In a DC circuit, the power consumed is simply the product of the DC voltage

times the DC current, given in watts. However, for AC circuits with reactive
components we have to calculate the consumed power differently.
Electrical power is the “rate” at which energy is being consumed in a circuit
and as such all electrical and electronic components and devices have a limit
to the amount of electrical power that they can safely handle. For example, a
1/4 watt resistor or a 20 watt amplifier.
Electrical power can be time-varying either as a DC quantity or as an AC
quantity. The amount of power in a circuit at any instant of time is called
the instantaneous power and is given by the well-known relationship of power
equals volts times amps (P = V*I). So one watt (which is the rate of expending
energy at one joule per second) will be equal to the volt-ampere product of
one volt times one ampere.
Then the power absorbed or supplied by a circuit element is the product of the
voltage, V across the element, and the current, I flowing through it. So if we
had a DC circuit with a resistance of “R” ohms, the power dissipated by the
resistor in watts is given by any of the following generalised formulas:

Electrical Power

 
Where: V is the dc voltage, I is the dc current and R is the value of the
resistance.
So power within an electrical circuit is only present when both the voltage and
current are present, that is no open-circuit or closed-circuit conditions.
Consider the following simple example of a standard resistive dc circuit:

DC Resistive Circuit
Electrical Power in an AC Circuit
In a DC circuit, the voltages and currents are generally constant, that is not
varying with time as there is no sinusoidal waveform associated with the
supply. However in an AC circuit, the instantaneous values of the voltage,
current and therefore power are constantly changing being influenced by the
supply. So we can not calculate the power in AC circuits in the same manner
as we can in DC circuits, but we can still say that power (p) is equal to the
voltage (v) times the amperes (i).
Another important point is that AC circuits contain reactance, so there is a
power component as a result of the magnetic and/or electric fields created by
the components. The result is that unlike a purely resistive component, this
power is stored and then returned back to the supply as the sinusoidal
waveform goes through one complete periodic cycle.
Thus, the average power absorbed by a circuit is the sum of the power stored
and the power returned over one complete cycle. So a circuits average power
consumption will be the average of the instantaneous power over one full
cycle with the instantaneous power, p defined as the multiplication of the
instantaneous voltage, v by the instantaneous current, i. Note that as the sine
function is periodic and continuous, the average power given over all time will
be exactly the same as the average power given over a single cycle.
Let us assume that the waveforms of the voltage and current are both
sinusoidal, so we recall that:

Sinusoidal Voltage Waveform

 
As the instantaneous power is the power at any instant of time, then:
 
Applying the trigonometric product-to-sum identity of:

 
and θ = θv – θi (the phase difference between the voltage and the current
waveforms) into the above equation gives:

 
Where V and I are the root-mean-squared (rms) values of the sinusoidal
waveforms, v  and i respectively, and θ is the phase difference between the
two waveforms. Therefore we can express the instantaneous power as being:

Instantaneous AC Power Equation

 
This equation shows us that the instantaneous AC power has two different
parts and is therefore the sum of these two terms. The second term is a time
varying sinusoid whose frequency is equal to twice the angular frequency of
the supply due to the 2ω part of the term. The first term however is a constant
whose value depends only on the phase difference, θ between the voltage,
(V) and the current, (I).
As the instantaneous power is constantly changing with the profile of the
sinusoid over time, this makes it difficult to measure. It is therefore more
convenient, and easier on the maths to use the average or mean value of the
power. So over a fixed number of cycles, the average value of the
instantaneous power of the sinusoid is given simply as:

 
Where V and I are the sinusoids rms values, and θ (Theta) is the phase angle
between the voltage and the current. The units of power are in watts (W).
The AC Power dissipated in a circuit can also be found from the impedance,
(Z) of the circuit using the voltage, Vrms or the current, Irms flowing through the
circuit as shown.

AC Power Example No1

The voltage and current values of a 50Hz sinusoidal supply are given as:
vt = 240 sin(ωt +60o)Volts and it = 5 sin(ωt -10o)Amps respectively. Find the
values of the instantaneous power and the average power absorbed by the
circuit.
From above, the instantaneous power absorbed by the circuit is given as:
 
Applying the trigonometric identity rule from above gives:

 
The average power is then calculated as:
 
You may have noticed that the average power value of 205.2 watts is also the
first term value of the instantaneous power p(t) as this first term constant value
is the average or mean rate of energy change between the source and load.

AC Power in a Purely Resistive Circuit

We have seen thus far, that in a dc circuit, power is equal to the product of
voltage and current and this relationship is also true for a purely resistive AC
circuit. Resistors are electrical devices that consume energy and the power in
a resistor is given by p = VI = I2R = V2/R. This power is always positive.
Consider the following purely resistive (that is infinite capacitance, C = ∞ and
zero inductance, L = 0) circuit with a resistor connected to an AC supply, as
shown.

