1. What is a 3-Phase kW Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the real power in kilowatts for 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 AC circuits.

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)

Explanation: The formula accounts for the three-phase power relationship, converting 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: Why √3 in the formula?
A: The √3 factor accounts for the phase difference in three-phase systems (120° between phases).

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Motors typically have PF of 0.8-0.9, while purely resistive loads have PF=1. The default 0.8 is common for industrial loads.

Q4: Is this for line-to-line or line-to-neutral voltage?
A: The formula uses line-to-line voltage, which is standard for three-phase power calculations.

Q5: How does this differ from single-phase calculation?
A: Single-phase uses P=VI×PF/1000 (without the √3 factor) and typically uses line-to-neutral voltage.