Understanding Induction Motors & Reactive Power

[hisham.i]

I was reading about induction motors and speed controller(self commutated inverters for cage motor), and i didn't understand this sentence:"The induction motor can either absorb or deliver reactive power".

Thanks for any help.

 

[sophiecentaur]

The power (or rather, the energy) involved in speeding up the armature is stored in the rotation - rather than lost, doing work on the motor load and friction. This energy can be returned as the armature slows down. The power can be regarded as 'reactive' because it is not dissipated - in the same way as the reactive energy used to magnetise an inductor or to charge a capacitor can be returned to the source.