2. Introductionto Power Factor
Necessity of Improvement of Power Factor
Causes of Low Power Factor
Graph of PF Lag Vs PF Improvement
Ways to Improve Power Factor
Impact of Power Factor on the System
Location of Shunt Capacitor for Power Factor Improvement
Working difference between Shunt Capacitor & Syn Condenser
Contents
3. Introduction to Power Factor
Power Factor is the ratio of Active Power (Watt) to the
Apparent Power (VA) of an electrical installation.
Expression of Power Factor :
• Cos φ = VI Cos φ / VI
• Cos φ = R / Z
• Cos φ = P / VI
{Here,
Z = Impedance
P = Active Power, VI Cos φ
R = Circuit Resistance}
Reactive
Power,
Q
=
VI
Sin
φ
φ
Active Power, P = VI Cos φ
Power Triangle
4. Necessity of Improvement of Power Factor
Improving the Power Factor can:
Maximize current-carrying capacity
Improve voltage to the equipment
Reduce power losses
Lower electric bills
Reduced demand charges
Increased load carrying capabilities in
existing circuits
Reduced carbon footprint
5. Causes of Low Power Factor
Low Lagging Power Factor conditions can be caused by various combinations of the following
Inductive Devices:
Induction motors
Induction generators
Inductive loads of fluorescent ballasts
Rectifiers providing a DC power supply
Arc welders
Solenoids
Induction heaters
Lifting magnets
Transformers
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting
Arc Welder
Induction Motor Magnetic Lifter
Transformer
6. Graph of PF Lag Vs PF Improvement
Low Lagging
Power Factor
Power Factor
Improvement
Lag Between Voltage and Current creates waste
Wasteful lag is reduced to increase energy efficiency
Voltage Current Waste
7. Ways to Improve Power Factor
Certain ways to Improve Power Factor are :
Using Static Capacitor
9. Impact of Power Factor on the System
• Large Line Losses (Copper Losses)
• Greater Conductor Size and Cost
• Poor Voltage Regulation and Large Voltage Drop
• Low Efficiency
• Penalty from Electric Power Supply Company on Low Power factor
10. Location of Shunt Capacitor
The Shunt Capacitors (PF Improver Capacitor) can be installed at System Bus, Distribution
Point and at Load itself.
In certain loads , the entire load is switch ON/OFF based on need.
In such cases, it is recommended to install capacitor bank with the feeder provided entire of
this particular load . This scheme is known as Branch Capacitor Bank Scheme.
As Capacitor Bank is directly connected to feeder or branch, it does not help to reduce
losses in primary system from where the branch comes out.
11. Working difference between Shunt Capacitor &
Synchronous Condenser
Capacitor Banks / Shunt Capacitor :
Capacitor banks are for correcting power factor of squirrel
cage motor or any load with high active power which effect
the balance in the system.
Synchronous Condenser :
Synchronous motors are more for constant
speed application movement. They reduce the need to
higher capacity capacitor bank. The cost of
using synchronous motor will not reduce much because
there will be need to power the rotor with DC power
supply.
Shunt Capacitor
Synchronous Condenser
12. Conclusion
As the conclusion, Power Factor of electrical can be determined based on impedance
value of electrical. The low Power Factor of electrical load in Power Distribution
system can be corrected by using Shunt Capacitor which installed at electrical circuit
with the Right Capacitance Value.