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Power factor is most simply explained as a measure of how efficiently electrical power is consumed. The ideal power factor is unity, or one. A power factor of less than one, or 100% efficiency, means that some of that power is being wasted. Low power factor is not only inefficient, it can be expensive. Some utility companies will charge an extra fee for low power factor. Low power factor also reduces the electrical system’s distribution capacity through increased current flow and voltage drops. Low power factor is caused by inductive loads such as motors and compressors which create a magnetic field to produce the desired work.
Power Factor Correction has been used since the beginning of the 20th century to bring power factor as close to unity as possible. This is typically done with the addition of capacitors to the electrical network.
The main benefits of power factor correction include:
Reduced power consumption. Reduced electricity bills. Improved electrical energy efficiency. Extra kVA availability from the existing supply. Transformer and distribution equipment losses reduced. Voltage drop reductions in long cables.
The Department of Energy reports that up to 25% of the billable electricity consumed in business is non-productive and unusable. Most AC motors operate at 70 to 80% efficiency under a full load and efficiency drops dramatically at lower loads. This non-working (reactive power) wastes money and also shortens the life of inductive equipment such as motor and major appliances.
In many businesses, inductive loads are a significant portion of a utility bill. In some cases it can account for as much as 75% of the electric costs. Examples of common inductive loads are air handling units, refrigeration, compressors, fans, power tools and all motors in general. Power Factor Correction reduces the amount of power required from the utility by increasing the efficiency of the electricity available to inductive motors.
To appreciate the effect power factor has on the economy we can look at the following simple example. If power factor for a building is about 80% this means that 80% of the energy used actually runs the building and that the 20% balance is wasted. The US Department of Energy reports that in 2002 the US consumed almost 99 quadrillion BTUs, this would mean that almost 20 quads were wasted that year. The US Department of Energy estimates that buildings make up 65% of the load on the US power grid. If power factor could be improved imagine the potential savings in energy and reduction in carbon emissions.
Using our resources efficiently is exactly what power-factor correction is all about.
Using Power Factor Correction
Power Factor Correction reduces the amount of power required from the utility by increasing the efficiency of the electricity available to inductive motors. Power Factor Correction decreases the amount of nonworking (reactive) power (kVA) required from the public utility or renewable energy system. This is due to the increased availability of actual power, or True Power.
Capacitors in the Electricity Management System store and release what the motor needs to function more efficiently. This unique approach serves to reduce the heat generated on the lines, reducing the strain placed on all the electrical components, extending their life. Electricity that would normally be pushed back through the power distribution lines is reclaimed, stored, recycled and supplied by the units.
The Electricity Management System fine tunes the electrical system from the inductive equipment back through the utility company's electric meter, kilowatt hour meter (kWh) or demand meter. This fine tuning reduces electrical consumption while conditioning the line noise characteristics for better efficiency.
The System also stores the reactive power for creating the electromagnetic field (EMF) around the inductive windings to further stabilize “voltage sag” of a motor. By stabilizing ‘voltage sag’ also improves the performance and consistency in an inductive motor.
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(831) 233-6949 Customer Service
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THE TRUE POWER COMPANY |
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Science of Power Factor Correction |
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Our own Benjamin Franklin followed in the footsteps of German scientist E.G. von Kleist and the Dutch physicist Pieter van Musschenbroek to study the storage of electrical charges in the Leyden jar. This work eventually evolved into early capacitors which form the basis of power factor correction devices. |
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The True Power Company (831) 233-6949 support@truepowerco.com www.truepowerco.com 455 Canyon Del Rey #327, Monterey, CA 93940 |
