How Do You Get Low PF?

Motor loads are inductive and need

VARs.

Whats Wrong
g With Low PF?

Wastes Power
Overloads Equipment
q p
Costs Money
Uses Up Natural Resources

Power Factor
Active Power (W) is required to
perform useful work.
Reactive power (VAR) is required
for the generation of magnetic field in
inductive loads.
Apparent Power (VA) is the
resultant of above two powers.
Power Factor is the cosine of the
angle between VA and W.
W
All these powers can be represented
with
ith the
th help
h l off power triangle.
ti
l

V
A
R

Complex Power

Apparent Power = S = P + j Q VA
Real Power = P = | V | | I | cos() W
Reactive Power = Q = | V | | I | sin () VAR
Power Factor = PF = cos()

Single
g Phase Power
I = kVA/ kV = kW / (kV PF)
PF)
kVA = kV I
kW = kVA PF

Three Phase Power

I = kVA/ ( kV 1.732
1 732 )=
) kW / (kV 1.732
1 732 PF)
1.732 II
kVA = kV 1.732
kW = kVA PF
Note: kV is the phase-to-phase voltage

PF Example Correction
Facility
F ilit has
h peakk demand
d
d off 1000 kW Load
L d
Power Factor is 0
0.707
707 lagging
Calculate kVAR.
kVAR
Calculate amount of capacitance in kVAR
needed to correct to a 0.9 PF
How much is capacitance
p
in microfarads?

PF Example Continued

Power Factor Correction

Maintain the high
g p
power factor above 0.9 lagging
gg g with
automatic power factor improvement plant at WAPDA
supply. Because low power factor results in:

Increased current in lines

Increased line losses

Increased voltage drop in lines

Reduced equipment life

More investment on transformers

generator efficiencyy
Decreased g

Power Factor Correction

Power Factor can be improved with the help of capacitors.

The capacitors are installed parallel to the load.

Benefits of Power Factor

Improvement
Cost Reduction
Better Voltage Regulation
Increased Equipment Life
Improved Motor Performance
Increased System Capacity

Example: Calculations
1000 KW load
7800 hours per year
415Volt, 3 phase
Assumed System losses = 5%
Existing Power Factor = 0.75
Improved Power Factor = 0
0.95
95

Calculation
Loss Reduction = 1-(PF1/PF2)2
= 1 (0.75/0.95)2 = 0.38
System loss reduction = (loss reduction) x(Sys. Loss)
= 0.38 x 0.05= 0.019
Total kW load will be reduced

= 1000 x 0.019 = 19 kW

Total kWh/Season = 7800 x 19 kW = 148,200 kWh

Total Amount @ Rs. 8/kWh = 1,185,600 / Annum

Correction Factor Table

kVAR = kW x k-factor

Power
Quality

HOW TO SELECT CAPACITOR

kVAr = kW x CF
kVAr = 10 x 0.692
kVAr =6
=6.92
92

0.98
Optimum

 Improving the power factor means

reducing the angle of lag between
supply voltage and supply current.

Location of power-factor
improvement capacitor banks
Induction motors of all types (which from by
far the greatest industrial load on a. c.
mains).
Power thyristor installation (for d.c.
d c motor
control and electro-chemical processes).
Power transformers and voltage regulators
regulators.
Welding machines
Electric-arc and induction furnaces.
g
system.
y
Choke coils and magnetic
Neon sins and fluorescent lighting.

Consider Harmonics When Applying

pp y g Capacitors
p
System
y
harmonics should be considered when applying
pp y g
power factor correction capacitors.
Although capacitors do not generate harmonics, under
certain conditions they can amplify existing harmonics.
harmonics
Harmonics are generated when non-linear loads are
applied to power systems. These non-linear loads include:
adjustable speed drives, programmable controllers,
induction furnaces, computers and uninterruptible power
supplies.
Capacitors can be used successfully with nonlinear loads
when harmonic resonant conditions are avoided.

