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One
of the most effect ways to improve the power factor of the electrical
distribution system is to install equipment that have the ability to decrease
the reactive component of the power supplied by the utility company. One of
such equipment is the Capacitor. Other
equipment with the same ability to decrease reactive power includes:
Capacitors
Synchronous
motors
Synchronous
generators
We
can reduce reactive power and increase power factor in an electrical
distribution system by the following method:
Installing Capacitors
Installing
capacitors decreases the magnitude of reactive power (KVAR), thus increasing
your power factor. A capacitor freely supplies the distribution system with
what is called a Leading reactive power
compared to the Lagging reactive power
supplied by the utility company. With capacitors in the electrical distribution
system, the ‘’reactive powers’’ cancel each other out depending on the size of
capacitor (in micro-farad) in use or at best reduces the level of reactive
power in the distribution system.
The
presence of both a capacitor and inductor in the same circuit results in the
continuous alternating transfer of energy between the two. Thus, when the
circuit is balanced, all the energy released by the inductor is absorbed by the
capacitor. In effect, a capacitor cancels out the effect of an inductive load.
Minimizing
Operation of Idling or Lightly Loaded Motors
We have already established the fact that a major
cause of low power factor in most industrial premises is the prevalence of a
large number of induction motors. The problem of low power factor will be
compounded if most of theses electric motors are lightly loaded or left to idle
away without any load. To prevent this from happening, induction motors should
be appropriately loaded and idling of the motors should be discouraged.
Replacing
Standard Motors as they Burn out with Energy-Efficient Motors
The rising cost of energy is leading us into an era
where every device that consumes energy need to be energy efficient. With
energy-efficient motors, power factor can be significantly improved but even with
these kinds of electric motors, power factor can be adversely affected by
variations in load. A motor must therefore be operated near its rated load in
order to realize the benefits of a high power factor design.
Avoid
Operation of Equipment above its rated Voltage.
This is also another potential cause of low power
factor. This should be avoided within a facility.
