UNDERSTANDING

POWER FACTOR
CORRECTION
Dr. Ir. Mohamed Fuad Faisal
Asset Management Department,
Distribution Division, TNB

Presentation contents

Understanding Electrical Power

Understanding Electrical Energy & Energy Bills
Managing Low Power Factor
Impact of Low Power Factor
Benefits of High Power Factor
Methods to Improve Low Power Factor
Locations to install capacitors
Types of Power Factor Capacitors
Sizing of Capacitor
Energy Saving Devices

Understanding
Electrical Powers

Relationships kW, kVAr, kVA & PF

P= kW
Q=kVAr
S= kVA
S=(P2+Q2)
Power Factor (PF) =kW
kVA

Types of Loads (Equipment)

Resistive

Inductive

Incandescent lighting
Heating element
ETC

Motors
Transformers
Chokes, ETC

Watt, Kilowatt

VAr, KiloVAr

Capacitive
Capacitor

VAr, KiloVAr
B0#01(5)

Equipment Label: kW & Power Factor

Equipment Label: HP (Horsepower) &

Power Factor (PF)

No label for kW & kVAr

1 hp = 0.746 kW
7.5 hp = 5.5 kW
PF = 0.81 = kW
kVA
kVAr = (kVA2-kW2)

Electrical Energy
& Electricity Bills

kiloWatt
kiloVAr

Energy Meter
Air conditioner

kiloWatt
kiloVAr

Energy Meter

Definition of Power & Energy

kiloWatt
kiloVAr

Energy Meter

Relationships kWh, kVArh, kVAh & PF

P= kW or kWh
Q=kVAr or kVArh
S= kVA or kVAh
S=(P2+Q2)
Power Factor (PF) =kW
kVA
Average Power Factor (PF) = kWh
kVAh

kiloWatt
kiloVAr

Example for Domestic Customers

Energy cost= RM 0.28/kWh
Energy Meter

Cost = RM 0.28/kWh x 330 kWh

= RM 92.40

Kilang ABC

Charges for Non

Domestic Customers

Energy cost (kWh)

Energy cost = kWh (1month) x h

Maximum Demand (kW)

Maximum Demand = Highest kW(1month) x Tariff

kVArh
Power Factor
Power factor penalty for power factor < 0.85 (0.9)

Managing
Low Power Factors

Kilang ABC

Charges for Non

Domestic Customers

Energy cost (kWh)

Energy cost = kWh (1month) x h

Maximum Demand (kW)

Maximum Demand = Highest kW(1month) x Tariff

kVArh
Power Factor
Power factor penalty for power factor < 0.85 (0.9)

DEFINITION OF POWER FACTOR

P= kW or kWh
Q=kVAr or kVArh
S= kVA or kVAh
S=(P2+Q2)
Power Factor =kW
kVA
Average Power Factor = kWh
kVAh

Equipment Causing Low Power Factor

Lightly loaded induction motor. Examples of this type of
equipment and their approximate power factors are:
80% power factor or better: Air conditioners, pumps, center less
grinders, cold headers, up setters, fans or blowers.
60% to 80% power factor: Induction furnaces, standard stamping
machines and weaving machines.
60% power factor and below: Single stroke presses, automated
machine tools, finish grinders, welders.

Example 1
Energy recorded by TNB energy meter
kWh = 123,345.24
kVarh=87,453.23

What is the value of average power factor ?

10

 kWh = 123,345.24
kVarh = 87,453.23
kVAh = (123,345.242 + 87,453.232)
= 151,202
Average PF = kWh / kVAh
= 123,345.24 / 151,202
= 0.815

LIMTS FOR AVERAGE POWER FACTOR

Non Domestic Customers are advise to maintain
power factor at minimum of 0.85 (0.90)
PF = 1.0
No Surcharge
Power
Factor

PF=0.85 (0.9)

PF=0.75 (0.75)

Surcharge

11

All Tariffs imposed Power Factor

limits except Tariffs A & G
Tarif A
Tarif B
Tarif C1
Tarif C2
Tarif D
Tarif E1
Tarif E2
Tarif E3
Tarif F
Tarif F1
Tarif F2
Tarif G

