HOW TO IMPROVE POWER FACTOR?

The general purpose of PF improvement is to keep the distribution network temperature as low as possible as we all knew that by lowering the temperature of the distribution network we will reduce the overall resistivity of the distribution network and thus saving energy by reduction in amperage and cable sizes /rating.

In LV distribution the capacitor banks for PF improvement are the most common & economically feasible method of PF improvement which keeps the value of Cos Φ (Phi) around0.94 inductive.

A12 step or6 steps PF Controller is used to control the Magnetic contactors for different steps of capacitors the overall rating of the PF bank could be calculated as25% of the MV transformer rating,

For example a1000 KVA Transformer DYN11 vector group needs250 KVAR rating of the capacitor bank attached in parallel to main distribution bus bars

The CT & the3 phase voltage detection of the PF Controller relay of12 step or6 steps is very important along with the proper step rating configuration & parameterization of the controller relay

Or a direct method using formulation details of which is bit lengthy can be used for small scale individual motors of any remote tube well or small flour mills for energy saving up to15% in which a100HP (75 KW) motor of440 VAC is connected in parallel with a50 KVAR capacitor .

APPLYING CAPACITOR BANKS

SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSER

PHASE ADVANCER

Power factor can be improved by capacitor bank..........................

In Inductive type load we can improve power factor by using capacitor bank

In capacitive type load we can use induction motor.

adding capacitor banks.

by

minimizing operation of idling motors.

avoiding operation above rated voltage

adding capacitors in parallel to reduce reactive power factor

Power factor can be improved by using 

• Static Capacitor
• Synchronous condenser
• Phase Advancer