Näennäisteholla

Näennäisteholla, or apparent power, is a concept in electrical engineering that describes the product of the root-mean-square voltage and root-mean-square current in an electrical circuit. It is measured in volt-amperes (VA). Unlike real power, which represents the actual power consumed by a circuit and dissipated as heat or used for mechanical work, apparent power accounts for both the real power and the reactive power. Reactive power is the power that oscillates between the source and the load, typically stored in inductors and capacitors, and does not perform useful work.

The relationship between apparent power (S), real power (P), and reactive power (Q) is given by the equation S = sqrt(P^2 + Q^2). This relationship can be visualized as a right triangle, where S is the hypotenuse, P is the adjacent side, and Q is the opposite side. The power factor, defined as the ratio of real power to apparent power (P/S), indicates how effectively the apparent power is being converted into useful work. A power factor of 1 means all apparent power is real power, while a lower power factor signifies a greater proportion of reactive power. Electrical systems are designed to handle the apparent power, as both real and reactive power contribute to the total current flowing through the conductors. Maintaining a high power factor is desirable to minimize energy losses and ensure efficient operation of electrical equipment.