Domestic
LV Commercial
MV Commercial
MV Peak/Off-Peak
LV Industry
MV Industry
MV Industry Peak/Off
HV Industry
LV Mining
MV Mining
MV Mining Peak/Off
Street Lighting

CALCULATION OF AVERAGE
POWER FACTOR PENALTY

12

Average Power Factor Charges

Power Factor
PF > 0.85 (0.90)
PF = 0.85 (0.90)
0.75 < PF < 0.85
(0.75 < PF < 0.90)

PF < 0.75

Description
No charge
No charge
For every different of 0.01,
additional charge of 1.5 %
from monthly bill
For every different of 0.01,
additional charge of 3.0%
from monthly bill

EXAMPLE 2
One 11 kV LPC has monthly power factor of 0.60 & the monthly electricity bill is
RM 4,800.
What is the actual monthly electricity bill?
Charge 1 = (0.85 - 0.75)/0.01 x1.5 % = 15 %
Charge 2 = (0.75 - 0.60)/0.01 x 3.0 % = 45 %
Overall charge = (15 % + 45 %) = 60 %
Power factor penalty = 60% x RM 4,800.00 = RM 2,880.00.
Monthly Electric Bill = Energy Bil (kWh) + power factor penalty
Actual electricity bill = RM 4,800 + RM 2,880 = RM 7,680.00

13

Impact of Low
Power Factors

Reactive Power Problem (1)

Condition 1
Power Factor = 1.0, Load = 50 kW,
Load kVA = kW / PF = 50 kVA
Load Current = kVA / (3 x 480 Volt) = 60 Amp
Condition 2
Power Factor = 0.7, Load kW = 50 kW,
Load kVA = kW / PF = 50 kW / 0.7 = 72 kVA
Load Current = kVA / (3 x 480 Volt) = 86 Amp

14

Reactive Power Problem (1)

Load = 50 kW
PF =1.0

Load = 50 kW
PF =0.7

60 Amp

86 Amp

Reactive Power Problem (2)

48.43
kVar

100
kW
100 kVA
pf=1.00

100
kW

75
kVar
100
kW

111.11 kVA 125 kVA

pf=0.90
pf=0.80

133.33
kVar

102
kVar

100
kW

100
kW

142.8 kVA
pf=0.70

166.7 kVA
pf=0.60

B0#01(30)

15

Reactive Power Problem (3)

Transformer size
100 kVA

100
kW

100 kVA
pf=1.00

43.59
kVar

60
kVar

90
kW

80
kW

100 kVA
pf=0.90

100 kVA
pf=0.80

71.41
kVar

80
kVar

70
kW

60
kW

100 kVA
pf=0.70

100 kVA
pf=0.60

B0#01(31)

Reactive Power Problem (4)

Condition 1
Power Factor = 0.45
Tx Size = 1000 kVA
Load kVA = 1,777 kVA
% TX Load = 177 %
Condition 2
Power Factor = 0.9
Tx Size = 1000 kVA
Load kVA = 888 kVA
% TX Load = 88 %

16

Reactive Power Problem (5)

Condition 1
Power Factor = 1.0
Load kVA = 50 kVA
Current = 50 kVA/ (3x480) =60 Amp
Cable resistance = 5 ohm
Losses = I2 x R = 602 x 5 = 18,000 Watt

Losses = Watt
In 1 hour (h), the losses
value will be kW x h

Condition 2
Power Factor = 0.7
Load kVA = 72 kVA
Current = 72 kVA/ (3x480) =86 Amp
Cable resistance = 5 ohm
Losses = I2 x R = 862 x 5 = 36,980 Watt

Summary of Impacts of Low Power Factors

a low power factor will inflict power factor
penalty to customers
a lower power factor can cause increase in
line current and cause technical losses (I2R)
for both customers and TNB.
a low power factor can increase the kVA load
for TNB transmission/distribution systems
(use more of system capacity kVA).

17

Benefits of High
Power Factors

Benefits of High Power Factor Correction

No power factor penalty to customers
Reduce line current and minimize technical
losses (I2R) for both customers and TNB.
Reduce use of system capacity kVA for both
customers and TNB.

