What Is Power Factor Correction?

You’ve heard the term. Learn what exactly ‘power factor correction’ is and what it means to your company.

Power Factor Correction is the process of maximizing the efficiency of an electrical system to deliver the most possible power as active power.

For a machine to perform work it must be supplied with energy. In the case of electric motors, more electricity must be supplied than actually appears as useful work at the motor shaft. A certain amount of electricity is required just to maintain the necessary magnetic field and does not produce any useful work. This component is known as reactive (or magnetizing) power. Utility companies will provide a limited amount of reactive power at no cost, however customers with high reactive power loads are charged extra for the reactive component.

Power Factor (PF) is the name given to the ratio of the active or usable power measured in kilowatts (KW), to the total power (active and reactive) measured in kilovolt amperes (KVA).

Power Factor =

Usable Power (KW)

Total Power Available (KVA)

The value for the power factor can theoretically vary between 0/% and 100%, where a value of 100% — also called unity power factor – delivers all of the power as active power. A value of 0% would mean all the power is supplied as reactive power; no motors would turn and no useful work could be accomplished. Electric utility companies must supply the entire KVA (total power) demand.

Since a customer only achieves useful work from the KW (usable) portion, a high power factor is important. The reactive power used by electrical equipment like transformers, electric motors, welding units, server banks, lighting systems and static converters adds additional load to generators, transmission lines, transformers, switchgear and cables. Reactive power can also cause considerable loss of energy through heat dissipation.

BENEFITS OF POWER FACTOR CORRECTION

There are numerous benefits to be gained through power factor correction. These benefits range from reduced demand charges on your power system to increased load carrying capabilities in your existing circuits and overall reduced power system loses. And the benefits of power factor correction aren’t just limited to the balance sheet; there are also huge environmental benefits associated with power factor correction, which means your company is reducing it’s carbon footprint and helping the environment.

REDUCED DEMAND CHARGES

Most electric utility companies charge for maximum metered demand based on either the highest registered demand in kilowatts (KW meter), or a percentage of the highest registered demand in KVA (KVA meter), whichever is greater. If the power factor is low, the percentage of the measured KVA will be significantly greater than the KW demand. Improving the power factor through power factor correction will therefore lower the demand charge, helping to reduce your electricity bill.

INCREASED LOAD CARRYING CAPABILITIES IN EXISTING CIRCUITS

Loads drawing reactive power also demand reactive current. Installing power factor correction capacitors at the end of existing circuits near the inductive loads reduces the current carried by each circuit. The reduction in current flow resulting from improved power factor may allow the circuit to carry new loads, saving the cost of upgrading the distribution network when extra capacity is required for additional machinery or equipment, saving your company thousands of dollars in unnecessary upgrade costs. In addition, the reduced current flow reduces resistive losses in the circuit.

IMPROVED VOLTAGE

A lower power factor causes a higher current flow for a given load. As the line current increases, the voltage drop in the conductor increases, which may result in a lower voltage at the equipment. With an improved power factor, the voltage drop in the conductor is reduced, improving the voltage at the equipment.

REDUCED POWER SYSTEM LOSSES

Although the financial return from conductor loss reduction alone is seldom sufficient to justify the installation of capacitors, it is sometimes an attractive additional benefit; especially in older plants with long feeders or in field pumping operations. System conductor losses are proportional to the current squared and, since the current is reduced in direct proportion to the power factor improvement, the losses are inversely proportional to the square of the power factor.

REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINT

By reducing your power system’s demand charge through power factor correction, your company is putting less strain on the electricity grid, therefore reducing its carbon footprint. Over time, this lowered demand on the electricity grid can account for hundreds of tons of reduced carbon production, all thanks to the improvement of your power system’s electrical efficiency via power factor correction.

Still Have Questions?

Read Our Power Factor Correction FAQ

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POWER FACTOR CORRECTION & ENERGY SAVING

Power Factor Correction & Improvement can help reduce your facility’s power demand, which translates into real savings. To learn more about how Power Factor Correction & Improvement can help your company, watch the following presentation given by Don McQueen given at GTAA Partners In Project Green Green Technology Webinar series.

Power Factor Correction

Is your power system running at its optimal efficiency? See how power factor correction can lower your company’s electric utility demands, improve the operating efficiency of electrical equipment and lower your company’s energy costs.

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Permanent Electrical Power Monitoring

Remotely monitor your power system’s power quality with the PQube – a cost-effective remote power monitoring & metering solution.

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Capacitor Repair & Maintenance

Power Factor Services can correct your power system’s power factor through the repair of your power system’s existing capacitor banks; even for capacitors that are no longer manufactured!

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Load & Investigative Monitoring

Want a better understanding of your power system? Use our load monitoring services to identify gaps, lags and disturbances in your power systems.

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What Is Power Factor Correction?

Power Factor Correction is the process of maximizing the efficiency of an electrical system to deliver the most possible power as active power.

Power Factor =

Usable Power (KW)

Total Power Available (KVA)

BENEFITS OF POWER FACTOR CORRECTION

REDUCED DEMAND CHARGES

INCREASED LOAD CARRYING CAPABILITIES IN EXISTING CIRCUITS

IMPROVED VOLTAGE

REDUCED POWER SYSTEM LOSSES

REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINT

Still Have Questions?

POWER FACTOR CORRECTION & ENERGY SAVING

Power Factor Correction

Permanent Electrical Power Monitoring

Capacitor Repair & Maintenance

Load & Investigative Monitoring

Power Factor Services Ltd.

ECRA/ESA License #7006401

Power Factor Correction Services

Certified Measurement & Verification Professional