World University of Bangladesh

Welcome to our presentation

Presentation Topic:Power Factor Improvement.
Presented to:
Presented by:
Md. Aminul Islam

Md. Shahin Shake

Md. Tayeb
Md. Sohel Rana
Md. Rezaul
Sujan Chandra Das

PowerFactor
The term power factor comes into picture in AC circuits only.
The cosine of angle between voltage and current in an a.c.
circuit is known as power factor.
It refers to the fraction of total power (apparent power) which
is utilized to do the useful work called active power.
Thus, Power Factor

Need for Power Factor Improvement

Environmental benefit. Reduction of power consumption due to
improved energy efficiency. Reduced power consumption
means less greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel depletion
by power stations.
Reduction of electricity bills
Extra kVA available from the existing supply
Reduction of I2R losses in transformers and distribution
equipment.
Reduction of voltage drop in long cables.
Extended equipment life Reduced electrical burden on cables
and electrical components.

DisadvantagesofLowPowerFactor
In case of Low Power Factor, Current will be increased, and this
high current will cause to the following disadvantages.
1. Large Line Losses (Copper Losses):
We know that Line Losses is directly proportional to the squire of
current I2.
Power Loss = I2xR i.e., the larger the current, the greater the line
losses.
3. Greater Conductor Size and Cost:
In case of low power factor, current will be increased, thus, to
transmit this high current, we need the larger size of conductor.
Also, the cost of large size of conductor will be increased.

DisadvantagesofLowPowerFactor
4. Large Voltage Drop:
Voltage Drop , V = IZ.
Now in case of Low Power factor, Current will be increased.
So the Larger the current, the Larger the Voltage Drop.
5. Poor Voltage Regulation
Voltage Regulation = V.R = (VNo Load VFull Load)/ VFull Load
In case of Low Power Factor there would be large voltage
drop which cause low voltage regulation. Therefore, keeping
Voltage drop in the particular limit, we need to install Voltage
regulators.

CausesofLowPowerFactor
The following are the causes of low power factor:
Most of the a.c. motors are of induction type which have low
lagging power factor. These motors work at a power factor which is
extremely small on light load (02 to 03) and rises to 08 or 09
at full load.
Arc lamps, electric discharge lamps and industrial heating furnaces
operate at low lagging power factor.

How to improve power factor

The low power factor is mainly due to the fact that most of the
power loads are inductive and, therefore, take lagging currents
.In order to improve the power factor, some device taking
leading power should be connected in parallel with the load.

Methods for Power Factor Improvement

The following devices and equipments are used for Power

Factor Improvement.
Static Capacitor
Synchronous Condenser
Phase Advancer

Static Capacitor
The power factor can be improved by connecting static capacitors
in parallel with the equipment operating at lagging power factor.

Static Capacitor
To illustrate the power factor improvement by a capacitor, consider
a single phase load taking lagging currentI at a power factor cos 1
as shown in Fig. 6.3.
The capacitorC is connected in parallel with the load. The capacitor
draws current IC which leads the supply voltage by 90.The resulting
line current I is the phasor sum of I and IC and its angle of lag is 2
as shown in the phasor diagram of Fig. 6.3. (iii). It is clear that 2 is
less than 1 , so that cos 2 is greater than cos 1.
Hence, the power factor of the load is improved.

Static Capacitor
The following points are worth noting:
i. The circuit current I after p.f. correction is less than the original
circuit current I.
ii. The active component remains the same before and after p.f. correction
because only the lagging reactive component is reduced by the
capacitor.
I cos 1 = I cos 2
iii. The lagging reactive component is reduced after p.f. improvement and
is equal to the difference between lagging reactive component of load
(I sin 1) and capacitor current (IC) i.e.,
I sin 2 = I sin 1 IC

Static Capacitor
iv. As I cos 1 = I cos 2
VI cos 1 = VI cos 2
Therefore, active power (kW) remains unchanged due to power factor
improvement.
v. I sin 2 = I sin 1 IC
VI sin 2 = VI sin 1 VIC
i.e. Net kVAR after p.f. correction
= Lagging kVAR before p.f. correction leading kVAR of
equipment.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Static Capacitor

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
.
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.

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. When a synchronous
condenser is connected across supply voltage (in parallel) then it
draws leading current and partially eliminates the re-active
component and this way, power factor is improved. Generally,
synchronous condenser is used to improve the power factor in large
industries.

Synchronous Condenser

Synchronous Condenser
Fig 6.5 shows the power factor improvement by synchronous
condenser method. The 3- load takes current IL at low lagging
power factor cos L. The synchronous condenser takes a current Im
which leads the voltage by an angle m.
The resultant current I is the phasor sum of Im and IL and lags
behind the voltage by an angle .
It is clear that is less than L so that cos is greater than cos L.
Thus the power factor is increased from cos L to cos .

Advantages & Disadvantages of Synchro. Condenser

Advantages
By varying the field excitation, the magnitude of current drawn by the
motor can be changed by any amount. This helps in achieving
stepless control of power factor.
The motor windings have high thermal stability to short circuit
currents.
The faults can be removed easily.
Disadvantages
There are considerable losses in the motor.
The maintenance cost is high.
It produces noise

Phase Advancer
Phase advancer is a simple AC exciter which is connected on the
main shaft of the motor and operates with the motors rotor circuit
for power factor improvement. As the stator windings of induction
motor takes lagging current 90 out of phase with Voltage, therefore
the power factor of induction motor is low. If the exciting ampereturns are excited by external AC source, then there would be no
effect of exciting current on stator windings. Therefore the power
factor of induction motor will be improved.
Phase advancer is used to improve the power factor of induction
motor in industries.

Advantages of Power factor

improvement
Following are the merits and benefits of improved Power
factor:
Increase in efficiency of system and devices
Low Voltage Drop
Reduction in size of a conductor and cable which reduces cost
of the Cooper
An Increase in available power
Line Losses (Copper Losses) I2R is reduced.

Advantages of Power factor

improvement
Appropriate Size of Electrical Machines (Transformer,
Generators etc).
Low kWh (Kilo Watt per hour).
Saving in the power bill.
Better usage of power system, lines and generators etc.
Saving in energy as well as rating and the cost of the electrical
devices and equipment is reduced.

Thank You
for
Your
Attention