18

Methods to Improve
Low Power Factors

Methods to Improve Low PF

Install power factor correction capacitors
Fixed or Switch Capacitors

Synchronous Condenser
When a Synchronous motor operates at No-Load and
over-exited then its called a synchronous Condenser.
Whenever a Synchronous motor is over-exited then it
provides leading current and works like a capacitor

Adjust power factor settings (COGEN)

19

Locations to
Install Capacitors

Locations to Install Capacitors

Capacitors connected at a distribution board and
controlled independently from the individual
starters is known as Capacitor Bulk Correction".
Capacitors connected at each load is known as
Capacitor Load Correction" .

B0#01(40)

20

Capacitor Bulk Correction

B0#01(41)

Capacitor bulk correction will minimize

average power factor penalties
If the customers want to minimize the average power factor
penalty, they must install suitably sized capacitor banks exactly
after the energy meter.

Load
Energy Meter

Capacitor

21

Locations to install capacitor for

minimizing power factor penalties
UTILITY

INCOMER

11 kV

X
1.5MVA
DY11

1.5 MVA
DY1

OPEN

415 Volt

X
1MVA
DY11

208 Volt
Cooling Tower
Chillers

M
M

Production
Equipment

M
M

ASD

Compressors
Servo Drives

B0#01(43)

Locations to install capacitor for

minimizing power factor penalties

B0#01(44)

22

Capacitor load correction will minimize

line current, losses and improve average
power factor.

Capacitor load correction will minimize

line current, losses and improve average
power factor.

B0#01(46)

23

Capacitor load correction will minimize

line current, losses and improve average
power factor.

B0#01(47)

Types of Power Factor

Correction Capacitors

24

Delta 415 Volt Capacitor for

Schools & Shops

Delta 415 Volt Capacitor

B0#01(50)

25

11 kV Pole Mounted Capacitor

Y-Y Ungrounded 11 kV

B0#01(52)

26

Y-Y Ungrounded 33 kV

B0#01(53)

Y-Y Ungrounded 132 kV

27

Sizing of Power
Correction Capacitors

Methods to Size Capacitors

Use the power factor correction reference
(PFCR) table
Perform load profiling at selected sites.

28

Power Factor Correction Reference Table

O
r
i
g
i
n
a
l
P
o
w
e
r
F
a
c
t
o
r
i
n
%

50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99

80
0.982
0.937
0.893
0.85
0.809
0.769
0.73
0.692
0.655
0.618
0.584
0.549
0.515
0.483
0.45
0.419
0.388
0.358
0.329
0.299
0.27
0.242
0.213
0.186
0.159
0.132
0.105
0.079
0.053
0.026
0

81
1.008
0.962
0.919
0.876
0.835
0.795
0.756
0.718
0.681
0.644
0.61
0.575
0.541
0.509
0.476
0.445
0.414
0.384
0.355
0.325
0.296
0.268
0.239
0.212
0.185
0.158
0.131
0.105
0.079
0.052
0.026
0

82
1.034
0.989
0.945
0.902
0.861
0.821
0.782
0.744
0.707
0.67
0.636
0.601
0.567
0.535
0.502
0.471
0.44
0.41
0.381
0.351
0.322
0.294
0.265
0.238
0.211
0.184
0.157
0.131
0.105
0.078
0.052
0.026
0

83
1.06
1.015
0.971
0.928
0.887
0.847
0.808
0.77
0.733
0.696
0.662
0.627
0.593
0.561
0.528
0.497
0.466
0.436
0.407
0.377
0.348
0.32
0.291
0.264
0.237
0.21
0.183
0.157
0.131
0.104
0.078
0.052
0.026
0

84
1.086
1.041
0.997
0.954
0.913
0.873
0.834
0.796
0.759
0.722
0.688
0.653
0.619
0.587
0.554
0.523
0.492
0.462
0.433
0.403
0.374
0.346
0.317
0.29
0.263
0.236
0.209
0.183
0.157
0.13
0.104
0.078
0.052
0.026
0

85
1.112
1.067
1.023
0.98
0.939
0.899
0.86
0.822
0.785
0.748
0.714
0.679
0.645
0.613
0.58
0.549
0.518
0.488
0.459
0.429
0.4
0.372
0.343
0.316
0.289
0.262
0.235
0.209
0.183
0.156
0.13
0.104
0.078
0.052
0.026
0

