Active, Reactive, Apparent and Complex Power. Simple explanation with formulas.

(1) Real Power: (P)

Alternative words used for Real Power (Actual Power, True Power, Watt-full Power,
Useful Power, Real Power, and Active Power)
In a DC Circuit, power supply to the DC load is simply the product of Voltage across
the load and Current flowing through it i.e., P = V I. because in DC Circuits, there is
no concept of phase angle between current and voltage. In other words, there is
no Power factor in DC Circuits.
But the situation is Sinusoidal or AC Circuits is more complex because of phase
difference between Current and Voltage. Therefore average value of power (Real
Power) is P = VI Cos is in fact supplied to the load.
In AC circuits, When circuit is pure resistive, then the same formula used for power
as used in DC as P = V I.
You may also read about Power Formulas in DC, AC Single Phase and and AC
Three Phase Circuits.
Real Power formulas:
P=VI
(In DC circuits)
P = VI Cos
(in Single phase AC Circuits)
P = 3 VL IL Cos
or (in Three Phase AC Circuits)
P = 3 VPh IPh Cos
P = (S2 Q2)or
P = (VA2 VAR2) or
Real or True power = (Apparent Power2 Reactive Power2) or
kW = (kVA2 kVAR2)
(2) Reactive Power: (Q)
Also known as (Use-less Power, Watt less Power)
The powers that continuously bounce back and forth between source and load is
known as reactive Power (Q)
Power merely absorbed and returned in load due to its reactive properties is referred
to as reactive power
The unit of Active or Real power is Watt where 1W = 1V x 1 A.
Reactive power represent that the energy is first stored and then released in the form
of magnetic field or electrostatic field in case of inductor and capacitor respectively.
Reactive power is given by Q = V I Sin which can be positive (+ve) for inductive,
negative (-Ve) for capacitive load.
The unit of reactive power is Volt-Ampere reactive. I.e. VAR where 1 VAR = 1V x 1A.
In more simple words, in Inductor or Capacitor, how much magnetic or electric field
made by 1A x 1V is called the unit of reactive power.
Reactive power formulas:
Q = V I Sin
Reactive Power= (Apparent Power2 True power2)

VAR = (VA2 P2)

kVAR = (kVA2 kW2)
(3) Apparent Power: (S)
The product of voltage and current if and only if the phase angle differences between
current and voltage are ignored.
Total power in an AC circuit, both dissipated and absorbed/returned is referred to
asapparent power
The combination of reactive power and true power is called apparent power
In an AC circuit, the product of the r.m.s voltage and the r.m.s current is
called apparent power.
It is the product of Voltage and Current without phase angle
The unit of Apparent power (S) VA i.e. 1VA = 1V x 1A.
When the circuit is pure resistive, then apparent power is equal to real or true power,
but in inductive or capacitive circuit, (when Reactances exist) then apparent power is
greater than real or true power.
Apparent power formulas:
S=VI
Apparent Power = (True power2 + Reactive Power2)
kVA = kW2 + kVAR2
AlsoNote that;
Resistor absorbs the real power and dissipates in the form of heat and light.
Inductor absorbs the reactive power and dissipates in the form of magnetic field
Capacitor absorbs the reactive power and dissipates in the form of electric or electrostatic
filed

These all quantities trigonometrically related to each other as shown in below

figure.
Click image to enlarge

For more Clearance and explanation., i used Lays Chips and Beer Analogy for Real
or True Power, Reactive Power , Apparent power and power factor
Lays Chips Analogy of Real or True Power, Reactive Power, Apparent power
& power factor
Advantages of Power factor improvement and Correction:
Following are the merits and benefits of improvedPower factor;
1.
Increase in efficiency of system and devices
2.
Low Voltage Drop
3.
Reduction in size of a conductor and cable which reduces cost of the Cooper
4.
An Increase in available power
5.
Line Losses (Copper Losses) I2R is reduced
6.
Appropriate Size of Electrical Machines (Transformer, Generators etc)
7.
Eliminate the penalty of low power factor from the Electric Supply Company
8.
Low kWh (Kilo Watt per hour)
9.
Saving in the power bill
10.
Better usage of power system, lines and generators etc
11.
Saving in energy as well as rating and the cost of the electrical devices and equipment
is reduced
Methods for Power Factor Improvement
The following devices and equipments are used for Power Factor Improvement.
1.
Static Capacitor
2.
Synchronous Condenser

3.
Phase Advancer
1. Static Capacitor
We know that most of the industries and power system loads are inductive that take lagging
current which decrease the system power factor (See Disadvantages of Low Power factor) .
For Power factor improvement purpose, Static capacitors are connected in parallel with those
devices which work on low power factor. These static capacitors provides leading current
which neutralize (totally or approximately) the lagging inductive component of load current
(i.e. leading component neutralize or eliminate the lagging component of load current) thus
power factor of the load circuit is improved. These capacitors are installed in Vicinity of large
inductive load e.g Induction motors and transformers etc, and improve the load circuit power
factor to improve the system or devises efficiency.

Suppose,here is a single phase inductive load which is taking lagging current (I) and the load
power factor is Cos as shown in fig-1.
In fig-2, a Capacitor (C) has been connected in parallel with load. Now a current (Ic) is
flowing through Capacitor which lead 90 from the supply voltage ( Note that Capacitor
provides leading Current i.e., In a pure capacitive circuit, Current leading 90 from the
supply Voltage, in other words, Voltage are 90 lagging from Current). The load current is
(I). The Vectors combination of (I) and (Ic) is (I) which is lagging from voltage at 2 as
shown in fig 3.
It can be seen from fig 3 that angle of 2 < 1 i.e. angle of 2 is less than from angle of 2.
Therefore Cos2 is less than from Cos1 (Cos2> Cos1). Hence the load power factor is
improved by capacitor.
Also note that after the power factor improvement, the circuit current would be less than from
the low power factor circuit current. Also, before and after the power factor improvement, the
active component of current would be same in that circuit because capacitor eliminates only
there-active component of current. Also, the Active power (in Watts) would be same after and
before power factor improvement.
Advantages:

Capacitor bank offers several advantages over other methods of power factor
improvement.

Losses are low in static capacitors

There is no moving part, therefore need low maintenance

Itcan work innormalairconditions (i.e. ordinary atmospheric conditions)

Do not require a foundation for installation

They are lightweight so it is can be easy to installed

Disadvantages:

The age of static capacitor bank is less (8 10 years)

With changing load, we have to ON or OFF the capacitorbank, which causes

switching surges on the system

If the rated voltage increases, then it causes damage it

Once the capacitors spoiled, then repairing is costly

2. Synchronous Condenser
When a Synchronous motor operates at No-Load and over-exited then its called a
synchronous Condenser. Whenever a Synchronous motor is over-exited then it provides
leading current and works like a capacitor. When a synchronous condenser is connected
across supply voltage (in parallel) then it draws leading current and partially eliminates the
re-active component and this way, power factor is improved. Generally, synchronous
condenser is used to improve the power factor in large industries.
Advantages:

Long life (almost 25 years)

High Reliability

Step-less adjustment of power factor.

No generation of harmonics of maintenance

The faults can be removed easily

Its not affected by harmonics.

Require Low maintenance (only periodic bearing greasing is necessary)
Disadvantages:

It is expensive (maintenance cost is also high) and therefore mostly used by large
power users.

An auxiliary device has to be used for this operation because synchronous motor has
no self starting torque

It produces noise
3. Phase Advancer
Phase advancer is a simple AC exciter which is connected on the main shaft of the motor and
operates with the motors rotor circuit for power factor improvement. Phase advancer is used
to improve the power factor of induction motor in industries. As the stator windings of
induction motor takes lagging current 90 out of phase with Voltage, therefore the power
factor of induction motor is low. If the exciting ampere-turns are excited by external AC
source, then there would be no effect of exciting current on stator windings. Therefore the
power factor of induction motor will be improved. This process is done by Phase advancer.
Advantages:

Lagging kVAR (Reactive component of Power or reactive power) drawn by the motor
is sufficiently reduced because the exciting ampere turns are supplied at slip frequency (fs).

The phase advancer can be easily used where the use of synchronous motors
is Unacceptable
Disadvantage:

Using Phase advancer is not economical for motors below 200 H.P. (about 150kW)
POWER FACTOR BASIC

1). The Cosine of angle between Current and Voltage is called Power Factor.
P = VI Cos OR
Cos = P / V I OR
Cos = kW / kVA
Cos = True Power/ Apparent Power
2). The ratio between resistance and Impedance is Called Power Factor.
Cos = R/Z
3). The ratio between Actual Power and Apparent Power is called power factor.
Cos = kW / Kva

This is going to be a long post, be ready (I'll try my best to explain it in less technical
terms as possible) First, let us consider what reactive power is mathematically and then we'll see what it
means practically.

Active power = Voltage * component of current in phase with the

voltage i.e. V*I cos(theta)
Reactive power = Voltage * component of current 90 degrees out
of phase with voltage i.e. V*I sin(theta)
Where theta = angle between Voltage and Current.
This was mathematical explanation which we find in most textbooks but
that doesn't tell a thing about what actually reactive power is.
So, let us now jump into practical considerations and i'll try to explain what
reactive power is and why it is said that it does not do any useful work with
practical examples.
Let us consider a Transformer.
As you might be knowing, both the windings of a transformer are not connected

electrically (they have insulation between them) but still electric power flows from one
winding to another.
Electric power cannot flow through air or any insulation under normal conditions, then
how the hell this happens ?
This is the point where reactive power comes into play.
Before explaining the role of reactive power, let me explain about transformer working in
short.
In transformer, current flows in primary winding and sets up magnetic flux. This
magnetic flux links with secondary winding and then current is induced in secondary
winding and this is how we get current on secondary side.
Now let us comeback to the role of reactive power.
So, from where do you think this magnetic flux responsible for transformer operation
came from ? and the answer is REACTIVE COMPONENT of current.
Reactive power acts as a BRIDGE between primary and secondary
windings.
It creates a constant bridge over which active power travels and move on to do some
useful work.
I think you still might not have got what actually reactive power.
So let me explain it one more time in layman's terms using simple analogy Consider there is a small river dividing two cities and you need to build bridge over it to
connect both the cities. After building bridge, you also need to construct a house on the
other side of the river.
For the whole work including bridge and house, you've got only 100 wooden planks of
which 10 are used to create bridge over the river. The workers will use this bridge to
cross the river and transport items and construct a house on the other side. Here the
main work is to build the house on the other side for which we've created a bridge to
move from one point to another. In this case, are the wooden planks used in
constructing the bridge directly contributing to the building of house ? NO. We've used
10 wooden planks for bridge and that cannot be used for building the house.
And this - THE BRIDGE is what reactive power does.
100 wooden planks is the total complex power of which some amount is used to create
bridge (10 planks) and remaining active power (90 planks) does the useful work. This is
why we say reactive power does not do useful work.
Now you might be thinking OK, THIS WAS THE CASE WITH A TRANSFORMER
BUT WHAT ABOUT OTHER THINGS ? EVERYTHING DOES NOT HAVE
ELECTRICAL ISOLATION LIKE A TRANSFORMER BUT STILL REACTIVE
POWER FLOWS ?
Yes, you are 100% correct.
Reactive power assists the flow of electromagnetic energy.

