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Hi there! With a very important tutorial.. I hope you will find it very useful because I have
already spent two days to prepare this article. I think all of those who have sent messages
and mails about the topic will never ask again if they follow these simple methods to
calculate the proper Size of Capacitor bank in kVAR and micro-farads for power factor
correction and improvement in both single phase and three phase circuits. I think its too
much..
Now lets begin
Example: 1
A 3 Phase, 5 kW Induction Motor has a P.F (Power factor) of 0.75 lagging. What size
of Capacitor in kVAR is required to improve the P.F (Power Factor) to 0.90?
Motor input = P = 5 kW
Original P.F = Cos1 = 0.75
Final P.F = Cos2 = 0.90
1 = Cos-1 = (0.75) = 41.41; Tan 1 = Tan (41.41) = 0.8819
2 = Cos-1 = (0.90) = 25.84; Tan 2 = Tan (25.50) = 0.4843
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan 1 Tan 2)
= 5kW (0.8819 0.4843)
= 1.99 kVAR
And Rating of Capacitors connected in each Phase
1.99/3 = 0.663 kVAR
An Alternator is supplying a load of 650 kW at a P.F (Power factor) of 0.65. What size
of Capacitor in kVAR is required to raise the P.F (Power Factor) to unity (1)? And
how many more kW can the alternator supply for the same kVA loading when P.F
improved.
Supplying kW = 650 kW
From Table 1, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.65 to unity (1) is 1.169
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.65 to unity (1)
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table 1 Multiplier of 65 and 100
= 650kW x 1.169
= 759.85 kVAR
Supplying kW = 650 kW
Original P.F = Cos1 = 0.65
Final P.F = Cos2 = 1
1 = Cos-1 = (0.65) = 49.45; Tan 1 = Tan (41.24) = 1.169
2 = Cos-1 = (1) = 0; Tan 2 = Tan (0) = 0
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan 1 Tan 2)
= 650kW (1.169 0)
= 759.85 kVAR
How to Calculate the Required Capacitor bank value in both kVAR and
Farads?
(How to Convert Farads into kVAR and Vice Versa)
Example: 3
A Single phase 400V, 50Hz, motor takes a supply current of 50A at a P.F (Power
factor) of 0.6. The motor power factor has to be improved to 0.9 by connecting a
capacitor in parallel with it. Calculate the required capacity of Capacitor in both
kVAR and Farads.
Solution.:
(1) To find the required capacity of Capacitance in kVAR to improve P.F from 0.6 to
0.9 (Two Methods)
(2) To find the required capacity of Capacitance in Faradsto improve P.F from 0.6 to
0.9 (Two Methods)
We have already calculated the required Capacity of Capacitor in kVAR, so we can easily
convert it into Farads by using this simple formula
Required Capacity of Capacitor in Farads/Microfarads
C = kVAR / (2 f V2) in microfarad
We know that;
IC = V/ XC
Whereas XC = 1 / 2 F C
IC = V / (1 / 2 F C)
IC = V 2 F C
= (400) x 2 x (50) x C
IC = 125663.7 x C
And,
kVAR = (V x IC) / 1000 [kVAR =( V x I)/ 1000 ]
= 400 x 125663.7 x C
IC = 50265.48 x C (ii)
50265.48 x C = 10.188C
C = 10.188 / 50265.48
C = 2.0268 x 10-4
C = 202.7 x 10-6
C = 202.7F
Example 4
What value of Capacitance must be connected in parallel with a load drawing 1kW at
70% lagging power factor from a 208V, 60Hz Source in order to raise the overall
power factor to 91%.
Solution:
You can use either Table method or Simple Calculation method to find the required value of
Capacitance in Farads or kVAR to improve Power factor from 0.71 to 0.97. So I used table
method in this case.
P = 1000W
Actual Power factor = Cos1 = 0.71
Desired Power factor = Cos2 = 0.97
From Table, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.71 to 0.97 is 0.783
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.71 to 0.97
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table Multiplier of 0.71 and 0.97
= 1kW x 0.783
=783 VAR (required Capacitance Value in kVAR)
Current in the Capacitor =
IC = QC / V
= 783 / 208
= 3.76A
And
XC = V / IC
= 208 / 3.76 = 55.25
C = 1/ (2 f XC)
C = 1 (2 x 60 x 55.25)
C = 48 F (required Capacitance Value in Farads)
Good to Know:
Important formulas which is used for Power factor improvement calculation as well
as used in the above calculation
Power in Watts
kW = kVA x Cos
kW = HP x 0.746 or (HP x 0.746) / Efficiency (HP = Motor Power)
kW = ( kVA2 kVAR2)
kW = P = VI Cos (Single Phase)
kW = P =3x V x I Cos (Three Phase)
Apparent Power in VA
kVA= (kW2+ kVAR2)
kVA = kW/ Cos
Reactive Power in VA
kVAR= (kVA2 kW2)
kVAR = C x (2 f V2)