86
1.139
1.094
1.05
1.007
0.966
0.926
0.887
0.849
0.812
0.775
0.741
0.706
0.672
0.66
0.607
0.576
0.545
0.515
0.486
0.456
0.427
0.399
0.37
0.343
0.316
0.289
0.262
0.236
0.21
0.183
0.157
0.13
0.105
0.079
0.053
0.027
0

87
1.165
1.12
1.076
1.033
0.992
0.952
0.913
0.875
0.838
0.801
0.767
0.732
0.698
0.666
0.633
0.602
0.571
0.541
0.512
0.482
0.453
0.425
0.396
0.369
0.342
0.315
0.288
0.262
0.236
0.209
0.183
0.157
0.131
0.105
0.079
0.053
0.026

Desired Pow er Factor in %

88
89
90
91
1.192
1.22 1.248 1.276
1.147
1.175
1.23 1.231
1.103
1.131 1.159 1.187
1.06
1.088 1.116 1.144
1.019
1.047 1.075 1.103
0.979
1.007 1.033 1.063
0.94
0.968 0.996 1.024
0.902
0.93 0.958 0.986
0.865
0.893 0.921 0.949
0.828
0.856 0.884 0.912
0.794
0.822
0.85 0.878
0.759
0.787 0.815 0.843
0.725
0.753 0.781 0.809
0.693
0.721 0.749 0.777
0.66
0.688 0.716 0.744
0.629
0.657 0.685 0.713
0.598
0.626 0.554 0.682
0.568
0.596 0.624 0.652
0.539
0.567 0.595 0.623
0.509
0.537 0.565 0.593
0.48
0.508 0.536 0.564
0.452
0.48 0.508 0.536
0.423
0.451 0.479 0.507
0.396
0.424 0.452
0.48
0.369
0.397 0.425 0.453
0.342
0.37 0.398 0.426
0.315
0.343 0.371 0.399
0.289
0.317 0.345 0.373
0.263
0.291 0.319 0.347
0.236
0.264 0.292
0.32
0.21
0.238 0.266 0.294
0.184
0.212
0.24 0.268
0.158
0.186 0.214 0.242
0.132
0.16 0.188 0.216
0.106
0.134 0.162
0.19
0.08
0.108 0.136 0.164
0.053
0.081 0.109 0.137
0.027
0.055 0.082 0.111
0
0.028 0.056 0.084
0.028 0.056
0.028

92
1.306
1.261
1.217
1.174
1.133
1.09
1.051
1.013
0.976
0.939
0.905
0.87
0.836
0.804
0.771
0.74
0.709
0.679
0.65
0.62
0.591
0.563
0.534
0.507
0.48
0.453
0.426
0.4
0.374
0.347
0.321
0.295
0.269
0.243
0.217
0.191
0.167
0.141
0.114
0.086
0.058
0.03

93
1.337
1.292
1.248
1.295
1.164
1.124
1.085
1.047
1.01
0.973
0.939
0.904
0.87
0.838
0.805
0.774
0.743
0.713
0.684
0.654
0.625
0.597
0.568
0.541
0.514
0.487
0.46
0.434
0.408
0.381
0.355
0.329
0.303
0.277
0.251
0.225
0.198
0.172
0.145
0.117
0.089
0.061
0.031
0

94
1.369
1.324
1.28
1.237
1.196
1.156
1.117
1.079
1.042
1.005
0.971
0.936
0.902
0.87
0.837
0.806
0.775
0.746
0.716
0.686
0.657
0.629
0.6
0.573
0.546
0.519
0.492
0.466
0.44
0.413
0.387
0.361
0.335
0.309
0.283
0.257
0.23
0.204
0.177
0.149
0.121
0.093
0.063
0.032

95
1.403
1.358
1.314
1.271
1.23
1.19
1.151
1.113
1.076
1.039
1.005
0.97
0.936
0.904
0.871
0.84
0.809
0.779
0.75
0.72
0.691
0.663
0.634
0.607
0.58
0.553
0.526
0.5
0.474
0.447
0.421
0.395
0.369
0.343
0.317
0.291
0.265
0.238
0.211
0.183
0.155
0.127
0.097
0.066
0.034

