1. What is 3-Phase Power kW Calculation?

Definition: This calculator computes the real power (in kilowatts) in a three-phase electrical system based on voltage, current, and power factor.

Purpose: It helps electrical engineers, technicians, and electricians determine the actual power consumption in three-phase systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P_{kW} \) — Real power in kilowatts
• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amps)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, between 0 and 1)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for three-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula accounts for all three phases in the system and converts the result to kilowatts by dividing by 1000.

3. Importance of 3-Phase Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for proper equipment sizing, energy efficiency analysis, and electrical system design.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amps, and power factor (default 0.8). All values must be > 0, with PF between 0 and 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor?
A: Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power, representing how effectively current is being converted into useful work.

Q2: What's a typical power factor value?
A: For industrial motors, PF is typically 0.8-0.9. Resistive loads have PF=1, while inductive loads have lower PF.

Q3: Is this formula for line-to-line or line-to-neutral voltage?
A: The formula uses line-to-line voltage (phase-to-phase voltage).

Q4: Why do we multiply by √3?
A: The √3 factor accounts for the phase difference in three-phase systems and converts line-to-line quantities to per-phase values.

Q5: How does this differ from single-phase power calculation?
A: Single-phase power is simply V×I×PF/1000 (without the √3 factor). Three-phase systems are more efficient for power transmission.