Powers in nonsinusoidal situations-a review of definitions and physical meaning

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Abstract
The author expands on the physical meaning of the reactive power in nonsinusoidal situations. The sinusoidal waveform case is surveyed, viewing the active current as a component of identical waveform with the voltage. This approach, when extended to nonsinusoidal waveforms, supports Fryze's model for apparent power, S/sup 2/=p/sup 2/+Q/sup 2//sub F/. It is proved that the total reactive power Q/sub F/ is composed from four distinctive types of elementary reactive powers. Each of the basic reactive powers is identified as the amplitude of an oscillation of instantaneous power. The separation of Q/sub F/ in Q/sub 1/, the reactive power at the system frequency, and in Q/sub H/, the reactive power at harmonic frequencies, is recommended as an effective mean for monitoring filter efficacy and power-factor compensation. Two major recommendations are supported by the results of this study: abolish the power model using distortion power, and measure the active power of the system frequency separately from the active power of the harmonics.

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