What is Power Factor & Power Factor Correction?!
Power factor is a measure of how efficiently electrical power is being utilized in an AC (alternating current) circuit. It represents the ratio between the real power (useful power) and the apparent power (total power) in the circuit. A power factor of 1 or unity indicates that the circuit is using power efficiently, while a power factor less than 1 indicates inefficient power utilization.
The power factor (PF) of an AC circuit can be calculated using the following formula:
Power Factor (PF) = Cosine of the Power Angle (θ)
In terms of other electrical quantities, the power factor formula can be expressed as:
PF = Real Power (P) / Apparent Power (S)
where:
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Power factor correction is the process of improving the power factor of an electrical system to bring it closer to unity (1). It involves the addition of power factor correction equipment or measures to reduce reactive power consumption and improve the overall efficiency of the system. Here are some common methods used for power factor correction:
Capacitor Banks: Capacitor banks are widely used for power factor correction. They consist of capacitors connected in parallel with the load. Capacitors help to compensate for reactive power (inductive load) in the circuit, thereby reducing the reactive component and improving the power factor. They supply the reactive power locally, reducing the burden on the power system.
Static VAR Compensators (SVC): SVCs are devices that use power electronics to provide reactive power compensation. They regulate the voltage and inject or absorb reactive power as required to maintain a desired power factor. SVCs are capable of rapidly adjusting reactive power levels and are commonly used in high-power industrial applications.
Synchronous Condensers: Synchronous condensers are rotating machines that provide reactive power compensation. They are similar to synchronous motors but are not connected to any mechanical load. By adjusting the excitation of the synchronous condenser, the reactive power can be controlled, improving the power factor of the system.
Active Power Factor Correction (APFC): APFC is a technique that uses power electronics to actively control and correct the power factor. It continuously monitors the load's reactive power requirements and injects the required amount of reactive power to maintain a high power factor. APFC is commonly used in applications with rapidly changing loads or where a high level of control is required.
Improving power factor offers several benefits, including:
Power factor correction is particularly important in industrial and commercial settings where inductive loads, such as motors, transformers, and fluorescent lighting, can significantly affect power factor. Conducting a power factor analysis and implementing appropriate correction measures can help optimize energy usage, improve system performance, and reduce electricity costs.
Electrical Ingineer
1y😊👌
Electrical Repairman at Palabora mining company
1yThis is and has always been the best way to explain power factor! Thank you for sharing
Electrical Engineer at Mahamood saeed glass industry Jeddha
1yThe ratio of true power and Apparent power is called PF
Reliability Specialist - System Operations at Great River Energy
1ySeen this explanation at training provided by OTS over a decade ago. The foam isn't wasted. It just isn't used by the load for work. It's used by the power system and the load to support the voltage.
Such a scientific lecture I understand 😉