To explain it further it will require some technical details and will take another long post.
I think you've got a basic idea of what a reactive power does.
In AC system power is a complex quantity. It consist of real part(active power) and the
imaginary part(reactive part).

active power=V*IcosA

reactive power=V*IsinA
where,A=angle between the voltage and the current.(In case of DC we have
sinA=O,hence no reactive power).
REACTIVE POWER.
It is that power that cannot be converted to another form for example light,heat or to run
a motor. but it is very much essential for the transfer of real power through transmission
lines. It is that power which oscillates between the source and the load.

We always in practice, used to reduce reactive power to improve system efficiency

.This are acceptable at some level. If system is purely resistively or capacitance it
make cause some problem in Electrical system. Alternating systems supply or
consume two kind of power: real power and reactive power.

Real power accomplishes useful work while reactive power supports the voltage
that must be controlled for system reliability. so the reactive power affects voltages
throughout the system.
IMPORTANCE OF REACTIVE POWER:

Voltage control in an electrical power system is important for proper operation

for electrical power equipment to prevent damage such as overheating of generators
and motors, to reduce transmission losses and to maintain the ability of the system
to withstand and prevent voltage collapse.

Active power is the energy supplied to run a motor, heat a home, or illuminate an
electric light bulb. Reactive power provides the important function of regulating
voltage.

If voltage on the system is not high enough, active power cannot be supplied.

Reactive power is used to provide the voltage levels necessary for active power to
do useful work.

Reactive power is essential to move active power through the

transmission and distribution system to the customer .Reactive power is
required to maintain the voltage to deliver active power (watts) through
transmission lines.

Motor loads and other loads require reactive power to convert the flow of
electrons into useful work.

When there is not enough reactive power, the voltage sags down and it is not
possible to push the power demanded by loads through the lines.

Electric power is the rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit.
It is transformed to other forms of power when electric charges move through an electric
potential difference, which occurs in electrical components in electric circuits.
In AC circuits, the electrical components which are inductors and capacitors might go
under a periodic change in the direction of energy flow. This in turn gives rise to Active &
Reactive power.
The portion of power that, averaged over a complete cycle of the AC waveform, results in
net transfer of energy in one direction is known as active power(real power). The
portion of power due to stored energy, which returns to the source in each cycle, is
known as reactive power.

When we pass an electric current through a wire, it obviously produces magnetic field
around it. When this field alternates between opposite peak values both in time and
space, an induced voltage is produced in any of the conductors lying in the path of this
field. This particular field can also react with any other magnetic field established by any
other conductor and a mechanical force is created between the two conductors. This
alternating field produced by an alternating current is the basis for enabling us to use
electric power extensively. A DC current with a steady, non alternating field, does not

offer this advantage.

The alternating flux posed a lot of problems and one of them being thereactive power.
It is the power required to establish & maintain an AC fluctuating magnetic flux, without
which no energy transfer can take place. Against this we have active power which
delivers power in an electrical, mechanical, thermal or any form we want.
Reactive power is a necessity. Without which the system won't function properly yet it is
the one posing a major problem. The problem area linked with the AC fields are
reactances, arcs, surges, resonances, skin effect, hunting torque. To overcome the above
problems, CAPACITOR is an effective tool.
When a voltage is initially placed across the coil, a magnetic field builds up, and it takes a
period of time for the current to reach full value. This causes the current to lag behind
the voltage in phase; hence, these devices are said to be sources of lagging reactive
power.
A capacitor is an AC device that stores energy in the form of an electric field. When
current is driven through the capacitor, it takes a period of time for a charge to build up
to produce the full voltage difference. On an AC network, the voltage across a capacitor is
constantly changing the capacitor will oppose this change, causing the voltage to lag
behind the current. In other words, the current leads the voltage in phase; hence, these
devices are said to be sources of leading reactive power.
Electric generators supply reactive power (in addition to active power) that is consumed
by customer load.
Purpose of Reactive Power

Synchronous generators, SVC and various types of other Distributed energy

resource (DER) equipment are used to maintain voltages throughout the
transmission system. Injecting reactive power into the system raises voltages, and
absorbing reactive power lowers voltages.

Voltage-support requirements are a function of the locations and magnitudes of

generator outputs and customer loads and of the configuration of the DER
transmission system.

These requirements can differ substantially from location to location and can
change rapidly as the location and magnitude of generation and load change. At very
low levels of system load, transmission lines act as capacitors and increase voltages.
At high levels of load, however, transmission lines absorb reactive power and
thereby lower voltages. Most transmission-system equipment (e.g., capacitors,
inductors, and tap-changing transformers) is static but can be switched to respond
to changes in voltage-support requirements
System operation has three objectives when managing reactive power and voltages

1.

First, it must maintain adequate voltages throughout the transmission and

distribution system for both current and contingency conditions.

2.

Second, it seeks to minimize congestion of real-power flows.

3.

Third, it seeks to minimize real-power losses.

Written 25 Mar. 203 views.

Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

Suvra Pattanayak, a M.tech student

6 upvotes by Annadana Dhanunjaya, Febin Sunny, Birend Pratap Singh, Vishnu Kumar Das, (more)

Reactive power is the electrical power that oscillate between the magnetic field of an
inductor and the electric filed of the capacitor. Reactive Power Cannot Converts to nonelectrical power e.g. heat, light & torque. Instantaneous reactive power equal to the
multiplication instantaneous current, instantaneous voltage and the sinusoidal of phase
difference of current & voltage. It only present in ac power if there is any phase
difference between instantaneous current and instantaneous voltage.
During complete cycle average reactive power is zero.
Active power is the energy supplied to run a motor, heat a home, or illuminate an electric
light bulb.Reactive power provides the important function of regulating voltage. If
voltage on the system is not
high enough, active power cannot be supplied. Reactive power is used to provide the
voltage levels necessary for active power to do useful work. Reactive power is essential to
move active power through the transmission and distribution system to the customer
.Reactive power is required to maintain the voltage to deliver active power (watts)
through transmision lines. When there is not enough reactive power, the voltage sags
down and it is not possible to push the power demanded by loads through the lines.
Written 18 Nov, 2014. 378 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment1
Share

Anonymous
2 upvotes by Anshuman Upadhyay and Gautham Ashok

Before explaining the details of Reactive power in a Transmission Line , We need to

understand the Transmission Line .
I will try to explain the bit about why there is a need of reactive power in Power
Transmission Line. With Consecutive inputs and Edits I will try to Provide as much

Information as Possible.
Power Transmission Line can be Modeled as Distributed series Line Inductance(s) and
Distributed Shunt Capacitance.
If there is DC Supply Then After the transient period the series reactor gets shortcircuited by getting the required energy for creating the magnetic field inside it. But In
the case of AC System the amount of energy required to do so is fulfilled by reactive
power.
Some of the Questions need to be answered before getting into the details of Reactive
Power.
1. What will happen when the current flows through Inductance ?
2. How and Why the energy stored in Reactor and Capacitor in known as Reactive Power
?
The reason this power is known as reactive power cause This power only amounts to
create the Field Inside a Capacitor or in a Reactor. This Reactive power does not get
wasted Like the Real Power Loss in a resistor.
Power in a resistor :

So The Power Becomes Positive always and The average power amounts to the power
loss.

ImgSRC: Electronic Components

While In case of L or C :

The current Lags or Leads which create

for ideal Inductor the power is shown. This power when averaged for a full cycle of
Voltage Its value becomes zero.
In this case Taking positive cycle of power you can say this was during the creation of the
field or while the reactor is charging . For different Instant you can analyse the circuit
and find your conclusion.
In this curve the steady state operation is shown.
Observations : ( When mentioned increase or decrease I meant magnitude )
V = + ve & I= + ve then P = + ve
( Reactor Field Charging | Current Increasing )
V = - ve & I= + ve then P = - ve
( Reactor Field Discharging | Current Decreasing )
V = - ve & I= - ve then P = + ve
( Reactor Field Charging | Current Increasing | similar to first case only in -ve
Direction )
V = + ve & I= - ve then P = - ve
( Reactor Field Discharging | Current Decreasing | similar to first case only in -ve
Direction )
Same case be Done for Capacitor

ImgSRC: John and Marion Hearfield

The inductor and capacitor does not dissipate energy instead they store is temporarily
and return the same back to the source.
So When the current and voltage are in phase Then the amount of power average is
equals to active power as averaged power multiplied with period is the amount of energy
dissipated or utilized to do useful work.
While the quadrature phase component does not contribute for work done instead it
helps to store the energy.
I hope the whole explanation will make you understand a little bit about the reactive
power.
Will Edit if further explanation needed.
Written 17 Jan. 169 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comments1+
Share

Anand Prasad Gupta

Reactive power is present in a system containing reactive (inductive or capacitive)
components and can be either produced or consumed by different load/generation
elements. Though "imaginary", the reactive power has great physical significance and is
essential to the operation of the electrical system as a whole. While the real power P is
used to supply the energy required to perform actual work (such as running a motor), the
reactive power regulates the voltage in the system. If the reactive power is too low,
inductive loads such as transformers will be unable to maintain voltages necessary for
the generation of electromagnetic fields, leading to a "voltage collapse" that create

blackouts . Transmission line impedances also make it necessary to provide reactive

power to maintain voltage levels necessary for active power to flow through. Therefore
reactive power is essential to move active power through transmission and distribution
systems to the customer. However if reactive power in a system is too high, there is
increased heat loss in transmission lines and loads as the current flowing through the
system is much higher, creating a potentially hazardous breakdown situation. The power
factor of a load tells us what fraction of the apparent power is in the form of real power
and performs actual work. A high power factor is desirable since it minimizes the
amount of reactive power needed by the load, reducing heat losses and maximizing
efficiency.
Written 8 Apr. 121 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

Harsh Dhiman, Intense Gamer, Electrical Engneer, Fo... (more)

2 upvotes by Arul Raj and Hardeep Singh

Also known as pseudo power this power is greatly affected by the voltage profile of the
system. It is desired that reactive power of any system remains as low as possible. As this
affects the power factor of the system and also the tariffs of generating company. For a
better voltage regulation and high system security reactive power compensation is done.
FACT devices are most commonly used to cater this purpose.
Written 10 Apr. 136 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

Ron Leavitt
Here is a good article about VAR.

