I’ve run across a couple of problems for which I feel that I am missing a mathematical foundation. For example #131:
A 3 phase capacitor rated at 240 V and 110 kVAr has been proposed for correcting the power factor of a 3 phase induction motor operating at 208 V. What will be the reactive power (kVAr) supplied to the motor?
Solution:
kVAr = (208/240)² * 110
The format of the solution is new voltage (208) divided by old voltage(240) squared times the old kVAr, to get the new kVAr.
I have seen this show up again in yet another problem #526:
% of Nameplate kVA - Total Losses (W)
0 - 420
100 - 2950
Maximum efficiency occurs when copper losses equal no load losses. The percentage of nameplate kVA which will result in transformer maximum efficiency is…?
Solution:
420W is no load losses
420 = (2950-420) * (k/100)², where k is the new value for % of nameplate. Same format: new divided by old squared, multiplied by “old” load losses (load losses at 100% efficiency). Except this time, we know the “new” value, which is 420 and is on the left side of the equal sign.
Perhaps the two are not at all identical and I am thinking about it all wrong.
A 3 phase capacitor rated at 240 V and 110 kVAr has been proposed for correcting the power factor of a 3 phase induction motor operating at 208 V. What will be the reactive power (kVAr) supplied to the motor?
Solution:
kVAr = (208/240)² * 110
The format of the solution is new voltage (208) divided by old voltage(240) squared times the old kVAr, to get the new kVAr.
I have seen this show up again in yet another problem #526:
% of Nameplate kVA - Total Losses (W)
0 - 420
100 - 2950
Maximum efficiency occurs when copper losses equal no load losses. The percentage of nameplate kVA which will result in transformer maximum efficiency is…?
Solution:
420W is no load losses
420 = (2950-420) * (k/100)², where k is the new value for % of nameplate. Same format: new divided by old squared, multiplied by “old” load losses (load losses at 100% efficiency). Except this time, we know the “new” value, which is 420 and is on the left side of the equal sign.
Perhaps the two are not at all identical and I am thinking about it all wrong.