What is a reactive power? How will it get produced or absorbed?

Replies

• 

  grsalvi

  Well even i was unfortunate like you to just live life by knowing them by equations (because even professors wouldn't know what exactly reactive power is ).
  But in final year it was important to understand them as it is very common during project vivas.
  So here i go :
  PART A:
  1]Every electrical load has many elements ,which are broadly classified for studies as resistors,inductors and capacitors.
  
  2]You know that inductors and capacitors are energy storing devices.
  3]So during a cycle of AC supply for some duration L & C (inductors and capacitors) store energy but then they supply some power back to source.
  This power which flows back to source due to L&C is called is reactive power.
  
  4]Hence reactive power is associated with energy transferred back from load to source.
  5]The net power which is associated with energy transferred from source to load is called as real power.
  
  5]Where as the actual consumption of energy at load is represented by term apparent power.
  
  
  Now significance
  a. Reactive power is responsible for maintaining voltage profile between sending and receiving end with in safe limits (Read about Ferrenti Effect).
  
  b. Reactive power is important in motors to generate magnetic flux.
  
  Reactive power if not maintained properly in power system it can lead complete breakdown of power grid.
  Hope that explains 😀
• 

  kiransabarish

  Well even i was unfortunate like you to just live life by knowing them by equations (because even professors wouldn't know what exactly reactive power is ).
  But in final year it was important to understand them as it is very common during project vivas.
  So here i go :
  PART A:
  1]Every electrical load has many elements ,which are broadly classified for studies as resistors,inductors and capacitors.
  
  2]You know that inductors and capacitors are energy storing devices.
  3]So during a cycle of AC supply for some duration L & C (inductors and capacitors) store energy but then they supply some power back to source.
  This power which flows back to source due to L&C is called is reactive power.
  
  4]Hence reactive power is associated with energy transferred back from load to source.
  5]The net power which is associated with energy transferred from source to load is called as real power.
  
  5]Where as the actual consumption of energy at load is represented by term apparent power.
  
  
  Now significance
  a. Reactive power is responsible for maintaining voltage profile between sending and receiving end with in safe limits (Read about Ferrenti Effect).
  
  b. Reactive power is important in motors to generate magnetic flux.
  
  Reactive power if not maintained properly in power system it can lead complete breakdown of power grid.
  Hope that explains 😀

  I think i got it!! but, can you explain the physical meaning of reactive power alongside the mathematical equations. I will be more clear by then. 😀
• 

  Jeffrey Arulraj

  VI is the actual power produced in the source
  
  VIcos(pi) is the actual power delivered at load
  It depends on the component used as a load Inductor or capacitor and leading lagging all come here
  
  VIsin(pi) is the reactance of these devices and the power the generate in the reverse direction towards the source
• 

  grsalvi

  wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_reactive_power
• 

  kiransabarish

  jeffrey samuel

  VI is the actual power produced in the source
  
  VIcos(pi) is the actual power delivered at load
  It depends on the component used as a load Inductor or capacitor and leading lagging all come here
  
  VIsin(pi) is the reactance of these devices and the power the generate in the reverse direction towards the source

  Thank you!!!
• 

  kiransabarish

  grsalvi

  wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_reactive_power

  Thank you!!!
• 

  Jeffrey Arulraj

  The need for thank you posts are not at all necessary just PM or wish'em in person cos all are here to help and to get helped
  
  Anyways no mention
• 

  grsalvi

  kiransabarish

  Thank you!!!

  welcome, it is the only site which explains reactive power the way we want (without equations )😉