Lecture 2: Real, Reactive and Apparent

Power in AC Circuits

by
Asst. Prof. Dr. Alkan ALKAYA
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department

Steady-state sinusoidal (AC)

Analysis
Many important applications in
electrical engineering involve AC
currents and voltage
Electric power is distributed
worldwide using AC signals (50-60
Hz)

Effective (rms) Values of Periodic

Signals
The instantaneous power

The average power (Pavg)

Effective (rms) Values of Periodic

Signals
Effective value for the periodic resistor voltage
(Veff) that when inserted in to the DC power
equation gives the avarage power in the resistor.
That is;

So effective voltage;

The term root-mean-square or rms

comes from the mathematical operation on

Effective (rms) Values of Periodic

Signals
The same effective current defination can be
made for a periodic current flowing through a
resistor. Theaverage power in terms of the
periodic current is given by;

So effective current;

Effective (rms) Values of Periodic

Signals
v(t ) V peak cos(t v )

V peak , I peak peak amplitude

i(t ) I peak cos(t i )

radian frequency
v , i Phase angle

AC Circuit Analysis and Phasors

The real valued instantaneous voltage and current
[v(t) and i(t)] are transformed into the complexvalued phasor voltage and current [V and I] where
we use boldface letters to denote a complex-valued
phasor

The primary advantage to performing the circuit analysis in the

frequency-domain is the elimination of derivatives and integrals
of currents and voltages which occur in the time-domain for
inductors and capacitors.

AC Circuit Analysis and Phasors

Mathematical Operations

Impedance of Circuit elements

The impedance of a circuit element is defined as the ratio of
the phasor voltage across the element to the phasor current
through the element (units=).

Resistor Impedance

Impedance of Circuit elements

Capacitor Impedance

Impedance of Circuit elements

Inductor Impedance

General complex Impedance

Example

Solution

Solution

Solution

Solution

AC Power

AC Power

AC Power

AC Power

Complex Power and Power Factor

Complex Power and Power Factor

Complex Power and Power Factor

Complex Power and Power Factor

Complex Power:Power Triangle

Complex Power:Power Triangle

Since the cosine function is an even function, this
leads to an unceartinty in the power factor definition
for positive and negative angles. This unceartinty is
resolved by describing the power factor as either
leading or lagging, according to the phase of the
current with respect to the voltage.

Power Triangle

Complex Power:Power Triangle

Inductive Load
(Lagging PF)

Complex Power:Power Triangle

Capacitive Load
(Leading PF)

Complex Power:Units

Example
For the source in the circuit shown below,
determine
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

The apparent power

The power factor
The real power
The reactive power
The complex power
Draw the power triangle

Solution

Solution

Power Factor
Correction:Compensation

Power Factor Correction:Compensation

Example

Solution

Solution

Solution

Maximum Power Transfer in AC

circuit

Maximum Power Transfer in AC

circuit

Maximum Power Transfer in AC

circuit

Maximum Power Transfer in AC

circuit