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Three-Phase Motor Power Formula:
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The three-phase motor power calculation estimates the actual power consumption of a three-phase electric motor based on voltage, current, and power factor measurements. This helps in determining the motor's efficiency and operating costs.
The calculator uses the three-phase power formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the real power in kilowatts by accounting for the three-phase system characteristics and the power factor, which represents the phase difference between voltage and current.
Details: Accurate motor power calculation is essential for energy management, motor sizing, efficiency analysis, and cost estimation in industrial applications.
Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, line current in amps, and power factor (typically 0.8-0.95 for motors). All values must be positive, with power factor between 0 and 1.
Q1: What is power factor and why is it important?
A: Power factor represents the efficiency of power usage. A lower power factor means more apparent power is required to deliver the same real power, resulting in higher energy costs.
Q2: What are typical power factor values for motors?
A: Most three-phase induction motors have power factors between 0.8 and 0.95 when operating at full load. The power factor decreases at lighter loads.
Q3: Can this formula be used for single-phase motors?
A: No, this formula is specifically for three-phase systems. Single-phase motors use a different calculation: kW = V × I × PF / 1000.
Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation provides theoretical power consumption. Actual power may vary due to motor efficiency, operating conditions, and measurement accuracy.
Q5: What is the significance of the √3 factor?
A: The √3 factor accounts for the 120-degree phase separation in three-phase systems and converts line-to-line measurements to per-phase values.