Power Factor and Average Power in an AC circuit Explained with Power Triangle

The average power of DC is different from the average power in an AC circuit. The alternating current uses sinusoidal voltage and current, which change its direction and magnitude every moment. How could one say that the power in an AC circuit has a fixed value?

Suppose a general load is connected with an AC source, as presented in the diagram. Suppose it has a voltage

Which causes it to flow the following sinusoidal current

The power flow of the source will be

Using the following trigonometric identity

so

As we know from the following trigonometric identity that

Now

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Now observe the above equation, the power is made up of two cosine terms. The second term frequency is twice 2ωt. As that of current or voltage (both have the same frequency of ω). This term has a component of time in it, which causes the cosine wave to oscillate and its average value over a cycle is zero. That’s why no energy is transferred due to the second term to the generic load attached to the AC source. Energy only floats back and forth between load and source.

Where the first term has no element of time, so it gives a fixed value for a specific value of theta. This is called the average power dissipated in the load. This average power in an AC circuit is mostly called real or active power. This power depends upon the angle θ, which is the phase difference between current and voltage. So the equation for the real power is

Where the relationship between RMS and peak value is

putting it into the above equation will give us

In a purely resistive AC circuit, the circuit current and voltage are in-phase, or the phase difference angle is zero i.e. θ=0^o. So, the average power in an AC circuit with pure resistive load will

The equation (2a) means that the power delivered to the load is maximum in a purely resistive circuit.

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Whereas in pure inductive AC load, the load current lags by 90^o, i.e. θ=-90^o. So, the average power in an AC circuit with an inductive load will be

Equation (2b) means that no power is dissipated in a purely inductive load, the power only floats back and forth between the inductive load and the source.

In a pure capacitive AC circuit, the current leads source voltage by 90^o i.e. θ = 90^o. In this case, the average power in an AC circuit with pure capacitive load is

According to equation (2c), the power dissipated by the pure capacitor circuit is zero. Power only floats back and forth between the source and the capacitive load.

What is the Power Factor and Why is it Important?

We have seen in the above section that power dissipation depends upon the cosine of the phase angle along with the amplitude of voltage and current. For example, if the phase angle is 90 no power will dissipate, and if it is zero or somewhere between themes the load will dissipate power. The cosine term is very important and is called the power factor (PF).

Wherefrom impedance triangle we can calculate it through the following formula

And from the power triangle, we can find like

According to equation (3a), the maximum power factor can be ONE and the minimum PF can be ZERO. An AC circuit containing multiple elements like a resistor, inductor, and capacitor can have a power factor between zero and one.

The power factor has no unit but it is usually expressed as a leading or lagging power factor. The leading/lagging depends upon the phase relationship between current and voltage. If the current leads the voltage, the power factor is called leading, and if the current lags, the power factor is called the lagging power factor. The PF of a capacitive circuit is leading and that for an inductive circuit is lagging.

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Why is the Power Factor Important?

The power factor in an AC circuit helps us in finding how much energy is utilized for performing the desired work. For the power factor equal to one or the “Unity power factor“, the total power is utilized.

Power Factor Visualization

Voltage (V):
Current (A):
Phase Angle (θ):

A power factor of less than one causes over-current and voltage drop because of power flow back and forth. Which ultimately increases the initial and running cost of a power generation, distribution, and utilization system. To fulfill the desire over-current desire, the supply company needs more generation units. Supply companies impose a fine on the power factor below a threshold.

What is Active, Reactive, and Apparent Power :

Apparent Power:

Apparent power is a multiplication of the RMS voltage and current without taking the power factor into account. This apparent power is a combination of the power dissipated in load and the power floating back and forth. This power is denoted with “S” and its unit is volt-ampere (VA).

Reactive Power:

Reactive power is the portion of apparent power that does not perform any work but only goes back and forth between load and source. This power causes undesired current flow and voltage drop. The inductive and capacitive load consists of such types of power. This power is denoted by “Q” and expressed in volt-ampere-reactive (VAR).

Active Power:

Active power is the portion of apparent power that performs the actual work. That’s why it’s called real or actual power. The power is represented with “P” and expressed in watts. Resistive load consumes active power.

Power Triangle in an AC circuit:

Just like the impedance triangle, the power triangle relates all three types of power to each other. The active or real power, which is consumed by the resistive load, is shown by a vector along the real axis. The reactive power, which is consumed by the inductive or capacitive load is shown by a vector along the imaginary axis. The apparent power is the vector summation of both actual and reactive power.

The horizontal and vertical components of the apparent power

are Horizontal components, the Real power:

and Vertical component, the Reactive power:

Power Factor and Average Power in an AC Circuit Example:

Suppose the following AC circuit with resistor and inductor and find the impedance and reactance. Also find the active, reactive, and apparent power of the circuit. Draw the impedance and power triangle for the circuit.

First of all, I will find the reactance

Where the resistance is

Now find the impedance with the following formula

Before proceeding to power calculation, I calculate the power factor

The phase angle between current and voltage is

Here the power factor is lagging because of the use of the inductor in the circuit. Now I will calculate the apparent power

And now actual power:

Reactive power:

The example is completed but now let me confirm if did the calculation correctly or not

So, my calculation is correct.

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Conclusion :

1. Only resistive load dissipates average power in an AC circuit, reactive power only causes undesired current and voltage drop.
2. The power factor of a resistive load is maximum (one), where inductive and capacitive load PF is minimum (zero) lagging and leading respectively.
3. Lower power factor arises in some undesired situations like current overloading on the circuit.
4. PF plays an important role in power dissipation in load. The higher the power factor the more power is consumed in load.
5. The power triangle consists of real, reactive, and apparent power making the base, perpendicular, and hypotenuse of the triangle respectively.