Can reactive power be utilized?

What do you mean ? None of your AC loads will work if you dont supply reactive power !.
Reactive power is required to establish the magnetic and/or electric fields so that energy
conversion can take place. All the AC motors require reactive power and the
transformers and most of the static loads also require reactive power.
Written 21 Jul, 2014. 253 views.

Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

Swapnil Shah, Studying has become my favorite timepass

1 upvote by Sandeep Kumar

Obviously. Reactive power is like a built up. Just as if you want a water to flow from pipe
You need to fill the pipe first. The filled water is not actively used, But without it there
will be no flow.

How is reactive power produced? What are the effects of

reactive power in grid?
Reactive power is chiefly produced from the windings of the electrical generators in the
power grid. External events, such as solar winds and X-ray bursts from the sun can
induce electrical currents on the grid which manifest themselves as reactive power.

the different units are used to differentiate between the power types, even if they
represent the same physical unit.
in other words:
kW: what you can use
kVAr: loss
kVA: the total capacity available
Reactive power is also be produced as a side effect of unbalanced loads. Large buildings
often employ 3 phase power to counteract this to some extent and thus minimise the
induced currents on the 'return' line. Big drives: electrified railways (including trams)
induce losses due to the fact that the wire above is mechanically tensioned and further

worsened by the uneven distance of the locomotives.

instead of having a nice 3-corner star (a), the vectorial sum of which is 0, you get this
mess (b), where there is going to be a deficit somewhere:
Animated
kVAr, or kiloVoltAmpere reactive, on power lines are pure losses. This manifests itself by
increasing the apparent power of the line, while you are still transmitting the same inphase 'real' power. All this loss means that the line transformers, which are often weak
links in terms of power limitations, can deliver much less compared to their rated
maximum. If the total current passes the maximum current safe for the winding, the
insulation will melt and it will short the transformer. In case of a power grid where MVA
are involved, this will make for a very spectacular, loud explosion. Very expensive to
replace and could leave whole areas without power for months.
This is what happens in general terms: The V-I get out of phase whenever there is a load
that's not purely resistive (almost no loads are purely resistive)

The other problem is due to grid frequency control (either 50 or 60Hz). Getting a
generator to output its power within >99.5% of this level is tricky. Here is an example of
both reactive power (vehicles that pull from the sides do not use their full force, and only
wear down their tyres more) and frequency control: the wheel itself wobbles as the cars
struggle to stay in sync to avoid the bumps(uneven electricity usage) in the road

It is thus crucial to monitor both reactive and active power and limit the current on the
systems where this happens.
Update 1 (March 2014):
New electrical machines are very well balanced, with a generational power quality factor
of >99% in regular conditions. If the grid operator dispatch does not manage the
consumer load imbalance, the power out of phase does go back to the generator, further
limiting maximum generation capabilities.
Update 2:
suboptimal power transfer due to impedance mismatch is what causes reactive power in
general today. This is a difficult problem, because load is always variable, and the
constant modulation of today's electronics impose a very high demand on the grid
regarding fed -back harmonics (as a result of switching). To someone measuring at the
transformer neutral point, this will look as a noisy, (DC) offset spectra.
Updated 19 Aug, 2014. 1,404 views. Asked to answer by Saswata Sarkar.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

Robert Wagner, Uses electricity daily

4 upvotes by Razvan Baba, Saswata Sarkar, Soumendra Kumar Sahoo, andAnthony Chuah

Reactive power is current flowing out of synch with voltage (on the AC waveform). It is
produced by capacitive and inductive elements in the network, both end-user devices
and network components. Effect on the network is reduced power delivery. Reactive
power must be compensated for to prevent degradation of power delivery and, in worse
cases, current flowing backwards to the plant.
Written 25 Sep, 2013. 682 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

What is reactive power? What is the use of reactive

power?
Reactive power occurs in an AC circuits when the voltage and current are not in phase.
Its unit is VAR(Volt Ampere Reactive).
It is the part of Apparent power(S) which is the combination of the Real (P)and reactive
power(Q).

While active power is the energy supplied to run a motor, heat a home, or
illuminate an electric light bulb, reactive power provides the important function of
regulating voltage.

If voltage on the system is not high enough, active power cannot be supplied.

Reactive power is used to provide the voltage levels necessary for active power to
do useful work.

Reactive power is essential to move active power through the transmission and
distribution system to the customer.

Uses - It is mainly used to regulate the system voltage.

It helps in increasing the efficiency of the system.
More reference : Page on electrical-engineering-portal.com
Written 24 Feb. 104 views.
Upvote
Downvote

Comment
Share

Prasad Kulkarni
Reactive Power is that power which is constantly oscillating between load and source.
You can think it as a carrier.
Load needs some power. That power is given to the load in bursts, if it is non-resistive.
You have a resistor. Whatever change in voltage is immediately reflected in current.
Hence, the entire power transfer takes place throughout the cycle.
Suppose you have a non-resistive load - like inductive or capacitive. Changes in
voltage/current are not instantaneous. There will be some gap between source voltage
change and load current/voltage.
Load needs power and this power is sent in bursts. What happens is, source sends some
power to load. Load utilizes some part of it and sends the remaining back to the source.
If it does not do so, source does not have a 'carrier' for power that load needs to
consume. So, a part of the power keeps shuttling between load and source, while another
part keeps getting consumed in the load.
The part that keeps getting consumed is 'real power' or 'active power', as we see its
manifestation as torque of a motor or heating of a coil. The part that keeps shuttling is
the 'reactive power'.
The more non-resistive the load, the more is the shuttling power requirement, as greater
is the lag for load.
Hope this clears up.
The other things like units, etc are cleared up by Angia Rajarajeswari
Written 9 Mar. 849 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

What is reactive power? What is its physical significance

and how is reactive power compensation performed?

For making you understand i"ll take an example :

consider if you are having 1000 $ and one of your friends comes to you and borrows 500
$.
After 1/2 hour he returns your money. But after another 1/2 hour he again comes and
asks for 500 $ and you give him.
Suppose he comes to you again within another 1/2 to return that money. But after
another 1/2 hour he comes again to borrow and you give him. (suppose if you have to
give, whenever he asks).
Suppose this cycle repeats forever.
what will be the result? - you won't be able to use those 500 $ anywhere else because
your friend can come any time to ask money and you have to facilitate him.
means your 500 $ are totally wasted.
If you compare this to power system scenario .
1000$ = total available capacity of a power plant
500$( that you are giving to your friend) = total reactive power supplied by power
system,
only remaining 500 $ is useful & that is.. = active power.
Actually this reactive power is never used but it travels forward and backward between
the generation side and load side (like your 500$ are travelling b/w you and your friend
but no one is actually using those 500$ ) .This is a big headache for the power plants to
supply this reactive power ( like this is headache for you to give/take 500 $ thousands
times in a day from/to your friend) because power plant capacity is wasted (like here
you wasted 500 $).
You can't neglect demand of the reactive power from the consumer end otherwise it will
cause to change the voltage of the power system on large scale. This can cause under
voltage (in case when supplied reactive power is less than the demanded) or Over
voltage (when supplied reactive power is more than demanded).
Actually we can't expect AC power systems without reactive power demand/supply.
Reactive power demand occurs because of the presence of inductive/capacitive
loads( however mostly are inductive ; 99%).
However, we can compensate the demand using compensation (FACTS devices). It helps
us to avoid wasting power plant capacity.
PS: I have answered the same for a question before. What is real, reactive and apparent
power?
Written 26 Nov, 2014. 194 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

Ankush Rajput

2 upvotes by Suhas Hoysal and Sherif Azmy

REACTIVE POWER ASSISTS THE FLOW OF ENERGY IN AC CIRCUITS.

Below is the explanation in layman's terms Consider there is a small river dividing two cities and you need to build bridge over it to
connect both the cities. After building bridge, you also need to construct a house on the
other side of the river.
For the whole work including bridge and house, you've got only 100 wooden planks of
which 10 are used to create bridge over the river. The workers will use this bridge to
cross the river and transport items and construct a house on the other side. Here the
main work is to build the house on the other side for which we've created a bridge to
move from one point to another. In this case, are the wooden planks used in
constructing the bridge directly contributing to the building of house ? NO. We've used
10 wooden planks for bridge and that cannot be used for building the house.
And this - THE BRIDGE is what reactive power does.
100 wooden planks is the total complex power of which some amount is used to create
bridge (10 planks) and remaining active power (90 planks) does the useful work. This is
why we say reactive power does not do useful work.
In transmission lines, reactive power maintains the voltage level of the line so that active
power can flow to do useful work and this is why we compensate reactive power by
external means. It is very much neccessary for the line to operate, for active power to
flow.
And for how it is done, a capacitor (to supply reactive power to increase voltage profile)
or an inductor (to absorb reactive power to decrease voltage profile) is connected in
parallel to transmission line.
Nowadays, power electronic compensators are used for automatic and varying degree of
compensation.

What is the use of the reactive power when it is only real

power that is utilized for useful purposes by the load?
I'll add a little concise answer to the list of better ones already answered here.
One of the best ways that I've come across of explaining power factor while
considering reactive power is the beer mug analogy.

