POWER FACTOR & ITS IMPROVEMENT

Presentation outline

What is PF Reasons of low PF Benefits of PF correction PF correction methods

What is PF ?
Introduction: Most plant loads are Inductive and require a magnetic field to operate: Motors,Transformers The magnetic field is necessary, but produces no useful work The utility must supply the power to produce the magnetic field and the power to produce the useful work: You pay for all of it! These two types of current are the ACTIVE and REACTIVE components

Power Factor

It is a measure of how effectively the current is being converted into useful work output

Reasons of Low Power Factor

significant phase difference between the voltage and current at the load terminals due to inductive loads. due to a high harmonic content due to use of power electronic devices.

ADVANTAGES OF POWER FACTOR CORRECTION:

Increase in generation capacity of utilities. Reduction in penalty imposed by the utilities for low Power Factor. Saving in conductor cost.

Power Factor Correction

A poor pf due to an inductive load can be improved by the addition of power factor correction poor power factor due to a distorted current waveform requires Change in equipment design Expensive harmonic filters to gain an appreciable improvement.

Power Factor Correction

Induction motor current The resistive components are: 1) Load current. 2) Loss current. The inductive components are: 3) Leakage reactance. 4) Magnetizing current.

Induction motor current

Methods of Power Factor Correction

Bulk Correction. capacitors connected at a distribution board and controlled independently from the individual starters is known as "Bulk

Correction".

Bulk Correction

Static Correction

Capacitors connected at each starter and controlled by each starter is known as "Static Power Factor Correction"

Static Correction

Inverter

Static Power factor correction must not be used when the motor is controlled by a variable speed drive or inverter.

Supply Harmonics

The harmonics are caused by many non linear loads like variable speed controllers and switch-mode power supplies Harmonic voltages can be reduced by the use of a harmonic compensator. We can use harmonic filters also.

Addition of Capacitors