why is it important?
A: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. It's important because it affects the efficiency of power transmission and the actual power consumption of electrical equipment.

Q2: What is a typical power factor value?
A: Power factor typically ranges from 0.7 to 1.0. Industrial motors often have power factors around 0.8-0.9, while purely resistive loads have a power factor of 1.0.

Q3: Why is √3 used in three-phase calculations?
A: √3 accounts for the 120-degree phase difference between the three phases in a balanced three-phase system, converting line-to-line voltage to phase voltage.

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

Q5: How does power factor affect energy consumption?
A: Lower power factor means more current is required to deliver the same amount of real power, resulting in higher energy losses in transmission lines and potentially higher electricity costs.