Power Factor Correction

Power Factor
Correction
An Example to understand the
Power Factor

Consider a canal boat being pulled by a horse. If the horse

could walk on water then the angle (Phi) Ø would be zero and
COSINE Ø=1. Meaning all the horse power is being used to pull
the load.
However the relative position of the horse influences the power.
As the horse gets closer to the barge, angle Ø1 increases and
power is wasted, but, as the horse is positioned further away,
then angle Ø2 gets closer to zero and less power is wasted
Power Factor Correction
Much of the discussion is

made about Power Factor.
Now we switch towards the
means and ways to solve the
problem low power factor.
Power factor correction (PFC) is the process

of adjusting the characteristics of electric loads
that create a power factor that is less than 1.
Power factor correction may be applied either by an
electrical power transmission utility to improve the
stability and efficiency of the transmission network;
or, correction may be installed by individual electrical
customers to reduce the costs charged to them by
their electricity supplier. A high power factor is
generally desirable in a transmission system to reduce
transmission losses and improve voltage regulation at
the load.
Why Power Factor Correction?
The current through the reactive component (Ireactive)
dissipates no power, and neither does it register on
the watt hour meter. However, the reactive current
does dissipate power when flowing through other
resistive components in the system, like the wires, the
switches, and the lossy part of a transformer (Rline).
Switches have to interrupt the total current, not just
the active component. Wires have to be big enough to
carry the entire current, etc. Therefore Correcting the
power factor reduces the amount of oversizing
necessary.
The introduction of Power Factor

Correction capacitors is a widely
recognized method of reducing an
electrical load, thus minimizing wasted
energy and hence improving the efficiency
of a plant and reducing the electricity bill.

Active Power
Reactive Power
Available Active
Power

The inductive components, draw Reactive
Power (VAr) from the mains. It lags behind
the Active Power (W) by 90o (Figure 1). A
capacitor, if connected across the mains, will
also draw Reactive Power [VAr(c)], but it
leads the Active Power (W) by 90o. The
direction of the capacitive Reactive Power
[VAr(c)] is opposite to the direction of the
inductive Reactive Power (VAr) (Figure 2).
Figure-1
Figure-1
The power factor can also be improved by
synchronous Motors. These machines draw leading
kVAR when they are over-excited and, especially
when they are running idle. They are employed for
correcting the power factor in bulk and have the
special advantage that the amount of correction can
be varied by changing their excitation.
The reactive power drawn by the synchronous
motor is a function of its field excitation. It is
started and connected to the electrical network.
It operates at full leading power factor and
puts VARs onto the network . Its principal
advantage is the ease with which the amount
of correction can be adjusted; it behaves like
an electrically variable capacitor.
Phase advancer can also be used. They are
fitted with individual machines.
Most loads on an electrical distribution system fall into one of
three categories; resistive, inductive or Capacitive. The most
common is inductive load. Typical examples of this include
transformers, fluorescent lighting and AC induction motors.
Most inductive loads use a conductive coil winding to produce
an electromagnetic field, allowing the motor to function. All
inductive loads require two kinds of power to operate:
Active power (kwatts) - to produce the motive force
Reactive power (kvar) - to energise the magnetic field
The operating power from the distribution system is composed
of both active (working) and reactive (non-working) elements.
The active power does useful work in driving the motor
whereas the reactive power only provides the magnetic field.
Disadvantages of Poor Power factor
As the power factor drops the system becomes less efficient. A
drop from 1.0 to 0.9 results in 15% more current being
required for the same load.A power factor of 0.7 requires
approximately 43% more current; and a power factor of 0.5
requires approximately 100% (twice as much) to handle the
same load.
The objective, therefore, should be to reduce the
reactive power drawn from the supply by improving the power
factor. If an AC motor were 100% efficient it would consume
only active power but, since most motors are only 75% to 80%
efficient, they operate at a low power factor. This means poor
energy and cost efficiency because the Regional Electricity
Companies charge you at penalty rates for a poor power
factor.
Disadvantages of Poor Power factor
Advantages of Power Factor
Correction
The main advantages of the Power Factor Correction
are:
1. The electrical load on the Utility is reduced,
thereby allowing the Utility to supply the surplus
power to other consumers, without increasing its
generation capacity.
2. Most of the Utilities impose low power factor
penalties. By correcting the power factor, this penalty
can be avoided.
3. High power factor reduces the load currents.
Therefore, a considerable saving is made in the
hardware cost, such as cables, switchgear,
substation transformers, etc.
4. Voltage regulation is improved

Power Factor Correction

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Power Factor

Consider a canal boat being pulled by a horse. If the horse

Much of the discussion is

Power factor correction (PFC) is the process

The introduction of Power Factor

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