WHITE PAPER:

UNDERSTANDING REAL, REACTIVE, AND APPARENT POWER

Power Calculation–Watts (In-Phase)
Contributed by Cowles Andrus January 2014
V
ABSTRACT

Current or Voltage
This white paper defines the differences between +
Real Power, Reactive Power, and Apparent Power in 0
terms used by the power distribution industry. Here the
relationships between these different types of power - I
are defined and the basic equations for each are given.
The power discussed in this paper is for alternating
current (AC) not for direct current (DC), however, the
basic definitions are the same. In an AC system, the
units of voltage and current used are in RMS.
Time
In physics, power is defined as the amount of energy
consumed or produced per unit of time. The unit of positive x positive = + Watts (Instantaneous)
power in the MKS system is the watt. One watt is equal negative x negative = + Watts
to one joule per second. A joule can be defined as the
amount work required to move an electric charge of this is the power delivered into an ideal resistive load Figure 1. Power in-phase
one coulomb through an electrical potential difference and it is completely absorbed, indicating that the
of one volt, or one-coulomb volt. Another way of current and voltage are in phase (refer to Figure 1).
thinking about a joule is that it is the work required Real power only occurs with a resistive load, and this
to pass an electric current of one ampere through a power delivery and consumption is what the customer
resistance of one ohm for one second. is paying for. Attention is given to system design to
reduce the reactive component of a power distribution
REAL POWER system to a minimum, usually by adding capacitors to
offset system inductance, and to keep the voltage and
Real Power (P) is the power that performs work current in phase (Figure 2).
measured in Watts (W). This is the power that is
actually absorbed by a totally resistive load and that If the load is not purely resistive then the Real Power
performs the intended function such as heat, light, or portion will equal the Voltage RMS times Current
mechanical power (e.g. an electric motor or another RMS multiplied by power factor. Power factor is
type of electromagnetic radiation, both of which are cosine Θ equals V1 (the adjacent), divided by V (the Figure 2. Resulting power
absorbed by the surrounding environment). Again, hypotenuse). If the load is purely resistive, V1 and V waveform in-phase

Power Waveform Vector Diagram

(V and I In-Phase)

x I
Watts Watts Watts
+ V
Power

Time

P = V • I • cosØ where cos Ø = 1

Tools you need. People you trust. WP148 © 2014 Power Monitors, Inc. • Call Us: 800.296.4120 • www.powermonitors.com
WHITE PAPER:
UNDERSTANDING REAL, REACTIVE, AND APPARENT POWER

will be the same, and the power factor will equal 1. AC Real Power: Voltage and Current can be represented by vectors rotating
Please refer to Figure 3, resolving the voltage vector. counterclockwise; for power, the product of in-phase components is needed. There
is a separate power triangle for each harmonic, not just 60Hz.
REACTIVE POWER
V
Reactive Power (Q) is defined as power flow that Resolving Voltage Vector
does not perform work (sometimes called “wattless V2
cos Θ = power factor
power”) measured in Volt Ampere Reactive (VAR).
Reactive power is created by a non-resistive load, x ϴ cos Θ = V1/V
either inductive or capacitive. Usually the typical load I V1 V1 = V(cos Θ)
in an electrical distribution system is inductive, due sin Θ = reactive factor
to motor windings and transformers. When reactive
power is created by an inductive load, the current sin Θ = V2 /V
lags the voltage by 90 degrees. Thus when reactive y V2 = V(sin Θ)
power is caused by a capacitive load, the current
leads the voltage by 90 degrees. In an inductive load,
P = AC Real (active) Power watts) = Volts x Amps x Power Factor = VRMS x IRMS x cos Θ
this power transferred down the distribution system to
the inductor, is briefly stored in a magnetic field and
then returned back to the utility a short time later. This
back-and-forth transfer causes more current flow in the the system every 60Hz cycle. Although a considerable Figure 3. AC real power
system. In a load that is capacitive, the power is briefly amount of power can move back and forth, the net real resolving the voltage
stored in an electrostatic field before being returned power from this is zero – no useful work is done with vector
back into the system. Either way, whether the load is reactive power. The current flowing to move reactive
inductive or capacitive, the current and voltage are power back and forth is real and causes real resistive
thrown out of phase, making reactive power useless. losses in the wire, increased transformer heating,
Due to either excessive inductance or capacitance, etc. In effect, it causes higher losses in a power
reactive power is not desired in a distribution system. transmission system.

