This document discusses power factor, the necessity of improving it, common causes of low power factor, and ways to improve it. It explains that power factor is the ratio of active power to apparent power, and common inductive devices that cause low power factors like motors and transformers. Improving power factor can reduce losses, lower bills, and increase capacity. Methods include using static capacitors or synchronous condensers. The location of shunt capacitors and the differences between shunt capacitors and synchronous condensers are also summarized.

1. PowerFactorImprovement
Presented By
Kiran Sonavne

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

8.  Using Synchronous Condenser
 Phase Advancers

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.