1. Why an analogy?
Reactive power is an essential aspect of the electricity system, but one that is difficult to comprehend by non-experts
By presenting four different analogies, we hope the reader will
For non-experts: develop insight in the phenomenon
For experts: acquire ideas to explain the phenomenon
Of course, none of these analogies are 100% correct

2. What does the analogy need to explain?
The difference between active power (W), reactive power (VAR), and apparent power (VA)
The idea of compensating reactive power
Why reactive power increases energy losses in the grid
Why reactive power limits the capacity of cables and lines in the grid

3. I. The bicycle analogy (1/3)
Power stations, producing electrical energy, are represented by bikers
At the backseat of the bike there are passengers, the consumers of electrical energy (the loads)

4. I. The bicycle analogy (2/3)
A reactive load can be represented by a passenger leaning to one side
The fact that the passenger is leaning to one side, does not influence directly the work that the biker has to deliver, but without compensation, the bike might fall over

5. I. The bicycle analogy (3/3)
The biker compensates the movement of his passenger by leaning in opposite direction (= by generating inductive power)
Consequences:
A pedalling figure leaning to one side cannot work as comfortably as before ( limiting capacity)
The bike catches more head wind ( extra losses)

6. II. The horse-and-boat analogy (1/4)
Take a boat on a canal, pulled by a horse at the bank

7. II. The horse-and-boat analogy (2/4)
The fact that the horse is not walking straight in front of the boat, does not influence the work it has to do to pull the boat. But without compensation by the rudder, the boat will be pulled towards the bank of the canal.
Consequences:
The turned rudder leads to extra losses
The fact that the rope is pulling at the flank of the horse and not straight behind it, limit’s the horse’s capacity to deliver work

8. II. The horse-and-boat analogy (3/4)

9. II. The horse-and-boat analogy (4/4)
The vector representation of the force to pull the boat, is similar to the vector representation of power in an electric system:

10. III. The inclined-plane analogy (1/4)
Suppose men have to push a large ball from one side of an inclined plane to another (A to B)

11. III. The inclined-plane analogy (2/4)
The active power needed is the same as if the plane were flat, but a man needs to keep the ball up on his path.
Consequences:
A loss of capacity (this man cannot be used for pushing)
Extra friction losses (since this man will have to touch the ball)

12. III. The inclined-plane analogy (3/4)

13. III. The inclined-plane analogy (4/4)
Vector representation:

14. IV. The trampoline analogy (1/4)
Suppose someone has to run from point A to point B
The harder the surface, the less the runner will jump up during his sprint, the faster he will be able to run

15. IV. The trampoline analogy (2/4)
But now suppose he has to move to a platform B from A using a series of trampolines
He will start at the same height A, compensating for the height (reactive load) of B

16. IV. The trampoline analogy (3/4)
His work to go from A to B will be the same
But the trajectory has some consequences:
Since the surface is a trampoline, he can’t use all his force to go full speed forward
He will encounter increased resistance of ground and air

17. IV. The trampoline analogy (4/4)
Vector representation:

18. Round-up
Four analogies represent the idea of active and reactive power in an electric system:
The tandem analogy
The horse-boat analogy
The inclined-plane analogy
The trampoline analogy
All analogies convey the same idea, but depending on the person, one analogy might work better than another
We hope they will increase the reader’s insight in the subject, or help experts to develop ideas to explain it to others

19. Links and references
The Electricity System as a Tandem Bicycle >>
What are VARs? >>
Capacitors in Harmonic-Rich Environments (technical application note) >>