Quoting from this page

The Art of Explaining Power Factor
Youll notice that a portion of the beer in your glass above is froth reactive power.
When you tilt the glass to get the beer flowing into your mouth, the froth jumps in
first creating a delivery delay (or lag) in beer-to-mouth timing. Reactive power
does the same: creating a lag in power-to-equipment timing. The more froth, the
more lag and interference and the lower (worse) the power factor ratio.
If the true power (beer) is 800 watts and the apparent power (glass capacity) is 1000
watts, you will find your power factor by dividing 800 by 1000 equaling 80%.
The less beer and more froth you have in your glass, the lower and worse your
power factor will get as demonstrated below:

Basically, pf = kW/kVA, or kW/(kW + kVAR) [= (real beer)/(real beer + froth)]

To sum it up, reactive power is a practical real-life constraint that we face with
electrical systems. Just like froth in a mug of beer, it is unavoidable. So if we want to
pour a standard volume of beer in a mug, the mug has to be designed so as to
accommodate the froth as well. If we don't, we'll have a mess on our hands.
There is no "use" as such of reactive power just like the beer froth. It's not the real
stuff. Reactive power increases machine ratings and decreases overall efficiency. The
more the reactive power, the more will be the power loss in the system, which would
lead to problems like machine failures, heat-ups, losses in the distribution system,
etc, not to mention the financial penalty that would be thrown at you by the utility for
poor pf. So reactive power will always have to be considered in electrical design and
optimization.
Written 11 Jan, 2013. 858 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comments2
Share

Mounica Arroju, Undergrad in Electrical Engineering

27 upvotes by Prashant Venkatasubban, Sandeep Chillakuri, Rajyalakshmi Kola,Neha

Khawas, (more)

Reactive power and Active power are two components of power generated because of
the time phase lag/lead between the voltage and current. That is, if the voltage and
current go up and down at the same time, only active power is transmitted. But when
there is a time shift between the voltage and the current, both active and reactive
power are transmitted.
The average of the active power is the net energy transmitted. But the average of
reactive power is zero, no net energy is transmitted; the energy due to reactive power
flowing in one direction is equal to the energy flowing in the other direction. We can
say that the reactive power keeps oscillating from the source to load and from load to
the source in the lines.
Also, we can look at it as if the reactive power is carrying the active power from the
source to the load and then goes back to the source to collect more active power to
supply to the load again. The following analogy might help u in understanding this
concept:
Suppose I want to fill a water tank with water, one bucket at a time. Only way is to
climb a ladder, carrying a bucket of water and pouring the water into the tank.
Once I fill up the tank, then I have to go down the ladder to get more water. In this
one cycle of going up the ladder and coming down I have done some work or the
energy required to go up is more than the energy required for coming down.
If I had climbed the ladder with an empty bucket, and I had come down with the
same bucket I am not doing any work. The energy for upward and downward
motion is the same. Though I have not done any work worth paying for- I require

some energy.
That is, the energy that it takes to go up and down a ladder carrying nothing either
way requires reactive power, but no real power. The energy that it takes to go up a
ladder carrying something and come down without carrying anything requires
both real power and reactive power.
The analogy can be extended for explaining 3 phase system if If we put 3 ladders
going up to the tank and 3 people climb up in sequence such that there is always a
steady flow.
Source: Explaining Reactive Power - 4 further analogies (refer to this link for
further analogies)
So, what causes reactive power losses? Strictly speaking, reactive power itself is not a
loss to the system. But, reactive power causes higher current to be drawn for the
same load. This we can measure through the power factor (ratio of active power to
the apparent power) of the load.
Lets say, there is a motor whose rating is 100KVA, 230V. Ideally, if this motor
operates at a power factor of 1, it should take a current of 434.7 Amperes.
But actually it operates at a power factor of 0.8 (say). Then it will take a current of
543.48 Amps. This extra current of 108 Amps is going into magnetizing the motor
because of the presence of reactive power which finally is not useful work to us. The
extra current causes higher copper losses in the wires. These are what we call reactive
power losses.
There is another favourite site of mine which explains all the basic confusions in the
field of Electrical Engineering: Electricity F.A.Q.
Written 21 Dec, 2012. 1,548 views. Asked to answer by Sandeep Chillakuri.
Upvote
Downvote
Comments4+
Share

Mohammad Ibrahim
10 upvotes by Mikael Bengtsson, Rob Ert, Soumendra Kumar Sahoo, Kalyan Reddy, (more)

Well, the current drawn by the motors composed of magnetizing current and actual
working current

The magnetizing current is inevitable to produce the magnetic field to allow the
motor to run.

in the above wheelbarrow, Think of magnetizing current as the lifting force you have
to do in order to push the barrow.
another analogy for reactive power is the horse and the boat analogy .

The fact that the horse is not walking straight in front of the boat, does not influence
the work it has to do to pull the boat. But without compensation by the rudder, the

boat will be pulled towards the bank of the canal.

Consequences:
The turned rudder leads to extra losses
The fact that the rope is pulling at the flank of the
horse and not straight behind it, limits the horses
capacity to deliver work

I hope this helps

the following link is pdf which shows 4 analogies of reactive power

Page on Sari-energy.org
Written 21 Dec, 2012. 2,089 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment1
Share

Ankit Goel, small fish in an ocean.

1 upvote by Saswata Sarkar

the answers given by Mounica and Ibrahim are sufficient enough to know about the
reactive and active component of current. But this totally depends on the type of
components you have in a circuit.. Basically load can be sub categorized as resistive,
capacitive and inductive.and it is very important to know that only the active
component of current is responsible for any work done by the motor or any machine
or any equipment that utilizes electricity. If the circuit is resistive only, then only the
active component would be present in the circuit, similarly if only capacitive and
inductive loads are there then only the reactive current would be flowing. reactive
current is the current that flows into the capacitors and inductors.
since the question asks for the use of reactive part I would say that since the
machines about which the question talks about needs both the electric fields and
active power (to do work) so inductor and capacitors along with resistors are used.
Electric fields are produced by inductors and capacitors (not going to details as in
how both are used together and why magnetization of these machines are required),
hence the reactive component comes into play and is responsible to produce the
electric field in the said load (capacitor and inductor).
so its not a matter of choice whether one wants reactive component of current or not,
rather its the necessity as in whether the machine needs electric field or not. if not
then no reactive component.
Written 27 Dec, 2012. 595 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comment
Share

Divya Malika, Electrical Engineer

4 upvotes by Krishna Kumar, Anil Thapa, Manoj Patil, and Gaurav Kumar

So many gave good answers, I'll add a few points in cut short.
Reactive power provides the important function of regulating voltage. For example
assume two persons traveling on a Bi-cycle. One is cycling and the other just sits
behind him. If the 'second person' suddenly got moved/bends aside while traveling
(same as that of power fluctuations), then the first person will automatically bends in
the opposite direction of second person to balance the bi-cycle. Here 1st person Reactive Power & 2nd person - Active Power.

So, it is not possible to push the power demanded by loads without reactive power.
That is why few people call it as compensating power.
Disclaimer: The above example is to show up the very purpose of reactive power.
Two persons traveling on a bicycle is a mandate assumption in the above case.
Written 15 Jul, 2014. 1,155 views.
Upvote
Downvote
Comments2+
Share

Suvra Pattanayak, a M.tech student

Reactive power is the electrical power that oscillate between the magnetic field of an
inductor and the electric filed of the capacitor. Reactive Power Cannot Converts to
non-electrical power e.g. heat, light & torque. Instantaneous reactive power equal to
the multiplication instantaneous current, instantaneous voltage and the sinusoidal of
phase difference of current & voltage. It only present in ac power if there is any phase
difference between instantaneous current and instantaneous voltage.
During complete cycle average reactive power is zero.
Active power is the energy supplied to run a motor, heat a home, or illuminate an
electric light bulb.Reactive power provides the important function of regulating
voltage. If voltage on the system is not
high enough, active power cannot be supplied. Reactive power is used to provide the
voltage levels necessary for active power to do useful work. Reactive power is
essential to move active power through the transmission and distribution system to
the customer .Reactive power is required to maintain the voltage to deliver active
power (watts) through transmision lines. When there is not enough reactive power,
the voltage sags down and it is not possible to push the power demanded by loads
through the lines.
Written 19 Nov, 2014. 315 views.
Upvote

Capacitor Bank
Compensation

Reactive

Power

Under Electrical TransmissionThe demand of active power is expressing Kilo watt

(kw) or mega watt (mw). This power should be supplied from electrical generating
station. All the arrangements in electrical pomes system are done to meet up this
basic requirement. Although in alternating power system, reactive power always
comes in to picture. This reactive power is expressed in Kilo VAR or Mega VAR..
The demand of this reactive power is mainly originated from inductive load
connected to the system. These inductive loads are generally electromagnetic
circuit of electric motors, electrical transformers, inductance of transmission and

distribution networks, induction furnaces, fluorescent lightings etc. This reactive

power should be properly compensated otherwise, the ratio of actual power
consumed by the load, to the total power i.e. vector sum of active and reactive
power, of the system becomes quite less. This ratio is alternatively known as
electrical power factor, and fewer ratios indicates poor power factor of the system.
If the power factor of the system is poor, the ampere burden of the transmission,
distribution network, transformers, alternators and other equipments connected to
the system, becomes high for required active power. And hence reactive power
compensation becomes so important. This is commonly done by capacitor bank.
Let's explain in details, we know that active power is expressed =vIcos
where,cos is the power factor of the system. Hence, if this power factor has got
less valve, the corresponding current (I) increases for same active power P. As the
current of the system increases, the ohmic loss of the system increases. Ohmic loss
means, generated electrical power is lost as unwanted heat originated in the system.
The cross-section of the conducting parts of the system may also have to be
increased for carrying extra ampere burden, which is also not economical in the
commercial point of view. Another major disadvantage, is poor voltage regulation
of the system, which mainly caused due to poor power factor. The equipments used
to compensate reactive power. There are mainly two equipments used for this
purpose. (1) synchronous condensers (2) Static capacitors or Capacitor Bank
synchronous condensers, can produce reactive power and the production of
reactive power can be regulated. Due to this regulating advantage, the synchronous
condensers are very suitable for correcting power factor of the system, but this
equipment is quite expensive compared to static capacitors. That is why
synchronous condensers, are justified to use only for voltage regulation of very
high voltage transmission system. The regulation in static capacitors can also be
achieved to some extend by split the total capacitor bank in 3 sectors of ratio 1:
2:2. This division enables the capacitor to run in 1, 2, 1+2=3,2+2=4, 1+2+2=5
steps. If still further steps are required, the division may be made in the ratio 1:2:3
or 1:2:4. These divisions make the static capacitor bank more expensive but still
the cost is much lower them synchronous condensers. It is found that maximum
benefit from compensating equipments can be achieved when they are connected
to the individual load side. This is practically and economically possible only by
using small rated capacitors with individual load not by using synchronous

condensers. Static capacitor Bank Static capacitor can further be subdivided in to

two
categories,
(a)
Shunt
capacitors
(b)
Series
capacitor

These categories are mainly based on the methods of

connecting capacitor bank with the system. Among these two categories, shunt
capacitors are more commonly used in the power system of all voltage levels.
There are some specific advantages of using shunt capacitors such as, a) It reduces
line current of the system. b) It improves voltage level of the load. c) It also
reduces system Losses. d) It improves power factor of the source current. e) It
reduces load of the alternator. f) It reduces capital investment per mega watt of the
Load. All the above mentioned benefits come from the fact, that the effect of
capacitor reduces reactive current flowing through the whole system. Shunt
capacitor draws almost fixed amount of leading current which is superimposed on

the load current and consequently reduces reactive components of the load and
hence improves the power factor of the system. series capacitor on the other hand
has no control over flow of current. As these are connected in series with load , the
load current always passes through the series capacitor bank. Actually, the
capacitive reactance of series capacitor neutralizes the inductive reactance of the
line hence, reduces, effective reactance of the line. Thereby, voltage regulation of
the system is improved. But series capacitor bank has a major disadvantage.
During faulty condition, the voltage across the capacitor maybe raised up to 15
times more than its rated value. Thus series capacitor must have sophisticated and
elaborate protective equipments. Because of this, use of-series capacitor is
confined in the extra high voltage system only.

