kVA to Horsepower Calculator

How to Calculate Horsepower from kVA

Converting kilovolt-amperes (kVA) to horsepower (HP) is an essential calculation in electrical engineering, particularly when dealing with motor systems. This conversion helps engineers and technicians understand the relationship between electrical input power and mechanical output power. Our calculator simplifies this process, but it's important to understand the underlying principles.

Calculation Formula

The formula to calculate horsepower from kVA is:

\[HP = \frac{kVA \times PF \times \eta}{0.746}\]

Where:

• HP is the horsepower
• kVA is the apparent power in kilovolt-amperes
• PF is the power factor
• \(\eta\) is the motor efficiency (as a decimal)
• 0.746 is the conversion factor from kilowatts to horsepower

Calculation Steps

1. Determine the apparent power in kVA
2. Identify the power factor of the system
3. Determine the motor efficiency (as a percentage, then convert to decimal)
4. Apply the formula: multiply kVA by power factor and efficiency, then divide by 0.746
5. The result is the equivalent horsepower

Example Calculation

Let's calculate the horsepower for a system with 100 kVA of apparent power, a power factor of 0.8, and a motor efficiency of 90%:

1. Identify the given values: \[kVA = 100\] \[PF = 0.8\] \[\eta = 90\% = 0.90\]
2. Apply the formula: \[HP = \frac{100 \times 0.8 \times 0.90}{0.746} \approx 96.5 \text{ HP}\]

Therefore, in a system with 100 kVA of apparent power, a power factor of 0.8, and a motor efficiency of 90%, the equivalent horsepower is approximately 96.5 HP.

Calculation Visualization

This bar chart visually compares the input apparent power (100 kVA) and the resulting mechanical power (96.5 HP) from our example calculation. The height of each bar is proportional to its value, illustrating the relationship between electrical input and mechanical output power in motor systems.