Section 8: Power Factor

At the end of the section, you should be able to:

1. Draw power triangle for AC circuits.
2. Explain why power factor needs to be corrected.
3. Explain how power factor can be corrected and determine the
capacitance required to improve the power factor of inductive
load.

8.1 Power triangle (Remote Learning)

The complex power term 𝑆̅ = 𝑉̅ × 𝐼 ∗̅ = 𝑃 + 𝑗𝑄 can be expressed as a
vector as shown in Figure 8.1.
𝑄
𝑆̅ = 𝑃 + 𝑗𝑄 = √𝑃2 + 𝑄 2 ∠ tan−1 ( ) = 𝑆∠𝜃 = 𝑆(cos 𝜃 + 𝑗 sin 𝜃 )
𝑃

Figure 8.1
The vector representation shown in Figure 8.1 is as known as a power
triangle.
Web Resource that explains the power triangle.

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |1

Example 8.1 (Recall Section 6)
A series circuit consisting of a resistor of 40 Ω and an inductor of XL of
80 Ω is connected to an AC supply of 120∠0° V and frequency 50 Hz.
Calculate the
(i) Supply current 𝐼̅𝑆 ;
(ii) Apparent power S;
(iii) Real power P; and
(iv) Reactive power Q.
(v) Sketch the power triangle of the circuit, indicating clearly the
values of S, P, Q and the angle of the complex power vector.

Watch the video for the solution:

https://youtu.be/GPb_F-ZlaA0
(𝐼̅𝑆 = 1.342∠ − 63.43 A; 161 VA; 72 W; 144 var; 𝑆̅ = 161∠63.43° VA)

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |2

 Web Resource that recaps the concept of power factor using the
power triangle.
Remote learning task:
Complete Question 1 under Practice Questions 8 and show your
completed work to your tutor in the next lesson. You will be awarded
marks for completing the question.
8.2 Leading or lagging power factor
Consider the RLC circuit in Figure 8.2.

Figure 8.2
𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶
̅̅̅𝑇̅ = 𝑅 + 𝑗(𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 ) = √𝑅 2 + (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 )2 ∠ tan−1 (
𝑍 ) = 𝑍𝑇 ∠𝜃
𝑅
𝑉 ∠𝜃 𝑉
Let 𝑉̅𝑆 = 𝑉𝑆 ∠𝜃𝑣 and 𝐼̅𝑆 = 𝑆 𝑣 = 𝑆 ∠(𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃 )
𝑍𝑇 ∠𝜃 𝑍𝑇

If 𝑋𝐿 > 𝑋𝐶 → 𝜃 > 0 → 𝐼̅𝑆 is lagging 𝑉̅𝑆

If 𝑋𝐶 > 𝑋𝐿 → 𝜃 < 0 → 𝐼̅𝑆 is leading 𝑉̅𝑆

∗
𝑆̅ = 𝑉̅𝑆 𝐼̅𝑆 = 𝑉𝑆 𝐼𝑆 ∠(𝜃𝑣 − (𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃)) = 𝑉𝑆 𝐼𝑆 ∠𝜃
𝑃 = 𝑉𝑆 𝐼𝑆 cos 𝜃 = 𝐼𝑆 2 𝑅
𝑄 = 𝑉𝑆 𝐼𝑆 sin 𝜃 = 𝐼𝑆 2 𝑋 = 𝐼𝑆 2 (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 )
If 𝑋𝐿 > 𝑋𝐶 → 𝐼̅𝑆 is lagging 𝑉̅𝑆 → 𝑄 > 0

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |3

 If 𝑋𝐶 > 𝑋𝐿 → 𝐼̅𝑆 is leading 𝑉̅𝑆 → 𝑄 < 0

For inductive load (𝑋𝐿 > 𝑋𝐶 ), the reactive power Q is positive while for
capacitive load (𝑋𝐶 > 𝑋𝐿 ), the reactive power Q is negative.
𝑉𝑅 2 𝑉𝐿 2 𝑉𝐶 2
Note: 𝑃 = and 𝑄 = −
𝑅 𝑋𝐿 𝑋𝐶

The power factor of the circuit:

𝑃 𝐼𝑆 2 𝑅 𝑅 𝑅
𝑃𝐹 = cos 𝜃 = = = =
𝑉𝑆 𝐼𝑆 𝐼𝑆 2 𝑍𝑇 𝑍𝑇 √𝑅 2 +(𝑋𝐿 −𝑋𝐶 )2

By definition, the PF is a lagging power factor if 𝑋𝐿 > 𝑋𝐶 (inductive

load) while PF is a leading power factor if 𝑋𝐶 > 𝑋𝐿 (capacitive load).
Example 8.2 (Extension of Example 6.1)
For the circuit given below, calculate the real (P), reactive (Q) and
apparent (S) power. Determine the power factor of the circuit.