Shunt Capacitor
Construction of Shunt Capacitor
The active parts of capacitor unit are composed by two aluminum foils separated
by impregnated papers. The thickness of the papers may vary from 8 microns to 24
microns depending upon the voltage level of the system. The thickness of the
aluminum foil is in the order of 7 microns. For low voltage applications, there may
be one layer of impregnated paper of suitable thickness between the foils but for
higher voltage applications more than one layer of impregnated papers are placed
between the aluminum foil to avoid unwanted circulation of short circuit current
between the foil due to presence of conducting matters in the papers. The capacitor
sections are wound into rolls thereafter they are flattened out, compressed into
packs, enclosed in multiple layers of heavy paper insulations and inserted into the
containers. When the lid had been welded to the container, the capacitor unit is
dried and integrated in large autoclaves by a combination of heat and vacuum.
After the paper is completely dried and all gases removed from the insulation the
capacitor tank is filled with impregnant degassed at the same vacuum. In the early
stages of development, it was generally mineral insulating oil which was used as
impregnant. This has now been replaced by most of the manufacturers with
synthetic liquids of chlorinated diphenyl group bearing different trade names.
Mineral insulating oil has very low electric conductivity and very high dielectric
strength. But it has however some drawbacks such as, a) It has low dielectric
constant. b) The voltage distribution in the mineral oil is not uniform. c) It is very
inflammable. d) It is subjected to oxidation. With the synthetic impregnant it is
quite possible to manufacture smaller capacitor unit with higher voltage rating. The
voltage rating of the capacitor unit is restricted within certain limits because on low
voltage the cost per kilo VAR goes high. For high voltage applications, numbers of
capacitor units are connected in series and parallel combination to form a capacitor

bank for required voltage and Kilo VAR ratings. For example when 5.1 Mega VAR
capacitor bank is to be commissioned in an 11 KV system, each unit of the bank is
made of 11 KV rated. In this installation, per phase requirement of Mega VAR is
5.1/3=1.7. In this installation, there should be only one capacitor unit connected in
series and 17 of such units are connected in parallel to meet up the mega VAR
requirement of one phase. For three phase system three such groups of capacitor
unit are connected together in star or delta form. Lets show another example for
better understanding. When a bank of 5.4 Mega VAR is to be installed at 33 KV 3
phase system. There shall be three capacitor units connected in series and six of
such series combinations are connected in parallel to meet up 1.8 Mega VAR
demand of per phase. The same capacitor units can be used for 132 KV systems
too. For that Series and parallel combinations of the basic capacitor units will be
assembled as per mega VAR requirement.

Importance of Reactive Power for System

MARCH 21, 2011 36 COMMENTS

Introduction:

We always in practice to reduce reactive power to improve system efficiency .This are acceptable at
some level. If system is purely resistively or capacitance it make cause some problem in Electrical system.
Alternating systems supply or consume two kind of power: real power and reactive power.

Real power accomplishes useful work while reactive power supports the voltage that must be controlled
for system reliability. Reactive power has a profound effect on the security of power systems because it
affects voltages throughout the system.

Find important discussion regarding importance about Reactive Power and how it is useful to maintain
System voltage healthy

Importance of Reactive Power:

Voltage control in an electrical power system is important for proper operation for electrical power
equipment to prevent damage such as overheating of generators and motors, to reduce transmission losses
and to maintain the ability of the system to withstand and prevent voltage collapse.

Decreasing reactive power causing voltage to fall while increasing it causing voltage to rise. A voltage
collapse may be occurs when the system try to serve much more load than the voltage can support.

When reactive power supply lower voltage, as voltage drops current must increase to maintain power
supplied, causing system to consume more reactive power and the voltage drops further . If the current
increase too much, transmission lines go off line, overloading other lines and potentially causing cascading
failures.

If the voltage drops too low, some generators will disconnect automatically to protect themselves.
Voltage collapse occurs when an increase in load or less generation or transmission facilities causes
dropping voltage, which causes a further reduction in reactive power from capacitor and line charging, and
still there further voltage reductions. If voltage reduction continues, these will cause additional elements to
trip, leading further reduction in voltage and loss of the load. The result in these entire progressive and
uncontrollable declines in voltage is that the system unable to provide the reactive power required supplying
the reactive power demands

Necessary to Control of Voltage and Reactive Power:

Voltage control and reactive power management are two aspects of a single activity that both supports
reliability and facilitates commercial transactions across transmission networks.

On an alternating current (AC) power system, voltage is controlled by managing production and
absorption of reactive power.

There are three reasons why it is necessary to manage reactive power and control voltage.

First, both customer and power system equipment are designed to operate within a range of voltages,
usually within5% of the nominal voltage. At low voltages, many types of equipment perform poorly, light
bulbs provide less illumination, induction motors can overheat and be damaged, and some electronic
equipment will not operate at. High voltages can damage equipment and shorten their lifetimes.

Second, reactive power consumes transmission and generation resources. To maximize the amount of
real power that can be transferred across a congested transmission interface, reactive power flows must be
minimized. Similarly, reactive power production can limit a generators real power capability.

Third, moving reactive power on the transmission system incurs real power losses. Both capacity and
energy must be supplied to replace these losses.

Voltage control is complicated by two additional factors.

First, the transmission system itself is a nonlinear consumer of reactive power, depending on system
loading. At very light loading the system generates reactive power that must be absorbed, while at heavy

loading the system consumes a large amount of reactive power that must be replaced. The systems reactive
power requirements also depend on the generation and transmission configuration.
Consequently, system reactive requirements vary in time as load levels and load and generation

patterns change. The bulk power system is composed of many pieces of equipment, any one of which can fail
at any time. Therefore, the system is designed to withstand the loss of any single piece of equipment and to
continue operating without impacting any customers. That is, the system is designed to withstand a single
contingency. The loss of a generator or a major transmission line can have the compounding effect of
reducing the reactive supply and, at the same time, reconfiguring flows such that the system is consuming
additional reactive power.
At least a portion of the reactive supply must be capable of responding quickly to changing reactive

power demands and to maintain acceptable voltages throughout the system. Thus, just as an electrical
system requires real power reserves to respond to contingencies, so too it must maintain reactive-power
reserves.
Loads can also be both real and reactive. The reactive portion of the load could be served from the

transmission system. Reactive loads incur more voltage drop and reactive losses in the transmission system
than do similar size (MVA) real loads.

System operation has three objectives when managing reactive power and voltages.

First, it must maintain adequate voltages throughout the transmission and distribution system for both
current and contingency conditions.

Second, it seeks to minimize congestion of real power flows.

Third, it seeks to minimize real power losses.

Basic concept of Reactive Power

1)

Why We Need Reactive Power:

Active power is the energy supplied to run a motor, heat a home, or illuminate an electric light bulb.

Reactive power provides the important function of regulating voltage.

If voltage on the system is not high enough, active power cannot be supplied.

Reactive power is used to provide the voltage levels necessary for active power to do useful work.

Reactive power is essential to move active power through the transmission and distribution
system to the customer .Reactive power is required to maintain the voltage to deliver active power
(watts) through transmission lines.

Motor loads and other loads require reactive power to convert the flow of electrons into useful work.
When there is not enough reactive power, the voltage sags down and it is not possible to push the
power demanded by loads through the lines.

2)

Reactive Power is a Byproduct of AC Systems

Transformers, Transmission lines, and motors require reactive power. Electric motors need reactive
power to produce magnetic fields for their operation.

Transformers and transmission lines introduce inductance as well as resistance

1.

Both oppose the flow of current

2.

Must raise the voltage higher to push the power through the inductance of the lines

3.

3)

Unless capacitance is introduced to offset inductance

How Voltages Controlled by Reactive Power:

Voltages are controlled by providing sufficient reactive power control margin to supply needs through

1.

Shunt capacitor and reactor compensations

2.

Dynamic compensation

3.

Proper voltage schedule of generation.

Voltages are controlled by predicting and correcting reactive power demand from loads

4)

Reactive Power and Power Factor

Reactive power is present when the voltage and current are not in phase

1.

One waveform leads the other

2.

Phase angle not equal to 0

3.

Power factor less than unity

Measured in volt-ampere reactive (VAR)

Produced when the current waveform leads voltage waveform (Leading power factor)

Vice verse, consumed when the current waveform lags voltage (lagging power factor)

5)

Reactive Power Limitations:

Reactive power does not travel very far.

Usually necessary to produce it close to the location where it is needed

A supplier/source close to the location of the need is in a much better position to provide reactive power
versus one that is located far from the location of the need

Reactive power supplies are closely tied to the ability to deliver real or active power.

Reactive Power Caused Absence of Electricity -A Blackout

The quality of the electrical energy supply can be evaluated basing on a number of parameters.
However, the most important will be always the presence of electrical energy and the number and duration of
interrupts.

When consumption of electrical energy is high, the demand on inductive reactive power increases at the
same proportion. In this moment, the transmission lines (that are well loaded) introduce an extra inductive
reactive power. The local sources of capacitive reactive power become insufficient. It is necessary to deliver
more of the reactive power from generators of power plants.