 To minimize the occurrence of harmonic resonance,, the

resonant harmonic of the system including the capacitor
should be estimated.
The resonant frequency can be calculated by:
Where:
h = calculated system harmonic
kVAsc = short circuit power of the system
kVAR = rating of the capacitor

 Harmonic values of 5
5, 7,
7 11,
11 and 1 3
should be avoided as they correspond
to the characteristic harmonics of nonlinear loads.
loads
The harmonic value of 3 should also be
avoided as it coincides with harmonics
produced during transformer
energization and/or operation of the
transformer above rated voltage.

Harmonics can be avoided in several ways

y
Change the applied kVAR to avoid unwanted harmonics.

Although this is the least expensive way to avoid resonant

harmonics, it is not always successful because typically some
portion of the applied kVAR is switched on and off as load
o d o require.
qu
conditions
The calculation of system harmonics should be repeated for each
level of compensation.
compensation
Adjusting the size of the capacitor(s) may be necessary to avoid the
h
harmonic
i values.
l

Add harmonic filters

IIn order
d to
t filt
filter h
harmonics
i att a specific
ifi
site, tuned harmonic filters can be
applied.
pp
A capacitor is connected in series with
an inductor such that the resonant
frequency of the filter equals the
harmonic to be eliminated.
Tuned filters should never be applied
without a detailed analysis of the
system.
y
The currents expected to flow in the
filter are difficult to predict and are a
complex
l function
f
i off the
h system and
d
load characteristics.

Add blocking inductors

Inductors added to the lines
feeding the capacitor can be
sized to block higher than 4th
harmonic currents.
This method protects the
capacitor from the harmonics
but does not eliminate the
harmonics from the system.
A system study is required to
determine correct ratings for
the capacitor and inductors.
inductors

Capacitors Switching
1,2,4,4
1,2,2,4,4
FIFO
Reconnect Time
C/K settings
C/

Power losses in capacitors The dielectric loss

In p
practice,, everyy dielectric excepting
p g vacuum,, has some resistance,,
which allows a small current in phase with the supply voltage pass
through, and consume power, this is known as dielectric loss
When the dielectric of a capacitor is a vacuum,
vacuum no losses take place in
it, and the current taken by a capacitor leads the applied voltage by
exactly 90o, the power being zero.
With any other dielectric, however, there is a loss, known as the
dielectric loss, which has the result that the current does not lead the
g byy the full 90o.
voltage
The phase angle by which the lead falls short 90o is called the loss
angle. If this angle is represented by the sign , then the phase angle
is (90o ) and the power factor of the capacitor is cot
cot. (90
(90- ),
) which
equals tan g.
Because of the small value of the angle g, the loss factor is normally
referred to as tan . The current taken by a capacitor is equal to l = s
CV, and the power absorbed by a capacitor is equal to VI cos .

Effect of Power Factor on Generator

Source: Rated power factor tests and installation acceptance of emergency and standby power systems
White paper By Jim Iverson, Senior Applications Engineer, Cummins Power Generation

LEA
ADING P
POWER
R FACTO
OR

Effect of Power Factor on Generator

A generator set can carry up to 10 percent of its rated kVAR capability in

l di power factor
leading
f
loads
l d without
ih
being
b i damaged
d
d or losing
l i controll off
output voltage.

Advantages
g of Power Factor Improvement
p

Reduction in line current & line losses so more efficiency

Better voltage regulation
D
Decreased
d kVA loading
l di on transformers
t
f
and
d generators
t
No penalty charges in utility bills

Example:
p
If power factor of a 1 MW gas generator running at 80% load
is improved from 0.80 to 0.95,about Rs.500,000 can be
saved per annum.
Payback period is about 5 months.
months

Unwise wastage of money

kWh
Month

Month
Dec.09
Jan.10
Feb.10
M 10
Mar.10
Apr.10
May.10
Jun.10
Jul 10
Jul.10
Aug.10
Sep.10

