kW to kVA Converter

Enter kilowatts(kW):
Enter power factor:
Result in kilovolt-amps (kVA):

 

kW to kVA Conversion

Understanding the conversion between kilowatts (kW) and kilovolt-amperes (kVA) is crucial in various fields, particularly in electrical engineering and power management. This page provides a detailed guide on this conversion, its historical background, real-world applications, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Understanding Kilowatts (kW)

A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power in the International System of Units (SI). It measures the rate of energy conversion or transfer. One kW is equivalent to 1,000 watts. It's commonly used to express the output power of engines and the power consumption of tools and machines.

Historical Context of Kilowatts

The concept of the watt, and consequently the kilowatt, was named after James Watt, a Scottish inventor who contributed significantly to the development of the steam engine. The term "kilowatt" emerged as the need for larger units of power became prevalent in the industrial era.

Real-World Applications of Kilowatts

Kilowatts are widely used in everyday life, from household appliances to large industrial machinery. Electricity companies use kW to bill customers, and it's also used in engineering to size generators and motors.

Understanding Kilovolt-Amperes (kVA)

A kilovolt-ampere (kVA) is a unit of apparent power in electrical systems. It's used to describe the total power used by a system, including both active (real) and reactive power. One kVA is equal to 1,000 volt-amperes.

Historical Context of kVA

The use of kVA as a unit became important with the development of alternating current (AC) systems. It helps in understanding the efficiency of electrical systems, especially where power factor plays a role.

Real-World Applications of kVA

kVA is crucial in designing electrical systems, including transformers and generators. It's also important in determining the capacity of electrical circuits and in power quality analysis.

kW to kVA Conversion

The conversion from kW to kVA involves the power factor (PF) of an electrical system. The power factor, a dimensionless number ranging from 0 to 1, represents the efficiency of the power usage.

Formula:

kVA=kW/PF

Example Conversion:

Convert 50 kW to kVA, assuming a power factor of 0.8:

50 kW÷0.8=62.5 kVA

 

kW to kVA Conversion Chart

Equivalent kW and kVA ratings given an 80% power factor.
kW kVA
5 kW 6.3 kVA
7.5 kW 9.4 kVA
10 kW 12.5 kVA
15 kW 18.7 kVA
20 kW 25 kVA
25 kW 31.3 kVA
30 kW 37.5 kVA
40 kW 50 kVA
50 kW 62.5 kVA
60 kW 75 kVA
75 kW 93.8 kVA
80 kW 100 kVA
100 kW 125 kVA
125 kW 156 kVA
150 kW 187 kVA
175 kW 219 kVA
200 kW 250 kVA
250 kW 312 kVA
300 kW 375 kVA
350 kW 438 kVA
400 kW 500 kVA
500 kW 625 kVA
600 kW 750 kVA
700 kW 875 kVA
800 kW 1,000 kVA
900 kW 1,125 kVA
1,000 kW 1,250 kVA
1,250 kW 1,563 kVA
1,500 kW 1,875 kVA
1,750 kW 2,188 kVA
2,000 kW 2,500 kVA
2,250 kW 2,812 kVA

Frequently asked questions:

How to convert kW to kVA?

The conversion of kW to kva is very simple. To convert you need to divide the kw value with its power factor value.

kW to kVA conversion formula:

kVA = kw / PF

kW = kilowatts.

kVA = kilovolt ampere.

PF = Power factor.

Example:

If an AC has 22kW power and its power factor of 0.80 then find the kVA? We have kW = 22kW; PF = 0.80; kVA = ?

kW to kVA conversion formula:

kVA = kw / PF

kVA = 22 / 0.80

kVA = 27.5

Typical power factor in household appliances:

Electronic equipmentPower factor
Magnavox Projection TV – standby0.37
Samsung 70 “3D Bluray0.48
Digital photo frame0,52
ViewSonic Monitor0.5
Dell Monitor0.55
Projector Magnavox Projection TV0.58
Digital photo frame0.6
Digital photo frame0.62
Digital photo frame0.65
Projector Philips 52 “Projection TV0.65
Wii video game console0.7
Digital photo frame0.73
Video game console Xbox Kinect0.75
Xbox 360 video game console0.78
Microwave oven0.9
Television Sharp Aquos 3D TV0.95
PS3 Move video game console0.98
Playstation 3 video game console0.99
Element TV 41 “Plasma TV0.99
Current large, flat-screen television0.96
Window air conditioner0.9
Legacy color television CRT-Based color television0.7
Computer monitor Legacy flat panel computer monitor0.64
White LED luminaire0.7-0.9
Portable adapter0.55
Laser printer0.5
Incandescent lampone
Fluorescent lamp (uncompensated)0.5
Fluorescent lamp (compensated)0.93
Discharge lamp0.4-0.6

Reference // 2014 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings / electrical-installation.com