It might happen that they are already fully loaded and the reactive power will have to be delivered from
more distant places. Transmission of reactive power will load more the lines, which in turn will introduce more
reactive power. The voltage on customer side will decrease further. Local control of voltage by means of auto
transformers will lead to increase of current (to get the same power) and this in turn will increase voltage
drops in lines. In one moment this process can go like avalanche reducing voltage to zero. In mean time most
of the generators in power plants will switch off due to unacceptably low voltage what of course will
deteriorate the situation.

Insufficient reactive power leading to voltage collapse has been a causal factor in major blackouts in the
worldwide. Voltage collapse occurred in United States in the blackout of July 2, 1996, and August10, 1996 on
the West Coast

While August 14, 2003, blackout in the United States and Canada was not due to a voltage collapse as
that term has traditionally used by power system engineers, the task force final report said that Insufficient
reactive power was an issue in the blackout and the report also overestimation of dynamics reactive
output of system generation as common factor among major outages in the United States.

Demand for reactive power was unusually high because of a large volume of long-distance
transmissions streaming through Ohio to areas, including Canada, than needed to import power to
meet local demand. But the supply of reactive power was low because some plants were out of
service and, possibly, because other plants were not producing enough of it.

Problem of Reactive Power:

Though reactive power is needed to run many electrical devices, it can cause harmful effects on

appliances and other motorized loads, as well as electrical infrastructure. Since the current flowing through
electrical system is higher than that necessary to do the required work, excess power dissipates in the form
of heat as the reactive current flows through resistive components like wires, switches and transformers.
Keep in mind that whenever energy is expended, you pay. It makes no difference whether the energy is
expended in the form of heat or useful work.
We can determine how much reactive power electrical devices use by measuring their power factor, the

ratio between real power and true power. A power factor of 1 (i.e. 100%) ideally means that all electrical
power is applied towards real work. Homes typically have overall power factors in the range of 70% to 85%,
depending upon which appliances may be running. Newer homes with the latest in energy efficient
appliances can have an overall power factor of 90%.
Electric companies correct for power factor around industrial complexes, or they will request the

offending customer to do so, or they will charge for reactive power. Electric companies are not worried about
residential service because the impact on their distribution grid is not as severe as in heavily industrialized
areas. However, it is true that power factor correction assists the electric company by reducing demand for
electricity, thereby allowing them to satisfy service needs elsewhere.
Power factor correction will not raise your electric bill or do harm to your electrical devices. The

technology has been successfully applied throughout industry for years. When sized properly, power factor
correction will enhance the electrical efficiency and longevity of inductive loads. Power factor correction can
have adverse side effects (e.g. harmonics) on sensitive industrialized equipment if not handled by
knowledgeable, experienced professionals. Power factor correction on residential dwellings is limited to the
capacity of the electrical panel (200 amp max) and does not over compensate household inductive loads. By
increasing the efficiency of electrical systems, energy demand and its environmental impact is lessened

Effects of Reactive Power in Various elements of Power

System:
1)

Generation:
An electric power generators primary function is to convert fuel into electric power. Almost all generators

also have considerable control over their terminal voltage and reactive-power output.

The ability of generator to provide reactive support depends on its real power production. Like most
electric equipment, generators are limited by their current carrying capability. Near rated voltage, this
capability becomes an MVA limit for the armature of the generator rather than a MW limitation.

Production of reactive power involves increasing the magnetic field to raise the generators terminal
voltage. Increasing the magnetic field requires increasing the current in the rotating field winding. Absorption
of reactive power is limited by the magnetic-flux pattern in the stator, which results in excessive heating of the
stator-end iron, the core-end heating limit.

The synchronizing torque is also reduced when absorbing large amounts of reactive power, which can
also limit generator capability to reduce the chance of losing synchronization with the system.

The generator prime mover (e.g., the steam turbine) is usually designed with less capacity than the
electric generator, resulting in the prime-mover limit. The designers recognize that the generator will be
producing reactive power and supporting system voltage most of the time. Providing a prime mover
capable of delivering all the mechanical power the generator can convert to electricity when it is neither
producing nor absorbing reactive power would result in under utilization of the prime mover.

To produce or absorb additional VARs beyond these limits would require a reduction in the real power
output of the unit. Control over the reactive output and the terminal voltage of the generator is provided by
adjusting the DC current in the generators rotating field .Control can be automatic, continuous, and fast.

The inherent characteristics of the generator help maintain system voltage. At any given field setting, the

generator has a specific terminal voltage it is attempting to hold. If the system voltage declines, the generator
will inject reactive power into the power system, tending to raise system voltage. If the system voltage rises,
the reactive output of the generator will drop, and ultimately reactive power will flow into the generator,
tending to lower system voltage. The voltage regulator will accentuate this behavior by driving the field
current in the appropriate direction to obtain the desired system voltage.

2)

Synchronous Condensers:
Every synchronous machine (motor or generator) with a controllable field has the reactive power

capabilities discussed above.

Synchronous motors are occasionally used to provide dynamic voltage support to the power system as

they provide mechanical power to their load. Some combustion turbines and hydro units are designed to
allow the generator to operate without its mechanical power source simply to provide the reactive power
capability to the power system when the real power generation is unavailable or not needed. Synchronous
machines that are designed exclusively to provide reactive support are called synchronous condensers.
Synchronous condensers have all of the response speed and controllability advantages of generators

without the need to construct the rest of the power plant (e.g., fuel-handling equipment and boilers). Because
they are rotating machines with moving parts and auxiliary systems, they may require significantly more
maintenance than static alternatives. They also consume real power equal to about 3% of the machines
reactive-power rating.

3)

Capacitors & Inductors:

Capacitors and inductors (which are sometimes called reactors) are passive devices that generate or

absorb reactive power. They accomplish this without significant real power losses or operating expense.
The output of capacitors and inductors is proportional to the square of the voltage. Thus, a

capacitor bank (or inductor) rated at 100 MVAR will produce (or absorb) only 90 MVAR when the voltage dips
to 0.95 pu but it will produce (or absorb) 110 MVAR when the voltage rises to 1.05 pu. This relationship is
helpful when inductors are employed to hold voltages down.
The inductor absorbs more when voltages are highest and the device is needed most. The relationship

is unfortunate for the more common case where capacitors are employed to support voltages. In the extreme
case, voltages fall, and capacitors contribute less, resulting in a further degradation in voltage and even less
support from the capacitors; ultimately, voltage collapses and outages occur.
Inductors are discrete devices designed to absorb a specific amount of reactive power at a specific

voltage. They can be switched on or off but offer no variable control.

Capacitor banks are composed of individual capacitor cans, typically 200 kVAR or less each. The cans

are connected in series and parallel to obtain the desired capacitor bank voltage and capacity rating. Like
inductors, capacitor banks are discrete devices but they are often configured with several steps to provide a
limited amount of variable control which makes it a disadvantage compared to synchronous motor.

4)

Static VAR Compensators : (SVCs)

An SVC combines conventional capacitors and inductors with fast switching capability. Switching takes

place in the sub cycle timeframe (i.e. in less than 1/60 of a second), providing a continuous range of control.
The range can be designed to span from absorbing to generating reactive power. Consequently, the controls
can be designed to provide very fast and effective reactive support and voltage control.

Because SVCs use capacitors, they suffer from the same degradation in reactive capability as voltage
drops. They also do not have the short term overload capability of generators and synchronous condensers.
SVC applications usually require harmonic filters to reduce the amount of harmonics injected into the power
system.

5)

Static Synchronous Compensators : (STATCOMs)

The STATCOM is a solid-state shunt device that generates or absorbs reactive power and is one

member of a family of devices known as flexible AC transmission system.

The STATCOM is similar to the SVC in response speed, control capabilities, and the use of power

electronics. Rather than using conventional capacitors and inductors combined with fast switches, however,
the STATCOM uses power electronics to synthesize the reactive power output. Consequently, output
capability is generally symmetric, providing as much capability for production as absorption.
The solid-state nature of the STATCOM means that, similar to the SVC, the controls can be designed to

provide very fast and effective voltage control. While not having the short-term overload capability of
generators and synchronous condensers, STATCOM capacity does not suffer as seriously as SVCs and
capacitors do from degraded voltage.
STATCOMs are current limited so their MVAR capability responds linearly to voltage as opposed to the

voltage squared relationship of SVCs and capacitors. This attribute greatly increases the usefulness of
STATCOMs in preventing voltage collapse.

6)

Distributed Generation:
Distributing generation resources throughout the power system can have a beneficial effect if the

generation has the ability to supply reactive power. Without this ability to control reactive power output,
performance of the transmission and distribution system can be degraded.
Induction generators were an attractive choice for small, grid-connected generation, primarily because

they are relatively inexpensive. They do not require synchronizing and have mechanical characteristics that
are appealing for some applications (wind, for example). They also absorb reactive power rather than
generate it, and are not controllable. If the output from the generator fluctuates (as wind does), the reactive
demand of the generator fluctuates as well, compounding voltage-control problems for the transmission
system.
Induction generators can be compensated with static capacitors, but this strategy does not address the

fluctuation problem or provide controlled voltage support. Many distributed generation resources are now
being coupled to the grid through solid-state power electronics to allow the prime movers speed to vary
independently of the power-system frequency. For wind, this use of solid-state electronics can improve the
energy capture.
For gas-fired micro turbines, power electronics equipment allows them to operate at very high speeds.

Photovoltaics generate direct current and require inverters to couple them to the power system. Energystorage devices (e.g., batteries, flywheels, and superconducting magnetic-energy storage devices) are often
distributed as well and require solid-state inverters to interface with the grid. This increased use of a solidstate interface between the devices and the power system has the added benefit of providing full reactivepower control, similar to that of a STATCOM.
In fact, most devices do not have to be providing active power for the full range of reactive control to be

available. The generation prime mover, e.g. turbine, can be out of service while the reactive component is
fully functional. This technological development (solid-state power electronics) has turned a potential problem
into a benefit, allowing distributed resources to contribute to voltage control.

7)

Transmission Side:
Unavoidable consequence of loads operation is presence of reactive power, associated with phase

shifting between voltage and current.

Some portion of this power is compensated on customer side, while the rest is loading the network. The
supply contracts do not require a cos equal to one. The reactive power is also used by the transmission
lines owner for controlling the voltages.

Reactive component of current adds to the loads current and increases the voltage drops across
network impedance. Adjusting the reactive power flow the operator change voltage drops in lines and in this
way the voltage at customer connection point.

The voltage on customer side depends on everything what happens on the way from generator to
customer loads. All nodes, connection points of other transmission lines, distribution station and other
equipment contribute to reactive power flow.