Purely Resistive Circuit

 
When a pure resistor is connected to a sinusoidal voltage supply, the current
flowing through the resistor will vary in proportion to the supply voltage, that is
the voltage and current waveforms are “in-phase” with each other. Since the
phase difference between the voltage waveform and the current waveform is
0o, the phase angle resulting in cos 0o will be equal to 1.
Then the electrical power consumed by the resistor is given by:

Electrical Power in a Pure Resistor

 
As the voltage and current waveforms are in-phase, that is both waveforms
reach their peak values at the same time, and also pass through zero at the
same time, the power equation above reduces down to just: V*I. Therefore the
the power at any instant can be found by multiplying together the two
waveforms to give the volt-ampere product. This is called the “Real Power”,
(P) measured in watts, (W), Kilowatt (kW), Megawatt (MW), etc.

AC Power Waveforms for a Pure Resistor

 
The diagram shows the voltage, current and corresponding power waveforms.
As the voltage and current waveforms are both in-phase, during the positive
half-cycle, when the voltage is positive, the current is also positive so the
power is positive, as a positive times a positive equals a positive. During the
negative half-cycle, the voltage in negative, so to is the current resulting in the
power being positive, as a negative times a negative equals a positive.
Then in a purely resistive circuit, electrical power is consumed ALL the time
that current is flowing through the resistor and is given as: P = V*I = I2R watts.
Note that both V and I can be their rms values where: V = I*R and I = V/R

AC Power in a Purely Inductive Circuit

In a purely inductive (that is infinite capacitance, C = ∞ and zero resistance, R
= 0) circuit of L Henries, the voltage and current waveforms are not in-phase.
Whenever a changing voltage is applied to a purely inductive coil, a “back”
emf is produced by the coil due to its self-inductance. This self-inductance
opposes and limits any changes to the current flowing in the coil.
The effects of this back emf is that the current cannot increase immediately
through the coil in-phase with the applied voltage causing the current
waveform to reach its peak or maximum value some time after that of the
voltage. The result is that in a purely inductive circuit, the current always “lags”
(ELI) behind the voltage by 90o (π/2) as shown.

Purely Inductive Circuit

 
The waveforms above shows us the instantaneous voltage and instantaneous
current across a purely inductive coil as a function of time. Maximum current,
Imax occurs at one full quarter of a cycle (90o) after the maximum (peak) value of
the voltage. Here the current is shown with its negative maximum value at the
start of the voltage cycle and passes through zero increasing to its positive
maximum value when the voltage waveform is at its maximum value at 90o.
Thus as the voltage and current waveforms are no longer rising and falling
together, but instead a phase shift of 90o (π/2) is introduced in the coil, then
the voltage and current waveforms are “out-of-phase” with each other as the
voltage leads the current by 90o. Since the phase difference between the
voltage waveform and the current waveform is 90o, then the phase angle
resulting in cos 90o = 0.
Therefore the electrical power stored by a pure inductor, QL is given by:

Real Power in a Pure Inductor

 
Clearly then, a pure inductor does not consume or dissipate any real or true
power, but as we have both voltage and current the use of cos(θ) in the
expression: P = V*I*cos(θ) for a pure inductor is no longer valid. The product
of the current and the voltage in this case is imaginary power, commonly
called “Reactive Power”, (Q) measured in volt-amperes reactive, (VAr), Kilo-
voltamperes reactive (KVAr), etc.
Voltamperes reactive, VAr should not be confused with watts, (W) which is
used for real power. VAr represents the product of the volts and amperes that
are 90o out-of-phase with each other. To identify the reactive average power
mathematically, the sine function is used. Then the equation for the average
reactive power in an inductor becomes:

Reactive Power in a Pure Inductor

 
Like real power (P), reactive power, (Q) also depends on voltage and current,
but also the phase angle between them. It is therefore the product of the
applied voltage and the component part of the current which is 90o out-of-
phase with the voltage as shown.

AC Power Waveforms for a Pure Inductor

 
In the positive half of the voltage waveform between the angle of 0o and 90o,
the inductor current is negative while the supply voltage is positive. Therefore,
the volts and ampere product gives a negative power as a negative times a
positive equals a negative. Between 90o and 180o, both current and voltage
waveforms are positive in value resulting in positive power. This positive
power indicates that the coil is consuming electrical energy from the supply.
In the negative half of the voltage waveform between 180o and 270o, there is a
negative voltage and positive current indicating a negative power. This
negative power indicates that the coil is returning the stored electrical energy
back to the supply. Between 270o and 360o, both the inductors current and the
supply voltage are both negative resulting in a period of positive power.
Then during one full-cycle of the voltage waveform we have two identical
positive and negative pulses of power whose average value is zero so no real
power is used up since the power alternately flows to and from the source.
This means then that the total power taken by a pure inductor over one full-
cycle is zero, so an inductors reactive power does not perform any real work.

