Air University

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Lab Title: Instantaneous power, active power and reactive power in R, L & C elements

Student Name: Muhammad Arham Tahir Janjua Reg. No.: 200296

Objective: To demonstrate the concept of instantaneous power and determine the average

power dissipated in a resistive load when it is connected to a source of alternating current.

Lab Assessment:

Attributes Excellent (5) Good (4) Average (3) Satisfactory (2) Unsatisfactory (1)

Ability to conduct
experiment
Ability to assimilate
results
Effective use of lab
equipment and follows
lab safety rules

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

Lab Report Assessment:

Attributes Excellent (5) Good (4) Average (3) Satisfactory (2) Unsatisfactory (1)

Data Presentation

Experimental Results

Conclusion

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

Date: Signature:
EXPERIMENT NO 3

Instantaneous power, active power and reactive power in

OBJECTIVES
1. To demonstrate the concept of instantaneous power and determine the average power
dissipated in a resistive load when it is connected to a source of alternating current.
2. Observe the instances of positive and negative power in the power waveform of reactive ac
circuits.

DISCUSSION

Resistor:
As we know, power is the product of the voltage and the current in dc circuits. The same is true for ac
circuits, except that it is important to know whether one is talking about instantaneous power or
average power. From what has been seen so far, it should be clear that the power dissipated by a
resistor connected to an ac source varies sinusoidally with time, since the circuit voltage and current
are sine waves. Instantaneous power is simply the product of E and I calculated at each instant in the
sine wave cycle. If a wattmeter were connected to measure power in the circuit of Figure 2-9, it would
indicate a value other than zero, even though the average value of the voltage and current waveforms
is zero over a period.

This is what is shown by the instantaneous power waveform in Figure 2-9. Close examination of this
figure shows that when the voltage is negative, the current is negative, so that the E x I product is always
positive. As you will learn in this exercise, the average power dissipated by a resistive load is simply the
product of the rms voltage and current in the circuit. Another important point to note is that the
frequency of the instantaneous power waveform is twice that of the source. This is because the E x I
product gives sine-squared function which is at twice the frequency of the original sine waves.
Capacitor:
As we know, the voltages and currents in resistive ac circuits are in phase, and the power dissipated by
resistors is active power in the form of heat. However, unlike the case when only resistance is present
in an ac circuit, there is a phase shift between the circuit voltage and current because of the presence
of capacitance. The phase shift is due to the fact that capacitors oppose changes in the voltage across
their terminals.

As previously discussed, the charging-discharging process associated with capacitors, hence the
capacitive current flow, is related to the fact that the applied voltage is changing. If we consider what
is happening when an ac voltage goes through a minimum value (negative peak value), we realize that
for that particular moment, the voltage is no longer changing. Hence, the capacitive current must be
zero at that time, since the rate of change of the voltage is zero. Then, when the ac voltage is going
through zero amplitude, its rate of change is maximum, and the current must therefore be maximum.
As a result, the voltage lags the current by 90°. In the case of an ideal capacitor, the phase shift is 90°.
The capacitive phase shift of 90° between voltage and current is shown in Figure 3-8.

As mentioned earlier, reactive components like capacitors that cause a phase shift between circuit
voltage and current will produce an instantaneous power waveform having negative values as well as
positive values. The positive and negative instances in the power waveform just mean that power goes
back and forth between the source and the capacitor. The instantaneous power waveform of a purely
capacitive ac circuit is shown in Figure 3-8. The waveform has equal areas of positive and negative
power, and therefore the average power over a complete period is zero. The positive and negative
portions in the waveform indicate the presence of reactive power, and the reactive power is equal to
the apparent power when there is no resistance present in the circuit. Note also that the instantaneous
power waveform frequency is twice the ac source frequency.
Inductor:
As you saw previously, the voltage and current waveforms in resistive ac circuits are in phase, and the
power dissipated by resistors is active power in the form of heat. Now, just like the case when
capacitance is present in an ac circuit, there is a phase shift between voltage and current because of
inductance. This phase shift is caused by the opposition of inductors to current changes.