In either case (inductive or capacitive system), reactive Capacitive and inductive loads can cancel out, leaving
power is sent through the entire distribution system a net resistive load, and reducing reactive power Figure 4. Power
down to the inductance or capacitance, briefly held in flow. This is the purpose of power factor correction calculation for out of
magnetic or electric fields, and then returned back to capacitors. The waveforms in Figures 4 and 5 show phase voltage and current

Power Calculation–Watts (Out-of-Phase) Vector Diagram

Current or Voltage

+ I Vx I V
0 x
VARS VARS V
0
-
I

Time
positive x positive = + Watts (Instantaneous)
negative x negative = + Watts
negative x positive = - VARs

Tools you need. People you trust. WP148 © 2014 Power Monitors, Inc. • Call Us: 800.296.4120 • www.powermonitors.com
WHITE PAPER:
UNDERSTANDING REAL, REACTIVE, AND APPARENT POWER

Resulting Power Waveform Vector Diagram

(V and I Out-of-Phase)

Watts Watts Watts

+
VARs VARs VARs
0 x
V• I

V
VARs VARs VARs 0
-
I

Time

the reason for the losses, a higher current component angle used to describe the phase shift between the Figure 5. Resulting power
because reactance has caused the voltage and current voltage and current. The larger the phase angle, the waveform when voltage
to be out of phase. greater the reactive power that is generated by the and current are out of
system. phase
When a reactive load condition exists, the transmission
system has to not only support the current required for CONCLUSION
the resistive load in watts (Volts x Amperes), but also
the current required for the reactive load in VARs. Apparent power is a combination of both reactive
power and real power. Real power is a result of the
APPARENT POWER resistive component, and the reactive power is a
result of capacitive and inductive components. Since
Apparent Power (|S|) is the magnitude of the complex reactive power takes away from a system’s total real
power measured in volt amps (VA). Apparent Power power handling capability, it must be considered in the
is the vector sum of the real power and the reactive design of the power distribution system to ensure that
power combined. In a power distribution system, the apparent power output from a system is sufficient
apparent power is what the system needs to be to supply the load. It is important to understand these
designed to handle. In the real world, loads are usually basic AC power concepts in order for the sources
not purely linear and resistive; most are a combination and distribution system to meet the requirements to
of resistive and reactive and are either inductive or be able to supply the necessary volt-amp power for a
capacitive in nature. given application. As with any system, understanding Figure 6. The Power
these specifications and being able to make the proper Triangle, the relationship
Volt-Amps = S = Volts x Amps = VRMS x IRMS measurements validate system requirements will between Apparent Power
ensure success. (S), Real Power (P) and
As new loads are added, it is necessary to have test Reactive Power (Q) and
equipment available to be able to quantify exactly what Power Monitors Inc. designs and builds different how it relates to the
the apparent power is, so the electrical infrastructure types of test equipment for many power monitoring phase angle
can be upgraded to handle the extra load. Sometimes
this may be as simple as adding more capacitance
in places to allow the voltage and current to be more W (Real Power)
0
in phase, by reducing the reactive power caused by PF = COS S= √P2 + Q2
higher inductance from typical motor loads. VAR
VA (
Appar (Reactive Power) P= V x I cos O
Figure 6 shows the power triangle, the relationship ent P
ower
)
between the Apparent Power (S), Real Power (P) and Q = V x I sin O
Reactive Power (Q) and how it relates to the phase
0 = Phase angle between voltage current
angle. Cos Θ is equal to the power factor. This is the

Tools you need. People you trust. WP148 © 2014 Power Monitors, Inc. • Call Us: 800.296.4120 • www.powermonitors.com
WHITE PAPER:
UNDERSTANDING REAL, REACTIVE, AND APPARENT POWER

applications, including real power, apparent power,

reactive power and power factor and many others.
With these monitors installed in the proper locations,
a customer can determine exactly what type of power
load the system has. With this information, an operator
can make adjustments as needed to optimize power
factor by reducing the reactive power, thereby reducing
the extra stress and facilitating a longer functional life
of the system.

Cowles Andrus, III

Communications Specialist
candrus@powermonitors.com
http://www.powermonitors.com
800.296.4120

Tools you need. People you trust. WP148 © 2014 Power Monitors, Inc. • Call Us: 800.296.4120 • www.powermonitors.com