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

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, S²=p ²+Q²_F. It is proved that the total reactive power Q_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_F in Q ₁, the reactive power at the system frequency, and in Q_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