POWER FACTOR

Group Members:
Hasnain Akbar 19EL86
Shariq Ahmed 19EL121
Basit Ibrar 19EL85

Submitted to:
Sir Faheemullah Shaikh
 POWER FACTOR
1 Types of Powers

2 Power Factor

3 Importance of Power Factor

Table of 4 Causes low power factor?

Contents

5 Disadvantages of low power factor

6 Methods for power factor improvement

Application of shunt capacitors in distribution

7
network
TYPES OF POWER
• Three types of powers:
1. Active Power (Watts)
The power supplied to the equipment that
performs useful and productive work.

2. Reactive Power (Volts-Amps-Reactive)

The power required by equipment such as
transformers and motors to produce magnetic
fields enabling actual work to be done.

3. Apparent Power (Volts-Amps)

The vector sum of active power and reactive
power.
 POWER FACTOR
• Cosine of the phase difference between the voltage and current in an A.C circuit.

• May also be defined as the ratio of active power to reactive power:

Power Factor

• In our system we deal with 3 kinds of power factor values:

1. Lagging (inductive)
2. Leading (capacitive)
3. Unity (purely resistive)
 LAGGING POWER FACTOR
• In a circuit, when the current lags
the voltage, then the power factor
of the circuit is known as a lagging
power factor.

• The power factor lags when the

circuit is inductive.

• Loads such as coils, motors and

lamps are inductive and have lagging
pf.
 LEADING POWER FACTOR
• In a circuit, when the current leads
the voltage, then the power factor
of the circuit is said to be leading.

• A capacitive circuit has a leading

power factor.

• Capacitor banks and Synchronous

condensers are capacitive loads
that have a leading power factor.
 UNITY POWER FACTOR
• The power factor is unity when
the current and voltage are in
phase.

• Purely resistive circuits have

unity power factor.

• The power factor is unity for

ideal circuits.
IMPORTANCE OF
POWER FACTOR
• Gives us insight into the efficiency and the balance
of the reactive load in the system.
• It also helps us to avoid any issues caused by the
poor power factor like extra installation cost and
low power factor penalty or charges (tariff).
• Most loads (90%) in electrical distribution systems
have low power factor which is highly undesirable.
• Low PF causes an increase in reactive current,
resulting in additional losses in active power in all
elements of power system.
• Our goal is to have the power factor as close to
unity as possible.
POWER FACTOR
TARIFF
• The rate or charge at which electrical energy is supplied
to a consumer is known as tariff.
• When power factor of the consumer’s load is taken
into consideration, we refer to that as power factor
tariff.
• This includes cost for generation, investment cost for
transmission, distribution, operation, maintenance and
losses, along with the penalty for consumers at low
power factor.
• The low power factor increases the load current which
increases the losses in the system. Thus, the regulation
becomes poor.
• For improving the power factor, the power factor
correction equipment is installed at the generating
station.
POWER FACTOR TARIFF
• Types of power factor tariff are:
1. kVA maximum demand tariff – fixed charges are made
based on maximum demand kVA and not in kW.

2. kWh and kVARh tariff – in this type, both kW and kVAR

are charged separately.

3. Sliding scale or average power factor tariff

Here the average pf is taken as 0.8 lagging.
If the pf is less than 0.8 then the consumer will be
penalized.
If the pf is greater than 0.8 then the consumer will get
discount.
CAUSES OF LOW POWER
FACTOR
• Most loads (90%) in electrical distribution system are inductive in
nature. The cause of low power factor is only due to inductive
loads. The following inductive loads are responsible for low power
factor:
 Induction motors at light loads work at extremely low p.f of
0.2 to 0.3 and rise to 0.8 or 0.9 at full load.
 Arc lamps, electric discharge lamps, welding equipment and
industrial heating furnaces operated at low lagging power
factor.
 Transformers draw a magnetizing current from the supply. At
normal load this current does not affect the p.f, but they draw
larger amount of magnetizing current at light loads, causing
low p.f.
• Other causes include harmonics, improper wiring and variation in
the power system loading.
 • Definition: Harmonics are currents
HARMONICS or voltages with frequencies that are
multiples of the fundamental power
frequency (e.g., 50 Hz in the
Pakistan).
• Example: Second harmonic is 120
Hz, third harmonic is 180 Hz, and so
on.
• Common Issues Related to
Harmonics: Flickering of
Lightening
EFFECTS OF • Harmonic Distortion: Harmonics
HARMONICS ON generated by non-linear loads
introduce distortion reactive
POWER FACTOR power in the electrical system.
• Lowered Power Factor: The
presence of harmonics reduces the
power factor, leading to a less
efficient use of electrical power.
 DISADVANTAGES OF LOW POWER
FACTOR
1. Larger kVA Rating: Electric machines (alternators, transformers, and
switchgear) are always rated in kVA. The kVA rating of any
equipment varies inversely with power factor (p.f.). Therefore, a low
power factor increases the kVA rating, making the equipment larger
and more expensive.
2. Greater Conductor Size: To transmit a fixed amount of power at
constant voltage, the conductor will have to carry more current at
low power factor.
 DISADVANTAGES OF LOW POWER
FACTOR
3. Large Copper Losses: The larger amount of current at low power
factor also causes more I2R losses in the system.
4. Poor Voltage Regulation: Larger amount of current produces large
voltage drops (IR drops) in alternators, transformers, transmission
lines and distributors. This results in poor voltage regulation.
5. Paid Extra Utility Charges: System operated at low p.f is
uneconomical from the supplier’s point of view. Suppliers usually
take extra charges from the consumers who operated their load at
low power factor.
THE NEED FOR
PFC’s

