CONCEPT OF REACTIVE POWER AND REACTIVE POWER COMPENSATION
RPC theory The beer mug analogy is useful to understand the BEER MUG ANALOGY theory of reactive power compensation. If the mug capacity is the apparent power (kVA) that we can transmit through a system, then the foam is the reactive power (kvar) and the beer is the real power (kW). Power factor = beer (kW) divided by mug capacity (kVA) or the efficiency that we can achieve of beer volume to mug capacity If we use capacitors to provide the foam (kvar) when we drink the beer, then we free up mug capacity so you don't have to buy a bigger mug and/or so you can pay less for your beer. Most loads and delivery apparatus (e.g., lines and transformers) are inductive in nature and operate at a lagging power factor. They need the reactive power component, but that's not to say, that we need to constrain the power system by transmitting the reactive power through the system. The benefits of reactive power compensation in the transmi...