A transmission line itself is also a source of reactive power. A line that is open on the other end (without
load) is like a capacitor and is a source of capacitive (leading) reactive power. The lengthwise inductances
without current are not magnetized and do not introduce any reactive components. On the other hand, when
a line is conducting high current, the contribution of the lengthwise inductances is prevalent and the line itself
becomes a source of inductive (lagging) reactive power. For each line can be calculated a characteristic
value of power flow.

If the transmitted power is more than pre define Value, the line will introduce additionally inductive
reactive power, and if it is below pre define Value, the line will introduce capacitive reactive power. The pre
define Value depends on the voltage: for 400 kV line is about 32% of the nominal transmission power, for 220
kV line is about 28% and for 110 kV line is about 22%. The percentage will vary accordingly to construction
parameters.

The reactive power introduced by the lines themselves is really a nuisance for the transmission system
operator. In the night, when the demand is low it is necessary to connect parallel reactors for consuming the
additional capacitive reactive power of the lines. Sometimes it is necessary to switch off a low-loaded line
(what definitely affect the system reliability). In peak hours not only the customer loads cause big voltage
drops but also the inductive reactive power of the lines adds to the total power flow and causes further
voltage drops.

The voltage and reactive power control has some limitations. A big part of reactive power is generated in
power plant unites. The generators can deliver smoothly adjustable leading and lagging reactive power
without any fuel costs.

However, the reactive power occupies the generation capacity and reduces the active power production.
Furthermore, it is not worth to transmit reactive power for long distance (because of active power losses).
Control provided on the way in transmission line, connation nodes, distribution station and other points
requires installation of capacitors or\and reactors.

They are often used with transformer tap changing system. The range of voltage control depends on
their size. The control may consist e.g. in setting the transformer voltage higher and then reducing it by
reactive currents flow.

If the transformer voltage reaches the highest value and all capacitors are in operation, the voltage on
customer side cannot be further increase. On the other hand when a reduction is required the limit is set by
maximal reactive power of reactors and the lowest tap of transformer.

Assessment Practices to control Voltage & Reactive Power:

Transmission and Distribution planners must determine in advance the required type and location of
reactive correction.

1)

Static vs. Dynamic Voltage Support

The type of reactive compensation required is based on the time needed for voltage recovery.

Static Compensation is ideal for second and minute responses. (Capacitors, reactors, tap changes).

Dynamic Compensation is ideal for instantaneous responses. (condensers, generators)

A proper balance of static and dynamic voltage support is needed to maintain voltage levels within an
acceptable range.

2)

Reactive Reserves during Varying Operating Conditions

The system capacitors, reactors, and condensers should be operated to supply the normal reactive
load. As the load increases or following a contingency, additional capacitors should be switched on or
reactors removed to maintain acceptable system voltages.

The reactive capability of the generators should be largely reserved for contingencies on the EHV
system or to support voltages during extreme system operating conditions.

Load shedding schemes must be implemented if a desired voltage is unattainable threw reactive power
reserves

3)

Voltage Coordination
The reactive sources must be coordinated to ensure that adequate voltages are maintained everywhere
on the interconnected system during all possible system conditions. Maintaining acceptable system voltages
involves the coordination of sources and sinks which include:

1.

Plant voltage schedules

2.

Transformer tap settings

3.

Reactive device settings

4.

Load shedding schemes.

The consequences of uncoordinated of above operations would include:

1.

Increased reactive power losses

2.

A reduction in reactive margin available for contingencies and extreme light load conditions

3.

Excessive switching of shunt capacitors or reactors

4.

Increased probability of voltage collapse conditions.

Plant Voltage Schedule :Each power plant is requested to maintain a particular voltage on the system
bus to which the plant is connected. The assigned schedule will permit the generating unit to typically
operate:

1.

In the middle of its reactive capability range during normal conditions

2.

At the high end of its reactive capability range during contingencies

3.

Under excited or absorb reactive power under extreme light load conditions.

Transformer Tap Settings :Transformer taps must be coordinated with each other and with nearby
generating station voltage schedules.

The transformer taps should be selected so that secondary voltages remain below equipment limits
during light load conditions.

Reactive Device Settings :Capacitors on the low voltage networks should be set to switch on to
maintain voltages during peak and contingency conditions. And Off when no longer required supporting
voltage levels.

Load Shedding Schemes: Load shedding schemes must be implemented as a last resort to maintain
acceptable voltages.

4)

Voltage and Reactive Power Control

Requires the coordination work of all Transmission and Distribution disciplines.

Transmission needs to:

1.

Forecast the reactive demand and required reserve margin

2.

Plan, engineer, and install the required type and location of reactive correction

3.

Maintain reactive devices for proper compensation

4.

Maintain meters to ensure accurate data

5.

Recommend the proper load shedding scheme if necessary.

Distribution needs to:

1.

Fully compensate distribution loads before Transmission reactive compensation is considered

2.

Maintain reactive devices for proper compensation

3.

Maintain meters to ensure accurate data

4.

Install and test automatic under voltage load shedding schemes

References:
1.

Samir Aganovi,

2.

Zoran Gaji,

3.

Grzegorz Blajszczak- Warsaw, Poland,

4.

Gianfranco Chicco

5.

Robert P. OConnell-Williams Power Company

6.

Harry L. Terhune-American Transmission Company,

7.

Abraham Lomi, Fernando Alvarado, Blagoy Borissov, Laurence D. Kirsch

8.

Robert Thomas,

9.

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY

Reactive power: what it is; why it is

important
06 Mar 2012Jeff Palermo0
load,

There is a global trend toward adding dynamic reactive devices to serve

urban load areas. A number of interrelated factors contribute to this
increasing use of dynamic reactive devices, such as the following:
> Many urban areas are experiencing a growth in load levels. These urban
areas also see less generation close to the load center. Either legacy
generating units have been retiring or they are operating less, because
they are less efficient than newer generators. Losing these generators
reduces the amount of local power generation and dynamic var support
available in the urban areas. As a result, urban areas often rely on
increased power imports to serve their load.
> Increased power imports tend to reduce local transmission voltages,
which, in turn, reduce the effectiveness of various devices that support the
local voltages. In the extreme, this could become a kind of voltage spiral of
death.
> In many cases, there is enough transmission thermal capability to deliver
the needed imports, but there are increasingly frequent periods where
voltage/var factors limit system operation.
> Public opposition to new transmission lines is also common.

> In many deregulated markets, there are limited means to require or

encourage generator construction or to schedule power outside the normal
generation dispatch market. In other markets, requiring generators to
operate outside normal economic dispatch can be very costly.
These urban areas, however, often face an underappreciated risk
associated with the addition of these complex dynamic reactive devices.
Reactive power and why it is important
Fundamentally, electrical power is developed, delivered, and consumed as
voltage and current. In a simple direct current (DC) device (like a flashlight),
the power (the brightness of the bulb) is the voltage times the current,
which is measured in watts. Watts are a measure of the ability of a device
to perform useful work. This is what is called real (and sometimesactive)
power because it can produce useful (real) work.
In alternating current (AC) systemslike all modern power systems
things become a bit more complicated. Common customer load devices
especially motorshave inherent characteristics that shift the relationship
between current and voltage. This shift is measured in varsfrom the
French term Volt-Ampere reactive. Since much of the power system load is
motors in factories, businesses, and homes, this becomes a significant
issue for utilities. Transformers and transmission and distribution lines and
cables also have characteristics that contribute to this shift.
Increasing var load reduces the ability of the system to deliver real power
and perform useful work. In extreme cases, a high var load can shift the
voltage and current so much that it reduces the power systems delivery
capability so that almost no active power can be delivered. There can also
be other undesirable effects like low voltages and increased equipment
heating and system losses.
While reactive power does not provide useful work, it is essential for AC
transmission and distribution systems, motors, and many other types of
customer loads. For motor loads, sufficient var levels are needed to avoid
voltage sags that inhibit the conversion and flow of watts to meet load
demand. Therefore, actual power systems require both real and reactive
power to function properly.
Compensating for reactive loads
The shift of motors and other reactive loads can be offset using
compensation devices. Reactive compensation commonly comes from
three types of devices:
1) Capacitors are the largest source of compensating reactive power and
are commonly used throughout the power system.

2) Synchronous condensers are a type of rotating machinelike a

generatorbut they do not produce real power, only reactive power. There
are also other devices that use high-power electronics to rapidly control
reactive power from large banks of capacitors.
3) Conventional generators, in addition to supplying real power, are an
important source of reactive power.
Reactive power loads must be supplied either locally from customer-owned
devices or from the system itself. It is almost universal for some of the
reactive load to be compensated locally as power-factor correction. Power
factor is a measure of the relation between real and reactive power. The
power factor ranges from 0.0 to 1.0, where 1.0 means there is only real
power (no reactive power); 0.0 means there is no real power, only reactive.
The difference between passive and dynamic reactive resources

While there are various differences in the

hardware involved, the main distinction
between passive and dynamic reactive resources is how quickly they can
respond to the changing needs of the power system.
Passive reactive sources are devices with fixed var ratings, which can be
connected or disconnected (switched) as system conditions change. The
most common passive device is a capacitor. Capacitors can be
permanently connected or switched throughout the day. The switching
action can be made in a few seconds using automatic controls. (The
response is much slower if it depends on manual actions by a system
operator.)

While automated switching within a few seconds may seem fast, it is not
fast enough for some situations to avoid voltage collapse (a blackout).
Dynamic reactive sources are active devices that can provide variable
amounts of reactive power in a few milliseconds. Common examples are
static var compensators (SVCs), static synchronous compensators
(STATCOMs), synchronous condensers, and conventional generators. All
are capable of rapid dynamic response. Some types of renewable
generating sources are also capable of providing dynamic reactive supply
using power electronics and other means.
KEMA recently completed a study where several dynamic reactive sources
(SVCs) were needed to reach full output in 10 milliseconds (0.01 seconds).
These static var devices then needed to continuously swing from maximum
to minimum output to maintain stability within the first 10 seconds. Such a
response is not possible with switched passive devices.
There is also a significant capital cost difference between passive and
dynamic devices. Passive devices are about one-fourth the cost of dynamic
devices. Therefore, the mix of dynamic and passive devices will have a
significant impact on the cost of providing the necessary reactive
compensation. A blend of both types of devices is most common. Specific
performance factors and capital costs help determine the best mix for each
situation.
David Korinek also contributed to this article, which is the first part of a
three-part series for TECH Notes, a monthly publication that provides
business and technical insights for secure transmission and distribution
systems. Part 2 will discuss the problems associated with highly
compensated systems. Part 3 will provide an overview of the
solutions. Sign up to receive advance notification.

