Power Factor

By Mr. Krittapas Poonsawat

Engineering trainee

Content

What is power factor?

Types of Loads
Understanding Power Triangle
Unity Power Factor (FP = 1)
Why are current and voltage in phase with each other in resistive load?
Lagging Power Factor ( > 0)
Why does current lag behind voltage in inductive load?
Leading power factor ( < 0)
Why does current lead the voltage in capacitive load?
Results of High PF
Results of Low PF
Power factor improvement methods
Power factor correction design
Conclusion
Reference

What is power factor?

Power Factor is the cosine of the
phase angle between current and
voltage.
Power Factor is the ratio of true
power to apparent power.
Power Factor is the ratio of resistance to impedance.

Types of Loads
Resistive load Incandescent Lamp,Resistance heat
Resistor, R = R

Inductive load Synchronous Motors(Low DC field

current), Induction Motors, Contactor Coils, Relays
Inductor, Zl = jL, =2f

Capacitive load Capacitors, Synchronous Motor(High DC

field current),
Capacitor, Zc = 1/jC, =2f

Understanding Power Triangle

Power factor is expressed as a number between 0 to 1.0
(or as a percent from 0% to 100%)
From the power triangle it can be seen that
FP = P / S = cos
The power factor angle is thus given as
= cos-1(P / S)
For a pure resistance, = 0.
For a pure inductance, = 90
For a pure capacitance, = -90
is the phase angle of the total impedance, ZT , not the current or voltage.

if PF = 1 (i.e. purely resistive circuit)

active power = apparent power = UI
if PF = 0 (i.e. purely inductive or capacitive circuit)
active power = reactive power = UI

Unity Power Factor (FP = 1)

A unity power factor implies that all of a loads apparent
power is real power (S = P). Now, if FP = 1, then = 0.
It could also be said that the load looks purely resistive.
The load current and voltage are in phase.

Why are current and voltage in phase

with each other in resistive load?

The instantaneous voltage across the resistor, VR is equal to the supply

voltage, Vt and is given as:
The instantaneous current flowing in the resistor will therefore be
(From Ohm's law V=IR)

Instantaneous voltage and current are in-phase because the current and
the voltage reach their maximum values at the same time.

Lagging Power Factor ( > 0)

The load current lags the load voltage, which implies
that the load looks inductive.

Why does current lag behind voltage in inductive load?

Leading power factor ( < 0)

The load current leads the load voltage which implies
that the load looks capacitive.

Why does current lead the voltage in capacitive load?

Results of High PF
1) Effect on Transmission lines Low current->
decrease size of transformers and transmission line

Results of High PF
2) Low losses in power system

Results of High PF
3) Low Voltage drop

Results of Low PF
1) Effect on Transmission lines - High Current
2) Effect on Generators, Transformers - KVA>>KW
2
3) high losses in power system - P
loss= I R
4) High Voltage drop

Power factor improvement methods

1) Static Capacitor method

2) Synchronous condenser method

3) Phase advancers Method

Power factor correction design

Power factor correction design

(for induction motor)

Power factor correction design

(for induction motor)

If we choose >
kVAR when we stop motor and
motor still rotate with inertia, induction motor will be self
excited. Over voltage will rune capacitors and stator coils.

Bad effects from Power factor correction

1) Over voltage
If we connect fixed capacitors to secondary side of
transformer, capacitor size mustnt exceed.
Due to over compensation, capacitors will make voltage
increases while lifting the load.

Bad effects from Power factor correction

2) Resonance
If we connect capacitors to electrical system that has
harmonic, we will get bad result when resonance occurs.
For example, Parallel resonance between capacitor and
transformer makes current and harmonic voltage increase.

Bad effects from Power factor correction

2) Resonance

Solve problems by using reactor, detune filter or tune filter.

Conclusion
High Power Factor
- Eliminates power factor penalty
- Reduction Of I2R Losses
- Reduces Generators, Transformers size
- Low Voltage drops
- Save energy

Reference

http://www.me.ua.edu/me416/LECTURE%20MATERIALS/MotorEffic&PFCM5.pdf
https://www.progress-energy.com/assets/www/docs/business/power-factorhow-effects-bill.pdf
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
http://www.wellwave-tech.com/engineering-zone/what-is-power-factor
http://electricalengineeringtutorials.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-ofpower-factor-improvement-methods/
2
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6071j-introduction-to-electronics-signals-and-measurement-spring2006/lecture-notes/capactr_inductr.pdf
http://www.usna.edu/Users/cs/vincent/suppnotes/EE301Topic26.pdf
http://www.itacanet.org/basic-electrical-engineering/part-12-ac-power-factor/
http://www.token.com.tw/pdf/what-is-a-inductor.pdf
http://www.staff.ul.ie/lyonsw/EE4101/Capacitors_lecture.PDF