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Capacitor KVAR Formula:
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KVAR (Kilo Volt-Ampere Reactive) is a unit of measurement for reactive power in AC electrical systems. Capacitor KVAR represents the reactive power compensation provided by capacitors to improve power factor in electrical systems.
The calculator uses the KVAR formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the reactive power in kilovolt-amperes reactive based on the square of the voltage divided by the capacitive reactance, then divided by 1000 to convert to KVAR.
Details: Accurate KVAR calculation is essential for proper power factor correction, reducing energy losses, improving system efficiency, and avoiding utility penalties for poor power factor.
Tips: Enter the system voltage in volts and the capacitive reactance in ohms. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What is capacitive reactance?
A: Capacitive reactance (X_c) is the opposition to alternating current due to capacitance, measured in ohms. It's calculated as X_c = 1/(2πfC) where f is frequency and C is capacitance.
Q2: Why divide by 1000 in the formula?
A: Dividing by 1000 converts the result from volt-amperes reactive (VAR) to kilovolt-amperes reactive (KVAR), which is the standard unit for larger power systems.
Q3: What is a typical KVAR rating for capacitors?
A: Capacitor KVAR ratings vary widely based on application, from small units of 1-5 KVAR for residential use to hundreds of KVAR for industrial power factor correction.
Q4: How does KVAR relate to power factor?
A: KVAR represents the reactive power component. Adding capacitor KVAR reduces the reactive power drawn from the source, thus improving the power factor.
Q5: When should capacitor KVAR be calculated?
A: This calculation is essential when designing power factor correction systems, selecting appropriate capacitors, or analyzing electrical system performance.