Comments, with reply, on "Measurement and compensation of fictitious power under nonsinusoidal voltage and current conditions" by J.H.R. Enslin and J.D. Van Wyk

Comments are made on the above-mentioned work by J.H. Enslin and J.D. Van Wyk (see ibid., vol.37, p.403-408, Sept. 1988). The commenter first takes issue with the definitions used for active power as an average rate of energy transfer over an arbitrary time window. He then questions the three different physical interpretations offered for a new definition of reactive power. In replying, the original authors state that they are of the opinion that consistent results are obtained with the new approach in power systems with a sinusoidal voltage and periodic currents under steady-state conditions. This approach has distinct advantages in practical measurement techniques, distortion analysis, and practical compensation with dynamic power filters, when confronted with nonsinusoidal currents, even under dynamic conditions. This approach is furthermore adaptable to sinusoidal voltages and currents and can have an impact on the analysis of power systems with aperiodic waveforms of voltage and current.<>