GILBERT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS & PRODUCTS

P.O. BOX 1141 ! BECKLEY, WV 25802 ! TELEPHONE (304) 252-6243 FAX (304) 252-6292 ! www.gilbertelectrical.com ! The following pages of formulas, some derivations and discussions are intended to assist in designing and applying capacitor banks properly

Basic Formulas and Derivations:

1. Ohms Law
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) V From (4) Z V2 V This becomes V = Z Z Let P = VAR Then Z = V2 P (7) (6) R I = V or V = I Z Then Z = & I= P=I V V Z V I

V2 or Z = VAR Or Z = KV 2 1000 KVAR 1

(8)

(9)

Letting Z = X C Or XL

(10) KV MVAR
2

We have X C (Or XL) =

(11)

This will allow you to determine the reactance of a capacitor or reactor when voltage and KVAR is given. Example: A three-phase 600KVAR capacitor bank at 12,470 will yield KV 2 Xc = MVAR

12.47 2 .600

= 259.168 Ohms
A three-phase shunt reactor of 150KVAR, at 13.8KV will yield KV 2 XL = MVAR

13.8 2 .150

= 1269.6 Ohms

2.

Capacitance
XC = 1 (2FC ) (12)

V2 But, as stated VA R = (6) Z V2 1 VAR = 2FC Or = V2 XC

2 -6

(13)

(14) (15) (16)

Then VAR = V 2FC10

KVAR =
Example:

(V

2F C 10 6 1000

From above 600KVAR at 12.47KV equals 259.168 Ohms and from (12) 1 1 XC = . Then C = 2 f 259.168 (2FC ) Let f = 60 Hertz (2f

. 376.99)

Then C = 0.000010235 farads or 10.235 microfarads. From (16) KVAR = KVAR = 600 12,470 2 376.99 10.235 10 6 1000

3.

Inductance
XL = 2FL VAR = V2 V2 from (6) = Z (2FL ) V2 (2FL 1000) (17) (18)

KVAR =

(19)

From above 150KVAR at 13.8KV equals 1269.6 Ohms and from (17) XL = 2FL. Let f = 60 Hertz (2f Then L =

. 376.99)

XL 1269.6 = = 3.36773 Henries 2 f L 376.99

Or 3367.73 millihenries. From (19) KVAR = KVAR = 150 13800 2 13800 2 = 2 f 3.36773 1000 376.99 3367.73

LEGEND: R Resistance I Amps V Volts Z Impedance P Power (in Watts and/or Vars) VAR Reactive Power K Kilo (103) Xc Capacitive Reactance XL Inductive Reactance M Mega (106)