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Three Phase Power Factor Formula:
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Power factor (PF) is the ratio of real power (P) to apparent power (S) in an AC electrical system. In three-phase systems, it's calculated using the formula PF = P / (V × I × √3). It indicates how effectively electrical power is being used.
The calculator uses the three-phase power factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the ratio between the actual power being used (real power) and the power being delivered to the system (apparent power).
Details: Power factor is crucial for assessing electrical system efficiency. A low power factor indicates poor utilization of electrical power, which can lead to higher costs and system inefficiencies.
Tips: Enter real power in watts, line voltage in volts, and line current in amps. All values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the power factor (a dimensionless number between 0 and 1).
Q1: What is a good power factor value?
A: Ideally, power factor should be close to 1 (unity). Values below 0.95 are generally considered poor in industrial settings.
Q2: How does power factor affect electricity bills?
A: Many utilities charge penalties for low power factor (typically below 0.85-0.90) as it requires them to supply more current for the same real power.
Q3: What causes low power factor?
A: Inductive loads (motors, transformers) create phase shift between voltage and current, reducing power factor. Unbalanced loads can also contribute.
Q4: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor correction capacitors can be added to counteract inductive reactance. Proper motor sizing and load balancing also help.
Q5: Is this formula different for single-phase systems?
A: Yes, single-phase power factor is simply PF = P / (V × I), without the √3 factor.