I have a question from NCEES power practice exam.
Q110. In a 3 phase 4 wire system loads are connected to phase B and C only. Phase-Phase voltage is 13.2kV, Load is 500kVA at 0.85 lagging PF. What is the magnitude of the line current in Phase C?
Solution is 500/13.2=37.9A
My question is why we are not dividing by PF here?
Please help.
Thanks
This problem can be solved using PF, but there is certainly no need to complicate it. However, I will illustrate this below so that you can use this approach if you get hung up:
From our power equations, we know
P=VIcos(theta)
Conversely,
Q=VIsin(theta) and S=VI or VI*
We are interested in the magnitude here, therefore, PF is not necessary. However, if PF were used, recall that P=Spf, thereby, P=(500KVA)(0.85). Once you have determined P, then you can use the above solution with PF, namely:
425kW/(13.2kVx0.85)=37.9A (or I = P/(VLLxPF)
Easy enough, but entirely unnecessary to solve this problem. As others have mentioned, know what you're solving for and analyze what data is given (write everything down and put a question mark beside the unknown...sounds remedial, but hey, if it helps to pass, so what). For instance, to carry this another step further, rarely ever will you have to use HP to calculate electrical power, amps, etc. (generally speaking, the HP that is usually given is in terms of mechanical/shaft HP, not electrical HP). It can be done with generalized formulas and some elbow grease, but this test is about how well do you understand concepts, not how well can you regurgitate numbers and manipulate a problem algebraically to arrive at a solution.