• Power Factor Correction saves

cost by:
Reduces power bills.
Reduces I2R losses in
conductors.
Reduces loading on
transformers.
Improves voltage drop.
POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
• The process of supplying reactive
power (lagging or leading) to bring the
p.f closer to unity.
• Basically, add capacitive load to a
Static Capacitor
lagging (inductive) circuit or add
inductive load to a leading (capacitive)
circuit.
• Most common methods of Power
Factor Correction:
1. Static Capacitor
2. Synchronous Condenser Synchronous Condenser
3. Phase Advancers (not as common)

Phase Advancers
POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
1. STATIC CAPACITOR:
Connected in parallel to the load
at low p.f.
Capacitor draws leading current
of 90° from supply.
Compensates the lagging reactive
components of load current.
For higher capacitor ratings we
use capacitor banks.
For 3-phase system, capacitors
can be connected in star
(industrial and commercial loads)
and delta (distribution system).
EXAMPLE

In a plant with active power equal to

300 kW at 400 V and cosφ = 0.75, we
want to increase the power factor up
to 0.90. In the table 7.1, at the
intersection between the row “initial
cos φ” 0.75 with the column “final cos
φ” 0.9, a value of 0.398 for the
coefficient K is obtained.
•Therefore, a capacitor bank is
necessary with power Qc equal to:
•Qc = K ・ P = 0.398 ・ 300 = 119.4
kVAR
POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
Advantages:
• They have low losses.
• They require little maintenance as there are no rotating parts.
• They can be easily installed as they are light and require no foundation.
• They can work under ordinary atmospheric conditions.
Disadvantages:
• They have short service life ranging from 8 to 10 years.
• They are easily damaged if the voltage exceeds the rated value.
• Once the capacitors are damaged, their repair is uneconomical.
APPLICATION OF SHUNT
CAPACITORS IN
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
Distribution Networks (Correcting Low Power Factor)
• Primary Application: Shunt capacitors are commonly
applied in distribution networks to correct low power factor.
• Low Power Factor Challenge: Distribution networks often
experience low power factor due to a mix of residential,
commercial, and industrial loads.
• Solution: Shunt capacitors are strategically placed within the
network to inject reactive power, raising the power factor and
improving system efficiency.
• Benefits: Correcting low power factor in distribution
networks reduces energy losses, improves voltage regulation,
and frees up capacity for additional loads.
POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
2. Synchronous Condenser:

An over-excited synchronous machine running

on no-load is known as synchronous
condenser.

Takes leading current and behaves like a

capacitor.

Draws leading current when connected in

parallel to supply and partially compensates
the lagging reactive component of load
current.

This results in improved p.f.

POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
3. Phase Advancers:

Simple AC exciter.

Mounted on same shaft of main motor and

connected to rotor circuit of motor.

Supplies exciting ampere turns to the rotor

circuit.

By providing more ampere turns then stator

winding can be relieved of exciting current and
the power factor of the motor can be improved.
POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
Advantages:
• kVAR lagging reduced.
• Convenient in cases where synchronous condenser cannot be used.
Disadvantages:
• Not economical for motors below 150 kW (200 hp).
THAN
K
YOU