Question

wat is the importance of reactive power in power

generation.....if it is zero means wat will happen to
system........

Question Submitted By :: Electrical Engineering

I also faced this Question!!

Answer Posted
By

Answers were Sorted based on User's Feedback

Answer
#1

Electrical machines work on the principle of

conversion of

Deepak

electromagnetic energy.A part of input

energy is consumed
for creating and maintaining the
magneticfield.This part of
the input energy cannot be converted into
active energy and
is returned to the electrical network on
removal of the
magnetic field. This power is known as
reactive power Q.
The Q Power flows back and forth, causing
90 Out of phase
shift between the current and voltage
waveform.This
Reactive Power has one half of the Power
In the positive
area and the other half in the negative area.
Unlike true power, reactive power is not
useful power
because it is stored in the circuit itself.
This power is stored by
1)Inductors,
Because they expand and collapse their
magnetic
fields in an attempt to keep current
constant,
2) Capacitors, Because they charge and
discharge in an
attempt to keep voltage constant.
Is This Answer
Correct ?

Answer
#2

57 Yes

2 No

hello to all, this is what i think--this is a great question but reactive power
never become
zero,may be for some <1sec or in
instances.
if it becomes 0 its a great help to power
system to supply
power at high efficiency to understand this u
need to know
the source of reactive power,generator

vishwanth.g

produces reactive and

real power p+jq,so q is due to excitation in
generator ,and
P-real power is due to armature or to say
rotating part of
machine.
as components get connected to
GENERATOR,like
transformer,transmission line and
distribution system,this
components absorbs or produce reactive
power,
reactive power is a imaginary term used by
engg to maintain
voltage or to say power at the load,basic
thing here is
magnetic field----absorbs reactive
power,electric field
---produce reactive power,
transformer----absorbs reactive power
transmission line-light loads-produce
reactive power
heavy loads-absorbs reactive power
now advance in connected equipments
which are all mostly
these days electronic component so
reactive power is
generated i,e --static relays etc
at the end how inductive and capacitive
components behaves
in power system----which was answer by
many above
every answer above related to voltage
quality or power
quality so i have added the basic thing to
understand
reactive power movement u need to trace
the sources in POWER
SYSTEM.
HOPE my answer could help some one
Is This Answer
Correct ?

18 Yes

1 No

Answer
#3

80% of our industrial loads use inductive

loads i.e
induction motors .These inductive loads
require reactive
power which plays an important role in
maintaining magnetic
field inside the motors.so reactive power is
necassary but
should be in a limit which in otherwise
increses losses
Is This Answer
Correct ?

Answer
#4

16 Yes

5 No

AC power can be classified in to active

power and reactive
power.
importance of reactive powers are to
Maintain and control
the voltage balance on the system, Avoid
damage to the
Transmission System, Generation plant and
Other connected
parties
The provision of Reactive Power by all
Generation Units for
voltage support is vital to maintain a secure
and stable
Transmission System.
If reactive power is zero then the power
factor will be
maximum that mean full utilization of
power.Maximum power
utilization is the basic necessity for power
system.
Is This Answer
Correct ?

34 Yes

jnanesh

27 No

gobi

Answer
#5

reactive power is one of the important one

in transmission
,during transmission the real power voltage
drop occurs so
in order to boost up the voltage
level,reactive power are
supplied at the receiving ends of the
transmission lines
also in order to reduce the losses in the
transmission line
Is This Answer
Correct ?

Answer
#6

0 No

i agree with gobi with little addition..

reactive power Results from energy
storage elements in the
power grid (mainly inductors and
capacitors)
Has a strong effect on system voltages
It must balance in the grid to prevent
voltage
problems
Reactive power levels have an effect on
voltage
collapse
& we need var compensation also if u
know.if reactive power
zero then we get pure reactive power(unity
power
factor).but in actual reactive power is zero
not possible
as inductive & capacitive element ar
present.
Is This Answer
Correct ?

Answer
#7

7 Yes

6 Yes

p.karthik
meiyappan

alpesh surat

1 No

Importance of REACTIVE POWER:

Electrical machines work on the principle of

Deepak

conversion of
electromagnetic energy.A part of input
energy is consumed
for creating and maintaining the
magneticfield.This part of
the input energy cannot be converted into
active energy and
is returned to the electrical network on
removal of the
magnetic field. so this requirement of
magnetic field by
machines is met by REACTIVE POWER.
what happens when reactive power is
ZERO.
when the connected load to the system is
purely Resistive
reactive power generation vl b ZERO.
Is This Answer
Correct ?

Answer
#8

4 No

i agree with Mr. Vishvnath.g but if it is

reactive power is zero then power transfer
capacity of transmisn is low.
Is This Answer
Correct ?

Answer
#9

8 Yes

3 Yes

raja rankesh
ranjan

0 No

what ever be the power generated by the

generator, that is
used by the consumers i. e.lighting
loads,ind.motors,arc
furnaces and all these loads works on
lagging power factor
so if it is zero means no reactive power flow
ie.load
didn't get reactive power so it will not run or
work
satisfactorily. 1) if we think about gen,then it
is under

vivek gohane

excited condition for generator so terminal

voltage of
generator will decrease and current will
increase.2)we know
all the generator are connected together
with grid if
reactive power flow of any one generator
become zero then
it has adverse effect on other
generators,resulting in
power loss,heating effect and many more.
Is This Answer
Correct ?

Answer
# 10

2 Yes

0 No

it is a serious case. system vltage goes

down. as we have
many inductve load. if there is only resistive
load or
impedance of the system is minimum
(near= 0)
then its ok.

raviiisc

Apr 9th, 2011

The "reactive power" is mainly related with flux in the machine.
The generator generates reactive power if the flux is more than the rated one.
The reactive power flow will be from high voltage terminal to low voltage terminal irrespective of real
power flow direction.
The generator reactive power mainly depends on excitation.

Was this answer useful?

Reply

Yes

bittu123

Nov 9th, 2011

If alternator is Overexcited, it will deliver reactive power with lagging current
while in Underexcited, it absorb reactive power with leading curreent

But, it always(under or over-excited) deliver real power.

WHY it needs or absorb reactive power??????????
Actually synchronous machine maintains constant flux. when dc field current gets
reduced(undrexcited), To strengthen main field, it absorb reactive power(draw current from ac supply
mains).
In reverse, when dc field current gets increased(overexcited), To weaken main field, it deliver reactive
power to the bus bar.
All these are controlled by magnetising and demagnetising effect of armature reaction

How reactive power is produced & consumed?

i have read the average power consumed in an inductor or capacitor is "Zero".Which means positve
power thru an inductor implies supply of energy to mag feild(or electrostatic fld), and -ve power the
energy sulied back to the source by the same magnetic filed...So can i say the reactive power
generated by an altenator in a power plant and transmitted vis transmission lines is never
consumed(or destroyed)?..it just goes from the source and the back to source??..it is an infinited
loop?..or i am misunderstanding the concept..please explain (with links that may be
necessary)..thabks
Best Answer: The answer is really simple.
Reactive power is the result of large inductive or capacitive loads in the circuit, such as motors.
You are right when you say that the average power consumed by reactive components(like inductor
and capacitor) is zero.
Also the interpretation is proper as the reactive power actually travels "to and fro" from the source, in a
continuous loop.
But it is eventually consumed as it is dissipated as heat in the conductors, and gets wasted.
Cheers,
Rijul
Rijul 4 years ago
1
Thumbs up
0
Thumbs down
Comment
Report Abuse

It might be a bit tricky to understand at first. Imagine a sinusiodal AC voltage applied to a laod with
resitance and reactance: then the instantaneous power will be a sinusoid with an 'offset' i.e. of the
form a + b*cos(w*t+c). The instantaneous power tells us how energy flows at any instant: if it is
positive, then energy is being moved into the load, if it is negative, energy is being returned to the
source. Notice that a reperesents the average value, and b represents a component which varies with

time. If a is equal to b, then the power will always be positive (but still with a fluctuating component),
this happens with a resistive load, i.e. no reactance. The power is always only flowing one direction,
even if it has a time varying component. The average value will be a and this is what we refer to as
real power. But notice that if a is less than b, the power will be positive sometimes, and negative
others. This happens when we have a reactive load, because as you already understand energy is
stored in a reactance. Reactive power is a meausure of the component of the time varying part of the
power, which moves back and forth (i.e. positive and negative) between the source and the load. It
turns out, that due to the mathematics of the situation (summation of sinusiods with different phases),
we can have both positive and negative reactive power! So this is the situation:
A resistor consumes only real power. (For AC) This will have a fluctuating component and an average
value. The average value is what matters and is called 'real power' or 'average power' or usually just
'power'. It represents the average rate of flow of energy into the load.
An inductor consumes only reactive power. The average value of the instantaneous power is zero. For
half a cycle, energy flows into the inductor, during the other half cycle, this energy returns to the load.
Reactive power is a measure of this back and forth energy flow, we say that for an inductor, reactive
power is positive (it consumes reactive power).
A capacitor produces reactive power. The same comments apply as with an inductor, but the phase
angle is +90 degrees. Because of the way we calculate reactive power, it comes out negative for a
capacitor, so it is said that a capacitor produces reactive power.
An ideal voltage source can either produce or consume reactive power (because it doesnt care about
the phase angle). A real generator (a synchronous machine) can produce or consume reactive power
to a point: if the phase angle becomes too great, it will loose synchronism (bad, think major damage
for a large machine). Also the more reactive power produced or consumed, the less capacity for real
power (we can control it by adjusting the excitation field current)
In an electrical network, we mostly have inductive reactances. Most loads are inductive (called lagging
becuase the phase angle is negative), so they consume reactive power. energy still sloshes back and
forth between them and the generator, but the lagging phase angle means this is a positive flow of
reactive power. Transmission lines are mostly inductive, so they also consume reactive power. To keep
the voltage at the ends of the transmission lines within the correct tolerance, we need to add
capacitors or synchronous generators to supply the reactive power consumed by the line and the load
to keep the voltage high and the phase angle at the generator small enough to keep synchronism.
The capacitors and the over excited synchronous generators generate reactive power, becuase their
phase angle is positive. You can imagine that it is also because the capacitance cancels some of the
inductance.
J. Frost 4 years ago