57

96
1.442
1.395
1.351
1.308
1.267
1.228
1.189
1.151
1.114
1.077
1.043
1.008
0.974
0.942
0.909
0.878
0.847
0.817
0.788
0.758
0.729
0.701
0.672
0.645
0.618
0.591
0.564
0.538
0.512
0.485
0.459
0.433
0.407
0.381
0.355
0.329
0.301
0.275
0.248
0.22
0.192
0.164
0.134
0.103
0.071
0.037

97
1.481
1.436
1.392
1.349
1.308
1.268
1.229
1.191
1.154
1.117
1.083
1.014
0.982
0.949
0.918
0.887
0.857
0.828
0.798
0.769
0.741
0.712
0.685
0.658
0.631
0.604
0.578
0.552
0.525
0.499
0.473
0.447
0.421
0.395
0.369
0.343
0.317
0.29
0.262
0.234
0.206
0.176
0.143
0.113
0.079
0.042
0
0

98
1.529
1.484
1.44
1.397
1.356
1.316
1.277
1.239
1.202
1.165
1.131
1.096
1.062
1.03
0.997
0.966
0.935
0.905
0.876
0.84
0.811
0.783
0.754
0.727
0.7
0.673
0.652
0.62
0.594
0.567
0.541
0.515
0.489
0.463
0.437
0.417
0.39
0.364
0.237
0.309
0.281
0.253
0.223
0.192
0.16
0.126
0.089
0.047
0

99
1.59
1.544
1.5
1.457
1.416
1.377
1.338
1.3
1.263
1.226
1.192
1.157
1.123
1.091
1.058
1.027
0.996
0.966
0.937
0.907
0.878
0.85
0.821
0.794
0.767
0.74
0.713
0.687
0.661
0.634
0.608
0.582
0.556
0.53
0.504
0.478
0.451
0.425
0.398
0.37
0.342
0.314
0.284
0.253
0.221
0.187
0.15
0.108
0.061
0

100
1.732
1.687
1.643
1.6
1.559
1.519
1.48
1.442
1.405
1.368
1.334
1.299
1.265
1.233
1.2
1.169
1.138
1.108
1.079
1.049
1.02
0.992
0.963
0.936
0.909
0.882
0.855
0.829
0.803
0.776
0.75
0.724
0.698
0.672
0.645
0.62
0.593
0.567
0.54
0.512
0.484
0.456
0.426
0.395
0.363
0.328
0.292
0.251
0.203
0.142

Performing a Load Profiling

UTILITY

INCOMER

11 kV

PQ recorder
No.1

X
1.5 MVA
DY1

PQ recorder
No.2

OPEN

415 Volt

X
1MVA
DY11

208 Volt
Cooling Tower
Chillers

M
M

Production
Equipment

M
M

ASD

Compressors
Servo Drives

58

29

Timeplot

Maximum kVAr
5000

kVAR

4000

Base kVAR

3000

2000

1000

A QFnd(kVAR) (avg)
11/10/2006
Friday

11/11/2006
Saturday

B QFnd(kVAR) (avg)
11/12/2006
Sunday

C QFnd(kVAR) (avg)
11/13/2006
Monday

TOT QFnd(kVAR) (avg)

11/14/2006
Tuesday

11/15/2006
Wednesday

Event #1 at 11/09/2006 12:08:58.000

BVrms, CVrms, BVrms, CVrms Voltage Journal Trigger Normal To Low

AQFnd(kVAR) AVG
BQFnd(kVAR) AVG
CQFnd(kVAR) AVG
TOTQFnd(kVAR) AVG

Max
1764
1916
1775
5442

At
11/13/2006 21:10
11/09/2006 19:30
11/09/2006 19:50
11/09/2006 19:30

Min
917.6
1041
935.4
2894

At
11/13/2006 21:10
11/09/2006 19:30
11/09/2006 19:50
11/09/2006 19:30

59

Created with DranView 6.0.23

Summary of Capacitor
Sizing & Placement

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Overall Procedures for Capacitor Sizing

& Placement
Start
Objectives

Identify location
Capacitor sizing
Technical
assessment

Design &
specifications

Installation

Asset Mgmt

Energy Saving Devices

(ESD)

31

Energy Saving
Device (ESD) ?

Brand XXX

SmartKit

Does A Energy Saving Card (ESC)

Exist to achieve Energy Efficiency ?

32

Energy Saving Card (ESC) ?

ABC

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34

Thank You
mfuadfa@tnb.com.my

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