Millivolt-Ampere Reactive (mVAR) is a lesser-known unit often used in electrical engineering to measure reactive power in smaller-scale applications. Unlike active power, which does the actual work, reactive power is essential for maintaining voltage stability and transferring energy in AC circuits. Reactive power exists due to the phase difference between current and voltage in inductive or capacitive loads, causing energy to oscillate between source and load rather than being consumed.
The “milli” prefix denotes one-thousandth, making 1 mVAR equal to 0.001 VARs. Understanding and managing reactive power at this scale is crucial in sensitive electronics or communication systems, where even minor fluctuations can affect performance. It highlights the delicate balance within power systems that engineers must maintain for efficiency and reliability.
The megavolt-ampere reactive (MVAR) is a unit of measurement used in electrical systems to quantify reactive power, which is the non-working power component in an AC circuit. Unlike real power (measured in watts), which performs actual work, reactive power is essential for maintaining voltage levels necessary for active power to flow through the grid. Think of it like the foam on a latte—it doesn’t contribute to the coffee’s caffeination but is critical for its quality and structure.
Engineers use MVARs to optimize the efficiency of power delivery, ensuring systems don’t become overloaded. This balance is vital for the stability of power grids, especially as renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which are often variable and intermittent, become more prevalent in our energy mix.
Millivolt-Amperes Reactive | Megavolt-Amperes Reactive |
---|---|
0
mVAR
|
0
MVAR
|
10000
mVAR
|
0.00001
MVAR
|
20000
mVAR
|
0.00002
MVAR
|
30000
mVAR
|
0.00003
MVAR
|
40000
mVAR
|
0.00004
MVAR
|
50000
mVAR
|
0.00005
MVAR
|
60000
mVAR
|
0.00006
MVAR
|
70000
mVAR
|
0.00007
MVAR
|
80000
mVAR
|
0.00008
MVAR
|
90000
mVAR
|
0.00009
MVAR
|
100000
mVAR
|
0.0001
MVAR
|
110000
mVAR
|
0.00011
MVAR
|
120000
mVAR
|
0.00012
MVAR
|
130000
mVAR
|
0.00013
MVAR
|
140000
mVAR
|
0.00014
MVAR
|
150000
mVAR
|
0.00015
MVAR
|
160000
mVAR
|
0.00016
MVAR
|
170000
mVAR
|
0.00017
MVAR
|
180000
mVAR
|
0.00018
MVAR
|
190000
mVAR
|
0.00019
MVAR
|
200000
mVAR
|
0.0002
MVAR
|
210000
mVAR
|
0.00021
MVAR
|
220000
mVAR
|
0.00022
MVAR
|
230000
mVAR
|
0.00023
MVAR
|
240000
mVAR
|
0.00024
MVAR
|
250000
mVAR
|
0.00025
MVAR
|
260000
mVAR
|
0.00026
MVAR
|
270000
mVAR
|
0.00027
MVAR
|
280000
mVAR
|
0.00028
MVAR
|
290000
mVAR
|
0.00029
MVAR
|
300000
mVAR
|
0.0003
MVAR
|
310000
mVAR
|
0.00031
MVAR
|
320000
mVAR
|
0.00032
MVAR
|
330000
mVAR
|
0.00033
MVAR
|
340000
mVAR
|
0.00034
MVAR
|
350000
mVAR
|
0.00035
MVAR
|
360000
mVAR
|
0.00036
MVAR
|
370000
mVAR
|
0.00037
MVAR
|
380000
mVAR
|
0.00038
MVAR
|
390000
mVAR
|
0.00039
MVAR
|
400000
mVAR
|
0.0004
MVAR
|
410000
mVAR
|
0.00041
MVAR
|
420000
mVAR
|
0.00042
MVAR
|
430000
mVAR
|
0.00043
MVAR
|
440000
mVAR
|
0.00044
MVAR
|
450000
mVAR
|
0.00045
MVAR
|
460000
mVAR
|
0.00046
MVAR
|
470000
mVAR
|
0.00047
MVAR
|
480000
mVAR
|
0.00048
MVAR
|
490000
mVAR
|
0.00049
MVAR
|
500000
mVAR
|
0.0005
MVAR
|
510000
mVAR
|
0.00051
MVAR
|
520000
mVAR
|
0.00052
MVAR
|
530000
mVAR
|
0.00053
MVAR
|
540000
mVAR
|
0.00054
MVAR
|
550000
mVAR
|
0.00055
MVAR
|
560000
mVAR
|
0.00056
MVAR
|
570000
mVAR
|
0.00057
MVAR
|
580000
mVAR
|
0.00058
MVAR
|
590000
mVAR
|
0.00059
MVAR
|
600000
mVAR
|
0.0006
MVAR
|
610000
mVAR
|
0.00061
MVAR
|
620000
mVAR
|
0.00062
MVAR
|
630000
mVAR
|
0.00063
MVAR
|
640000
mVAR
|
0.00064
MVAR
|
650000
mVAR
|
0.00065
MVAR
|
660000
mVAR
|
0.00066
MVAR
|
670000
mVAR
|
0.00067
MVAR
|
680000
mVAR
|
0.00068
MVAR
|
690000
mVAR
|
0.00069
MVAR
|
700000
mVAR
|
0.0007
MVAR
|
710000
mVAR
|
0.00071
MVAR
|
720000
mVAR
|
0.00072
MVAR
|
730000
mVAR
|
0.00073
MVAR
|
740000
mVAR
|
0.00074
MVAR
|
750000
mVAR
|
0.00075
MVAR
|
760000
mVAR
|
0.00076
MVAR
|
770000
mVAR
|
0.00077
MVAR
|
780000
mVAR
|
0.00078
MVAR
|
790000
mVAR
|
0.00079
MVAR
|
800000
mVAR
|
0.0008
MVAR
|
810000
mVAR
|
0.00081
MVAR
|
820000
mVAR
|
0.00082
MVAR
|
830000
mVAR
|
0.00083
MVAR
|
840000
mVAR
|
0.00084
MVAR
|
850000
mVAR
|
0.00085
MVAR
|
860000
mVAR
|
0.00086
MVAR
|
870000
mVAR
|
0.00087
MVAR
|
880000
mVAR
|
0.00088
MVAR
|
890000
mVAR
|
0.00089
MVAR
|
900000
mVAR
|
0.0009
MVAR
|
910000
mVAR
|
0.00091
MVAR
|
920000
mVAR
|
0.00092
MVAR
|
930000
mVAR
|
0.00093
MVAR
|
940000
mVAR
|
0.00094
MVAR
|
950000
mVAR
|
0.00095
MVAR
|
960000
mVAR
|
0.00096
MVAR
|
970000
mVAR
|
0.00097
MVAR
|
980000
mVAR
|
0.00098
MVAR
|
990000
mVAR
|
0.00099
MVAR
|
1000000
mVAR
|
0.001
MVAR
|
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