Why Reactive Power is Necessary ? | The Best Explanation | What is Reactive Power ?

Summary

This educational YouTube video from 'Build the Basics' explores the role of reactive power in electrical systems. It clarifies misconceptions about reactive power being useless, emphasizing its necessity for creating magnetic and electric fields essential for the operation of motors, transformers, and other equipment. The video explains that while reactive power does contribute to energy losses in transmission lines, it is crucial for the functionality of many electrical devices. It also discusses the importance of reactive power compensation to balance consumption and production, thereby reducing line losses and improving voltage profiles in power systems.

Takeaways

• 🔌 There are three components of power: active power, reactive power, and apparent power, forming a power triangle.
• 💡 Active power is the actual power consumed by the load and is considered useful, while reactive power is often misunderstood as useless.
• 🏭 Power transmission involves losses due to line resistance and additional currents caused by the reactive nature of transmission lines.
• 🔋 Reactive power is essential for creating magnetic fields and electric fields, which are necessary for the operation of many electrical devices.
• 🏗️ Equipment like motors and transformers rely on reactive power to function properly, as it helps in establishing magnetic fields and inducing voltage.
• 🔧 Reactive loads can be either inductive, like motors and transformers, or capacitive, like capacitors and line capacitance.
• 🌐 Reactive power is not useless; it is necessary for the proper functioning of electrical systems and equipment.
• ⚙️ Reactive power compensation is crucial to balance reactive power consumption and production in a power system.
• 🔄 Reactive power control helps reduce losses and voltage drop in transmission lines by generating reactive power at the point of need.
• 📈 Shunt inductors and capacitors are used to manage voltage profiles and minimize effects like the Ferranti effect in power transmission.

Q & A

What are the three components of power?

The three components of power are active power, reactive power, and apparent power. They form a power triangle together.

What is active power?

Active power is the actual power consumed by the load and is considered the useful power.

What is reactive power?

Reactive power is the power that is associated with the reactive nature of the transmission lines and does not directly contribute to the work done by the load.

What is the role of reactive power in power transmission?

Reactive power causes additional current flow in the transmission lines, which can lead to increased losses and voltage drop.

Why is reactive power necessary in electrical systems?

Reactive power is necessary to produce magnetic fields and electric fields, which are essential for the operation of many electrical machines and equipment such as motors and transformers.

What are the two types of loads in electrical systems?

The two types of loads are resistive loads, which consume electrical energy, and reactive loads, which store and feed back electrical energy.

What are some examples of resistive loads?

Examples of resistive loads include heaters, lightbulbs, and most domestic appliances like fans, heaters, or refrigerators.

What are the two types of reactive loads?

The two types of reactive loads are inductive loads, such as motors and transformers, and capacitive loads, like capacitors and line capacitance.

Why is reactive power control important in power systems?

Reactive power control is important to balance the reactive power consumption and production in the power system, which helps reduce losses and voltage drop in transmission lines.

How can reactive power be compensated in power systems?

Reactive power can be compensated by generating reactive power at the places of its requirement using capacitors or synchronous machines, thus avoiding its transmission through lines.

What is the Ferranti effect and how is it related to reactive power?

The Ferranti effect is a phenomenon where the receiving end voltage of a transmission line increases, particularly in lightly loaded conditions. Reactive power control using shunt inductors or capacitors can be used to minimize the Ferranti effect and improve voltage profiles.