MDI

Penalty

Total Bill
Amount
14,769

Rs./
kWh

P.F

18.01

0.79

Peak

Off Peak

Peak

Jan.10

Off Peak
780

40

14

Low P.F
PF
1,036.1

Feb.10

1,340

16

1,324.1

21,411

15.98

0.77

Mar.10

1,580

18

667.8

23,558

14.91

0.84

May.10

1,640

20

3,176.3

27,823

16.97

0.65

Jun.10

2,020

19

3,203.6

30,956

15.32

0.63

Aug.10

1,800

40

19

4,793.7

33,417

18.16

0.57

Sep.10

1,800

20

17

4,725.7

30,886

16.97

0.49

18,927.1

182,820

16.62

kWh
Off Peak
360
961
1,498
2 273
2,273
1,360
949
1,350
1 000
1,000
2,220
1,300

Peak
20
7
23
12
40
43
20
30
120
70

MDI
Off Peak
Peak
15
0
18
0
25
0
10
1
16
1
13
1
15
1
12
1
16
2
16
3

Penalty
Low P.F
2,721
2,048
2,090
1 279
1,279
2,790
2,404
2,289
1 962
1,962
2,563
2,712
22,859

Bill
Amount
12,500
18,213
25,825
25 731
25,731
23,493
18,560
22,059
16 893
16,893
32,649
24,915
22,084

Rs./
kWh
32.89
18.82
16.98
11 26
11.26
16.78
18.71
16.1
16 4
16.4
13.95
18.19
18.01

PF
P.F
0.61
0.72
0.77
07
0.7
0.64
0.63
0.67
0 66
0.66
0.7
0.67

Power
Quality

Power
Quality

Faulty
F
lt Capacitors
C
it
b k draw
banks
d
more kW power and
d the
th loss
l
t
turn
out to be more as compared to the savings they provide.
Check the kW drawn by the capacitor banks periodically.
If it draws more power, then its replacement with new one
i beneficial.
is
b
fi i l
Check the kW and kVAR meter readings on weekly basis and
calculate the power factor to avoid the LPF penalty at the
end of the month, in case of capacitor banks failure.
This check will help you the timely replacement of faulty
capacitor banks.

Power
Quality

Bank
Capacitor
415v
5kVAr
7A 50HZ
7A,
15 kVAr

10 kVAr

Volts

Amp.

406 6736
406.6736

Power
Factor

Measured
kW

kVAr

71
7.1

0 12
0.12

1 62
1.62

417.7584

1.69

400 092
400.092

1 59
1.59

394.90
395.59
399 75
399.75
407.37
406.33
405 29
405.29

20.7
15.8
15 4
15.4
8.1
8
0

0.07
0.64
0 58
0.58
2.76
2.7
-

Status

OK

Replace it.

1- leg off
Extra loss

Capacitor
Bank #
01

02

03

04

05

06

07

Phase

Volts

R
Y
B

234.00
234.70
231.30

R
Y
B

234.10
234.20
231.70

R
Y
B

234.20
234.40
231.60

R
Y
B

234.00
234 30
234.30
231.40

R
Y
B

233.90
234 70
234.70
231.20

R
Y
B

234.00
234 50
234.50
231.30

R
Y
B

233.90
234 30
234.30
231.70

PFI, Panel #
Measured Measured
Ampare
kW
kVAr
74.40
0.01
16.29
74.60
0.08
16.42
73.20
0.07
15.99
0.16
48.70
57.90
0.09
12.74
49.80
1.05
11.03
48.60
0.90
10.64
2.04
34.41
51.20
2.04
11.00
58.20
1.08
12.86
41.20
0.99
9.00
4.11
32.86
76.70
0.00
16.82
71 00
71.00
0 49
0.49
15 71
15.71
71.40
0.36
15.58
0.85
48.11
54.50
1.50
11.88
50 10
50.10
0 95
0.95
11 03
11.03
61.40
0.47
13.46
2.92
36.37
58.90
0.02
12.90
57 20
57.20
0 24
0.24
12 69
12.69
55.80
0.15
12.22
0.41
37.81
53.30
0.45
11.71
53 30
53.30
0 48
0.48
11 80
11.80
49.10
0.00
10.74
0.93
34.25

Rated
kVAr
50.00

50.00

50.00

50 00
50.00

50 00
50.00

50 00
50.00

50 00
50.00

Thank You & Warm Regards

Hik E
Hike
Energy C
Center
t
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