We have a number of recognized transmission and distribution experts serving on our board of "Grid Masters." Several times each month we’ll post what we judge to be the toughest questions that also have high interest to our readers. At least one of our experts will respond. Want to challenge our Grid Masters for a chance to win?
Q: What's the physical meaning of instantaneous active and reactive power?
A: Reactive power fluctuates as much as active (real) power. For example reactive (inductive) power due to transformer reactance is proportional to the square of current flowing through the unit. Reactive power of a capacitor bank is proportional to the square of voltage across the bank. Therefore any fluctuation of voltage and\or current will result in fluctuation of reactive powers. And, from the physical meaning point of view the inductive power is always stored in magnetic field and capacitive reactive power in electric field.
Dr. Mietek Glinkowski, P.E.
Global Head of Technology
ABB Inc
This is an excellent basic question. It's easy to lose sight of the physics and math that undergird what we do. Power is the time rate of change (derivative, if you will) of energy. So real power is the rate of change of the electric energy being transformed into mechanical energy (work) or other form, usually heat (losses). Reactive power is the time rate of change of stored energy in the electric field of a capacitor or the magnetic field of an inductor. To simplify the mathematics, we use phasor representation when the frequency is constant, as in a power system at steady state. During transient events reactive power still exists and figures into over-voltages etc. but must be determined by other (non-phasor) mathematics.
Paul Mauldin
Editor
See previous questions and answers and join the discussion. Add your comments below:
