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Difference Between Active & Reactive Power (With Comparison Chart)

The active power is the actual power dissipated in the circuit as useful work, whereas reactive power is non-productive power that flows between source and load. Active power is measured in watts and causes effects like heat and torque, while reactive power is measured in VAR and determines the power factor. Key differences are that active power produces useful effects and reactive power does not, active power is real power while reactive is useless power, and they are measured by different instruments.

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26 views3 pages

Difference Between Active & Reactive Power (With Comparison Chart)

The active power is the actual power dissipated in the circuit as useful work, whereas reactive power is non-productive power that flows between source and load. Active power is measured in watts and causes effects like heat and torque, while reactive power is measured in VAR and determines the power factor. Key differences are that active power produces useful effects and reactive power does not, active power is real power while reactive is useless power, and they are measured by different instruments.

Uploaded by

RaghavanAR
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Difference Between Active & Reactive Power

The most significant difference between the active and reactive power is that the active
power is the actual power which is dissipated in the circuit. Whereas, the reactive power
is the useless power which only flows between the source and load. The other
differences between the active and reactive power are explained below in the
comparison chart.

The active, apparent and real power induces in the circuit only when their current lags
behind the applied voltage by an angle of Φ. The right-angled triangle shown below
shows the relation between the active, reactive and apparent power.

Where, S – apparent power


Q – reactive power
P – Active power

Comparison Chart
Basis for
Active Power Reactive Power
Comparison

Definition The active power is the real The power which moves back and
power which is dissipated in froth between the load and source
the circuit. such type of power is known as the
reactive power

Formula

Measuring Watts VAR


Unit

Represented P Q
By

Causes Produces heat in heater, Measures the power factor of the


light in lamps and torque in circuit.
motor.

Measuring Wattmeter VAR Meter


Instrument

Definition of Active Power


The power which is dissipated or do the useful work in the circuit is known as the active
power. It is measured in watts or megawatts. The active power is denoted by the capital
alphabet P. The average value of power in the circuit is given by the expression.

The active power derives the circuit and load.


Definition of Reactive Power
The reactive power moves between the source and load of the circuit. This power is not
doing any useful works on the load. Q represents the reactive power, and it is measured
in VAR. The reactive power is stored in the circuit, and it is discharged by the induction
motor, transformer or by solenoids.

Key Differences between Active and Reactive Power


 The active power is the real power consumes by the load. Whereas, the reactive
power is the useless power.
 The active power is the product of the voltage, current and the cosine of the
angle between them. Whereas, the reactive power is the product of voltage and current
and the sine of the angle between them.

 The active power is the real power, and it is measured in watts. While the
reactive power is measured in VAR.

 The letter P represents the Active power, and the Q represents the reactive
power.

 The torque that develops in the motor, the heat dissipated in the heater and the
light that emit through the lamps all these produces because of the active power. The
reactive power determines the power factor of the circuit.

 The wattmeter measures the active power, and the VAR meter is used for
measuring the apparent power.

Conclusion
The active power does the useful work in the circuit. And the reactive power merely
flows in the circuit without doing any useful work.

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