Power Triangle

Learning Objectives
 Define apparent power.
 Calculate apparent power in AC series parallel
networks.
 Define the power triangle.
 Using the power triangle determine relationships
between real, reactive and apparent power.
 Determine if AC series parallel networks are
inductive, capacitive, or purely resistive.
 Review

AC Power to a Resistive Load

2
V
P  VRMS I RMS  I RMS
2
R  RMS (watts)
R

AC Power to a Inductive Load

2
VRMS
QL  I 2
RMS XL  (VAR)
XL

AC Power to a Capacitive Load

2
VRMS
QC  I 2
RMS XC  (VAR CAP )
XC
 Review
AC Power Summary

Real Power P = VI (W) P = 0 (W) P = 0 (W)

P = I2R =V2/R
Reactive Q = 0 (VAR) Q = VI (VARind) Q = VI (VARcap)
Power
Q = I2XL =V2/XL = I2XC =V2/XC
Resistance R XL = L XC = 1/C
Reactance
Apparent Power
 For a load with voltage V and current I, the
power that “appears to flow” to the load is VI
where V and I are rms values.
S = VI (VA)
 S is called the apparent power and has units of
volt-amperes (VA).
Apparent Power
 In terms of load impedance Z, apparent power
can be expressed
S = I2Z = V2/Z (VA)
 It is common to see apparent power give in kVA.
Example Problem 1
Determine the real, reactive, and apparent power.
Power Triangle
 The power triangle graphically shows the
relationship between real (P), reactive (Q) and
apparent power (S).

P

S
QL QC
 S

P
Power Triangle
 From the power triangle we can see that

S  P2  Q2
S  P  jQL or S  P  jQC
S  S 
P

S
QL QC
 S

P
Power Triangle
 We can generalize the equations:

P  P0
Q L  jQL
QC   jQC
I*is complex conjugate of I P
S  PQ 
 QC
S  VI S
Real and Reactive Power
 The power triangle also shows that we can find
real (P) and reactive (Q) power.
P  VI cos  S cos (W)
Q  VI sin   S sin  (VAR)
P

S
QL QC
 S

P
Example Problem 2
Draw the power triangle for this circuit. Determine
if this is an inductive, capacitive, or resistive
circuit.
Example Problem 3
Determine the value of R and PT & QT. Draw the
power triangle and determine S.