In a three-phase system, what does the power factor (PF) represent?

The power factor (PF) in a three-phase system is the ratio of real power to apparent power. Real power, measured in watts, represents the actual power consumed by the load to perform useful work, while apparent power, measured in volt-amperes (VA), is the combination of both real power and reactive power in the circuit.

When analyzing the performance of electrical systems, having a power factor close to 1 indicates that most of the power is being used effectively for productive work, whereas a lower power factor signifies more reactive power in the system relative to real power, which may lead to energy losses and inefficient usage. This is particularly important in three-phase systems, where maintaining a high power factor is crucial for efficient operation and can influence factors such as electricity costs and the sizing of electrical infrastructure.