Certainly, I'd be happy to explain the concepts of Fundamental Power and Harmonic Power in the context of A.C. (alternating current) fundamentals.
Fundamental Power:
In an AC circuit, the fundamental power refers to the power associated with the fundamental frequency component of the voltage and current waveforms. The fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency component of an AC signal, usually denoted as the first harmonic. It is the frequency at which the AC circuit is designed to operate, such as 50 Hz or 60 Hz in most power systems.
The fundamental power is the real power (measured in watts) consumed or delivered by the circuit due to the fundamental frequency components of voltage and current. It is responsible for the actual work done in the circuit, such as producing mechanical output in motors or generating heat in resistors.
Harmonic Power:
In an AC circuit, harmonics are frequency components that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. For example, if the fundamental frequency is 50 Hz, the second harmonic would be 100 Hz, the third harmonic 150 Hz, and so on. Harmonics are usually caused by non-linear elements in the circuit, such as diodes, transistors, and nonlinear magnetic materials.
Harmonic power refers to the power associated with these harmonic frequency components. Harmonic power can have undesirable effects on a circuit or system, such as increased heating in transformers and cables, reduced efficiency, and distorted voltage and current waveforms.
When analyzing power in the presence of harmonics, it's important to consider not only the fundamental power but also the power associated with each harmonic component. This involves calculating the real power, reactive power, and apparent power for each harmonic frequency and summing them up to get a complete picture of power consumption or delivery in the circuit.
In summary, fundamental power represents the power associated with the fundamental frequency component of voltage and current, while harmonic power represents the power associated with the harmonic frequency components that are multiples of the fundamental frequency. Understanding these concepts is crucial when dealing with AC circuits, especially in systems where harmonic distortion can have significant impacts on performance and efficiency.