When current flowing in an inductor starts to change, the inductor reacts by producing a voltage that
opposes the current change. The faster the current changes, the greater the voltage produced by the
inductor to oppose the current change. In other words, the voltage across the inductor is proportional
to the rate of change in current. Now, suppose that a sine-wave current flows in an inductor. At the
instant the current goes through a minimum value (negative peak value), the current is no longer
changing, and the inductor voltage is zero since the current rate of change is zero. Then, when the
current is going to zero amplitude, its rate of change is maximum, and the inductor voltage is maximum.
As a result, the current in an ideal inductor lags the voltage by 90°. Th inductive phase shift of 90°
between current and voltage is shown in Figure 4-9.

As mentioned earlier, reactive components that cause a phase shift between circuit voltage and
current produce instantaneous power waveforms having negative and positive values, meaning that
power goes back and forth between the source and the reactive component. The instantaneous power
waveform for a purely inductive ac circuit is shown in Figure 4-9. This waveform also has equal areas
of positive and negative power, like that for a purely capacitive ac circuit, and the average power over
a complete period is zero. However, as you will see in this exercise, real inductors have some
resistance, and they will consume a small amount of active power. Consequently, positive and negative
areas in the power waveform will not be exactly equal. Note that the instantaneous power waveform
frequency is twice the ac source frequency.
PROCEDURE
1. Install the Power Supply, data acquisition module, and Resistive Load module in the EMS
Workstation.
2. Make sure that the main power switch of the Power Supply is set to the O (OFF) position, and
the voltage control knob is turned fully counterclockwise. Make sure that the Power Supply is
connected to a three-phase wall receptacle.
3. Set up the circuits as shown ahead.
a. Set the Resistive Load module for the given resistance value and connect inputs E1 and
I1 to measure the circuit current and voltage.
b. Set up the circuit shown in Figure 3-9 and connect inputs E1 and I1 to measure the
circuit voltage and current. Set the Capacitive Load module for the value of Cmax given
in Figure 3-9.
c. Set up the circuit shown in Figure 4-10 and connect inputs E1 and I1 to measure the
circuit voltage and current. Set the Inductive Load module for the value of Lmin given
in Figure 4-10.

4. Make sure that the data acquisition module is connected to a USB port of the computer.
Connect the POWER INPUT of the data acquisition module to the 24 V - AC output of the
Power Supply. Set the 24 V - AC power switch to the I (ON) position.
 5. Start the Data Acquisition software LVDAC.
6. Turn on the main Power Supply and adjust the voltage control knob to 100%. Verify that the
circuit parameters are displayed on the Metering application.
7. For each configuration, Click on the Oscilloscope button and display E1, I1, and P1 on CH1,
CH2, and CH3. Make sure that the time base control is adjusted to show at least two complete
cycles of the sine waves.

LAB TASKS

Task 01 - Resistor:

220

0.21

45.31
1. .

2. .

10

100

3. .

4. . Same & in-phase

5. . Yes

46.1

45.13
6. .
Task 02 - Capacitor:

220

1.06

235.7
1. .

2. .

3. .

90
4. .

5. .

6. .

10

100
7. .

8. . Frequency of instantaneous power will be double as compared to AC source.

9. .
 235.7

10. . 0.78

11. .

0.78
12. .

13. .

14. . Voltage remains same while current and reactive power decreases

15. .

16. .
Because current is leading the voltage. So, when voltage or current is zero, then the instantaneous
power will be zero.

Task 03 - Inductor:

220

0.76

168
1. .
2. .

3. .

90
4. .

5. .

6. .

10

100
7. .

8. .
Frequency of instantaneous power will be double as compared to AC source.

9. .

168

18.98
10. .
 11. .

18.98
12. .

13. . When current or voltage is zero

14. .

15. .

16. . Voltage remains same while current and reactive power decreases

17. .

18. .
Because current is lagging the voltage. So, when voltage or current is zero, then the
instantaneous power will be zero.

Conclusion:
In this lab, we learned about the instantaneous, active and reactive power in R, L & C elements.
We learned about the average power dissipated in a resistive load. We learned that the in Capacitive
circuit, the current is leading the voltage by 90 degree and the instantaneous power will be zero when
current or voltage is zero. And in inductive load, the current is lagging the voltage by 90 degree and the
instantaneous power will be zero when current or voltage is zero. In pure inductive load, we can say that
the peak value is reactive power. We also observed the differences in the power waveforms of resistive
and reactive components. As there is average value in the resistive load but no average value in the
capacitive or inductive load.