Understanding Power Triangle and Box Conversions: Explained and Simplified

In summary, the conversation discusses the equation S = P + jQ and how it relates to the yellow, pink, and blue boxes. The yellow box represents the definition of reactive power consumption for inductors, while the pink box is derived from the definitions and represents the phase difference between voltage and current. The blue box is obtained using Euler's formula and is an application of the definitions and trigonometry.
  • #1
influx
164
2
dddbnb.png


I understand that S = P + jQ however I am confused how they got from that to the yellow box. Also, how did they get from the yellow box to the pink box and from the pink box to the blue box?

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
I understand that S = P + jQ however I am confused how they got from that to the yellow box.
Definition of RMS values.

Also, how did they get from the yellow box to the pink box and from the pink box to the blue box?
Following the definitions. eg. by definition: ##\phi=\theta_V-\theta_I## so you get the pink box.
The blue box does not follow directly from the pink box - you get it from the definition of S and some trigonometry. S is the hypotenuse of a triangle with opposite side length Q and adjacent side P. Use SOH CAH TOA.
 
  • #3
It is not obvious to first time learners why the current angle possesses a negative sign in the yellow box.

It is simply because it is defined that inductors consume positive reactive power.

Here's what I mean, You might know that inductive reactance has a positive 'j' associated with it? inductive reactance is jXL. j is a place-holder that rotates a vector by 90 degrees. This means that the impedance associated with an inductor is at 90 degrees phase shift. This causes the current to be at a negative 90 degrees based on ohms law (V@0/X@90 = I@-90). If we want to define reactive power consumption as negative for a capacitor and positive for an inductor, we need to take the conjugate of the current angle. Hence the reason for the negative current angle in the yellow box.

Now, the transition from the yellow to the pink box is just defining the difference in the voltage and current angles as an angle. So now you know that the angle associated with apparent power is the phase difference between the voltage and current.

The transition from the pink to the blue box is an application of Euler's formula.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler's_formula

Have a look at the first paragraph.

I sincerely hope this helps and if it doesn't I welcome any further questions or corrections from others
 

FAQ: Understanding Power Triangle and Box Conversions: Explained and Simplified

What is a power triangle?

A power triangle is a visual representation of the relationship between voltage, current, and power in an electrical circuit. It is a right triangle where the hypotenuse represents the apparent power, the vertical side represents the reactive power, and the horizontal side represents the active power.

How is the power triangle used?

The power triangle is used to calculate the power in an electrical circuit by using the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric functions. It is also used to analyze the efficiency and power factor of a circuit.

What is the difference between apparent power, active power, and reactive power?

Apparent power is the total power in an electrical circuit, and it is the combination of active power and reactive power. Active power is the actual power consumed by the circuit and is measured in watts. Reactive power is the power that oscillates between the source and load due to inductance and capacitance and is measured in volt-amperes reactive (VAR).

How does the power factor affect the power triangle?

The power factor is the ratio of active power to apparent power and is represented by the cosine of the angle in the power triangle. A low power factor means that a larger portion of the apparent power is due to reactive power, resulting in inefficient use of energy. A high power factor indicates that the circuit is using power efficiently.

Can the power triangle be used in both AC and DC circuits?

The power triangle can only be used in AC circuits because it takes into account the phase difference between voltage and current. In DC circuits, there is no phase difference, so the power triangle cannot be applied. However, the concepts of active, reactive, and apparent power still apply in DC circuits.

Back
Top