Typical power factor in different constructions:

buildingsPower factor
Auto parts0.75-0.80
Brewery0.75-0.80
Cement0.80-0.85
Chemicals0.65-0.75
Coal mine0.65-0.80
Clothing0.35-0.60
Electroplating0.65-0.70
Foundry0.75-0.80
Wrought0.70-0.80
Hospital0.75-0.80
Machine manufacturing0.60-0.65
Metallurgy 0.65-0.70
Office building0.80-0.90
Oil pumping0.40-0.60
Paint Manufacturing0.65-0.70
Plastics0.75-0.80
Print0.60-0.70
Work with Steel0.65-0.80

Reference // IEEE Std 141-1993 (IEEE Red Book)

Industrial load:

Induction motor0.7-0.8
Electric arc furnaces0.6-0.8
Welding0.4-0.7
Machining0.4-0.7
Print0.5-0.7
DC Drives, AC VFDs
(Variable speed drives)
0.4-0.9
Fluorescent lights (magnetic ballasts)0.7-0.8

Reference // criticalpowergroup.com

Motor power factors:

Horse powerSpeedPower factor
(hp)(rpm)1/2 load3/4 loadFull load
0 – 518000.720.820.84
5 – 2018000.740.840.86
20 – 10018000.790.860.89
100 – 30018000.810.880.91

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. How to convert kW to kVA?

Converting kilowatts (kW) to kilovolt-amperes (kVA) requires knowing the power factor (PF) of the electrical system. The formula is: kVA=kW/PF.  The power factor, a number between 0 and 1, represents how efficiently the electrical power is being used.

2. How to use a kW to kVA calculator?

A kW to kVA calculator simplifies the conversion process. You'll need to input the kW value and the power factor into the calculator. It automatically computes the kVA value based on the formula kVA=kW/PF. These calculators are widely available online and are user-friendly.

3. What is the kW to kVA conversion formula?

The formula to convert kW to kVA is: kVA=kW/PF. Here, kW is the real power, and PF is the power factor of the system. This formula is derived from the relationship between apparent power (kVA), real power (kW), and the power factor.

4. How to convert kW to kVA in 3 phase?

To convert kW to kVA in a three-phase electrical system, the formula slightly changes to account for the three-phase power. The formula is: kVA=kW/PF ×√3×Line Voltage. Here, the line voltage is the voltage between any two of the three phases.

5. kW to kVA conversion for transformer

For transformers, the kW to kVA conversion is critical for determining the load capacity. The formula remains the same: kVA=kW/PF.. However, it's important to consider the power factor typical for the type of load the transformer will support, as transformers are rated in kVA, not kW.

6. How many kW is 1 kVA?

Answer: The conversion from kVA to kW depends on the power factor (PF). For 1 kVA, the equivalent in kW can vary. If the power factor is 1 (which is ideal but often not the case in real-world applications), then 1 kVA is equal to 1 kW. However, with a different power factor, the kW value would be 1 kVA times the PF.

7. How many kW is 300 kVA?

Answer: Again, this depends on the power factor. With a power factor of 1, 300 kVA equals 300 kW. If the power factor is less than 1, the kW value would be 300 kVA times the power factor. For example, with a PF of 0.8, it would be 240 kW (300 kVA × 0.8).

8. How many kVA is 3.3 kW?

Answer: To convert kW to kVA, you divide the kW by the power factor. Assuming a power factor of 1, 3.3 kW is 3.3 kVA. With a lower power factor, say 0.8, it would be higher, around 4.125 kVA (3.3 kW ÷ 0.8).

9. How to calculate kVA?

Answer: kVA can be calculated by dividing the power in kW by the power factor. The formula is: kVA = kW ÷ PF. This formula is used when converting from kW to kVA.

10. What is 1 kVA?

Answer: 1 kVA (kilovolt-ampere) is a unit of apparent power in an electrical system. It is used to represent the total power demand of a system, which includes both active (real) and reactive power. It's equivalent to 1,000 volt-amperes.

11. How many kW is 7.5 kVA?

Answer: The conversion from kVA to kW requires knowing the power factor. With a PF of 1, 7.5 kVA would be 7.5 kW. If the power factor is less, for example, 0.8, then it would be 6 kW (7.5 kVA × 0.8).

12. Is 1 kW equal to 1 kVA?

Answer: 1 kW is equal to 1 kVA only when the power factor is 1. However, in most real-world applications, the power factor is less than 1, making 1 kW less than 1 kVA.

13. What is kVA to kW formula?

Answer: The formula to convert kVA to kW is: kW = kVA × PF. This formula helps calculate the real power (kW) from apparent power (kVA) based on the efficiency of the system (PF).

14. What is 20 kVA in kW?

Answer: The kW equivalent of 20 kVA depends on the power factor. With a power factor of 1, it would be 20 kW. If the power factor is lower, for instance, 0.8, then it would be 16 kW (20 kVA × 0.8).

Reference // Power Factor in Electrical Energy Management-A. Bhatia, BE-2012 Power Factor Requirements for Electronic Loads in California- Brian Fortenbery, http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com