How Does Power Factor Correction and Controllers Work & Its Benefits

The Power Factor Controllers understand power consumption and set the capacitance saving level. Its energy consumption monitor allows energy use to be optimized in real time. These units designed for power fluctuations and maximize in-phase energy. It also increases potential energy savings at low and at peak energy demand levels. Power factor correction is technology that has been used since the turn of the 20th century to restore the power factor to as close to unity as is economically viable. This is normally achieved by the addition of capacitors to the electrical network which compensate for the reactive power demand of the inductive load and thus reduce the burden on the supply. There should be no effect on the operation of the equipment. To reduce losses in the distribution system, and to reduce the electricity bill, power factor correction, usually in the form of capacitors, is added to neutralize as much of the magnetizing current as possible. Capacitors contained in most power factor correction equipment draw current that leads the voltage, thus producing a leading power factor. If capacitors are connected to a circuit that operates at a nominally lagging power factor, the extent that the circuit lags is reduced proportionately.

BENEFITS OF POWER FACTOR CORRECTION

There are numerous benefits to be gained through power factor correction. These benefits range from reduced electricity bills 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.

1. REDUCTION IN ELECTRICITY BILLS

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.

2. 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.

3. IMPROVEMENT IN LINE 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.

4. 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.

5. LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINTS

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.

6. EXTENDED EQUIPMENT LIFE

Power Factor Controllers filters the voltage which increases the life of inductive motors including air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, HVACs systems and many more.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Reduction of Power Consumption due to improved energy efficiency. Reduced Power Consumption means less greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel depletion by power stations.

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