AC Power in a Purely Capacitive Circuit

A purely capacitive (that is zero inductance, L = 0 and infinite resistance, R =
∞) circuit of C Farads, has the property of delaying changes in the voltage
across it. Capacitors store electrical energy in the form of an electric field
within the dielectric so a pure capacitor does not dissipate any energy but
instead stores it.
In a purely capacitive circuit the voltage cannot increase in-phase with the
current as it needs to “charge-up” the capacitors plates first. This causes the
voltage waveform to reach its peak or maximum value some time after that of
the current. The result is that in a purely capacitive circuit, the current always
“leads” (ICE) the voltage by 90o (ω/2) as shown.

Purely Capacitive Circuit

 
The waveform shows us the voltage and current across a pure capacitor as a
function of time. Maximum current, Im occurs a one full quarter of a cycle (90o)
before the maximum (peak) value of the voltage. Here the current is shown
with its positive maximum value at the start of the voltage cycle and passes
through zero, decreasing to its negative maximum value when the voltage
waveform is at its maximum value at 90o. The opposite phase shift to the
purely inductive circuit.
Thus for a purely capacitive circuit, the phase angle θ = -90o and the equation
for the average reactive power in a capacitor becomes:

Reactive Power in a Pure Capacitor

 
Where –V*I*sin(θ) is a negative sine wave. Also the symbol for capacitive
reactive power is QC with the same unit of measure, the volt-ampere reactive
(VAR) as that of the inductor. Then we can see that just like a purely inductive
circuit above, a pure capacitor does not consume or dissipate any real or true
power, P.

AC Power Waveforms for a Pure Capacitor

 
In the positive half of the voltage waveform between the angle of 0o and 90o,
both the current and voltage waveforms are positive in value resulting in
positive power being consumed. Between 90o and 180o, the capacitor current
is negative and the supply voltage is still positive. Therefore, the volt-ampere
product gives a negative power as a negative times a positive equals a
negative. This negative power indicates that the coil is returning stored
electrical energy back to the supply.
In the negative half of the voltage waveform between 180o and 270o, both the
capacitors current and the supply voltage are negative in value resulting in a
period of positive power. This period of positive power indicates that the coil is
consuming electrical energy from the supply. Between 270o and 360o, there is
a negative voltage and positive current indicating once again a negative
power.
Then during one full-cycle of the voltage waveform the same situation exists
as for the purely inductive circuit in that we have two identical positive and
negative pulses of power whose average value is zero. Thus the power
delivered from the source to the capacitor is exactly equal to the power
returned to the source by the capacitor so no real power is used up since the
power alternately flows to and from the source. This means then that the total
power taken by a pure capacitor over one full-cycle is zero, so the capacitors
reactive power does not perform any real work.

Electrical Power Example No2

A solenoid coil with a resistance of 30 ohms and an inductance of 200mH is

connected to a 230VAC, 50Hz supply. Calculate: (a) the solenoids
impedance, (b) the current consumed by the solenoid, (c) the phase angle
between the current and the applied voltage, and (d) the average power
consumed by the solenoid.
Data given: R = 30Ω, L = 200mH, V = 230V and ƒ = 50Hz.
(a) Impedance (Z) of the solenoid coil:

 
(b) Current (I) consumed by the solenoid coil:

 
(c) The phase angle, θ:
 
(d) Average AC power consumed by the solenoid coil:

AC Electrical Power Summary

We have seen here that in AC circuits, the voltage and current flowing in a
purely passive circuit are normally out-of-phase and, as a result, they can not
be used to accomplish any real work. We have also seen that in a direct
current (DC) circuit, electrical power is equal to the voltage times the current,
or P = V*I, but we can not calculate it in the same manner as for AC circuits as
we need to take into account any phase difference.
In a purely resistive circuit, the current and voltage are both in-phase and all
the electrical power is consumed by the resistance, usually as heat. As a
result, none of the electrical power is returned back to the source supply or
circuit.
However, in a purely inductive or a purely capacitive circuit that contains
reactance, (X) the current will lead or lag the voltage by exactly 90o (the phase
angle) so power is both stored and returned back to the source. Thus the
average power calculated over one full periodic cycle will be equal to zero.
The electrical power consumed by a resistance, (R) is called the true or real
power and is simply obtained by multiplying the rms voltage with the rms
current. The power stored by a reactance, (X) is called the reactive power and
is obtained by multiplying the voltage, current, and the sine of the phase angle
between them.
The symbol for phase angle is θ (Theta) and which represents the inefficiency
of the AC circuit with regards to the total reactive impedance (Z) that opposes
the flow of current in the circuit.