Power Factor — SparkyStudy

Inputs — load and correction

System voltage (V)

Real power P (kW) 50 kW

Inductive load — before correction (kVAR) 40 kVAR

Capacitor correction (kVAR) 0 kVAR

PF (before)

—

PF (after)

—

Line current (before)

— A

Line current (after)

— A

Excellent — no correction needed.

Power triangle

P — real power (kW), does actual work Q — reactive power (kVAR), builds/collapses magnetic fields S — apparent power (kVA), what the utility bills you for

P (real)

— kW

Q (reactive)

— kVAR

S (apparent)

— kVA

⚡ Teaching visualization. Assumes a lagging (inductive) load — the most common case for motors and transformers. Real installations may need staged capacitor banks with tuning reactors to avoid harmonic resonance. Utility PF penalty rules and target PF vary by jurisdiction — check your utility's tariff schedule.