Notes on the measurement of reactive volt-amperes

THE CHARACTER of the quantity known as reactive volt-amperes is first discussed and its dependence upon the assumption of a definite type of periodicity is brought out, this in contrast to certain other a-c quantities. It is pointed out that on account of the rather complicated relation that it bears to the flow of energy in an electric circuit, serious difficulties are met in its measurement except in the simpler conditions of balanced voltages, in a polyphase circuit, and sinusoidal waves. Two procedures are outlined which though they are not premised on balanced voltages have frequency and wave form limitations.