zaheerdahri

 Profile Answers by zaheerdahri Questions by zaheerdahri

• Dec 23rd, 2010

 

Apparent Power
Apparent power (S) is the power delivered to an electrical circuit. The measurement of apparent power is in voltamperes (VA).


Reactive Power
Reactive power (Q) is the power consumed in an AC circuit because of the expansion and collapse of magnetic (inductive) and electrostatic (capacitive) fields. Reactive power is expressed in volt-amperes-reactive (VAR).

Steeve Cantave

 Profile Answers by Steeve Cantave 

• Mar 15th, 2011

 

Apparent power is the power that is needed for the circuit to perform.  In an AC circuit with resistive, capacitive, and inductive components, not all power is converted from electrical to non-electrical.  The average power is the only power that is converted from electrical to non-electrical energy;  only resistors absorb that kind of power.  Inductors and capacitors on the other hand, do not absorb any real power.  Despite not absorbing  or delivering any real power, they do exchange reactive power with the source driving the circuit.  Since that power is reactive, hence does not really perform any net work, then it's not real power.  However it does need to be taken into account when analyzing a circuit.  The apparent power is both the real(average) power, and the reactive power put together.