Solution:
̅̅̅𝑇̅ = 6 + 𝑗7 − 𝑗15 = 6 − 𝑗8 = 10∠ − 53.13∘ Ω
𝑍
𝑉̅̅̅̅ 100∠0∘
𝐼̅𝑆 = ̅̅̅̅𝑆 = = 10∠53.13∘ A
𝑍𝑇 10∠−53.13∘

𝑆̅ = 𝑉̅ × 𝐼 ∗̅ = 100 × 10∠(0 + (−53.13°) = 1000∠ − 53.13° = 600 − 𝑗800

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |4

−𝑗800 → Q is negative → capacitive load → leading power factor
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 600
Power factor = = = 0.6, leading
𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 1000

8.3 Power factor correction

A simple analogy to recap the concept of power factor is that of a
cappuccino. The coffee mug must have sufficient capacity to contain
both the coffee and froth, corresponding to the total power (apparent
power). The froth represents the reactive power and the coffee
represents the real power. The “real” value we derive is only from the
coffee.

Source: http://www.ergon.com.au/network/manage-your-energy/business-
resources/understanding-power-factor

As the froth or reactive power is not contributing significant value

(though some reactive power is required for machines to function),

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |5

reducing the amount of reactive power in the system can make it more
efficient.
Reducing reactive power will translate to a lower apparent power
required (for the same real power output) and hence, a lower supply
current. For the same real power output, a lower apparent power
requirement will mean a higher power factor. This is known a power
factor correction or improvement.
Web Resource that recaps the concept of power factor and
explains the power factor correction.
Key concepts of power factor correction
What is power factor correction?
It reduces the reactive power Q supplied to a load and keep the power
factor close to unity.
What is the significant effect of power factor correction?
The supply current is reduced in magnitude with the real power P
maintained at the original level.
What are the benefits?
With power factor correction, supply current amplitude is lower. Thus,
power losses (I2R) in conductors are lower with no reduction in real
power supplied.
Electricity providers save costs in:
▪ Copper losses in transmission cables and transformers
▪ Able to use a smaller size cable
▪ Maintaining stable power supplies
▪ Spare capacity

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |6

Electricity consumers:
▪ Enjoy a lower price for power
▪ Need not pay penalties because of low power factor equipment
How to improve the power factor?
Most electrical loads are inductive in nature. The load reactive power
(Q = QL – QC) can be reduced by introducing more capacitive reactive
power QC. The capacitive reactive power QC is introduced by connecting
capacitors parallel to the load.
Example 8.3
A system is supplied by a 50 Hz source of 230∠0° having a complex
power 𝑆̅ = 1000∠60∘ VA.

(i) Find the supply current 𝐼̅𝑆 , real power (P), reactive power (Q)
and power factor of the system.
(ii) Determine the required capacitance C to correct the power
factor to 0.86.
(iii) Determine the new supply current.
Solution:

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |7

(𝐼̅𝑆 = 4.348∠ − 60° A; P = 500 W; Q = 866 var)

Power factor of system = cos 60° = 0.5 lagging

Power factor correction:
New power factor = 0.86 → 𝜃𝑛𝑒𝑤 = cos −1 0.86 = 30.68°
P = 500 W (real power remains unchanged)
Qnew = 𝑃 tan 𝜃𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 500 × tan 30.68° = 296.68 var
Compensating reactive power Qc = Q – Qnew = 866 − 296.68 = 569.32
var

𝑆̅

QC

̅
𝑆𝑛𝑒𝑤 Qnew

θ θnew
P

Since the capacitor is connected across the supply,

𝐸2
QC =
𝑋𝐶

𝐸2 2302
XC = = = 92.92 Ω
𝑄𝐶 569.32
1
XC = = 92.92 Ω
2𝜋𝑓𝐶

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |8

 1 1
C= = = 34.26 μF
2𝜋𝑓×92.92 2𝜋×50×92.92

Snew = √(5002 + 296.82 ) = 581.46 VA

581.46
New supply current = = 2.53 A; 𝐼̅𝑆 = 2.53∠ − 30.68° A
230

There is a reduction in supply current after power factor correction.

Example 8.4
A small factory has a 25 kW resistive load and a 40 kVA inductive load
of lagging power factor of 0.6. If the supply is 850 V at 50 Hz, determine
the capacitive element required to raise the overall power factor to
0.95. Calculate the original and new supply current and compare the
values.

Watch the video for the solution:

https://youtu.be/yH4rC4Z7T7k

(70 μF; 68.85 A, 60.68 A)

AC Circuits (28ACCR) Power Factor Page |9