EE 12.

0 1P

POWER FACTOR IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM

Engr. A. K. M. Arif Hossain
Additional Chief Engr. (Elect.)
The usual industrial load on a power system operates at lagging power factor. The
heating and lighting loads supplied from 3-phase supply have power factors rating from
0.95 to unity. But the motor loads have usually low lagging power factors rating from 0.5
to 0.9. Single phase motors may have as low a power factor as 0.4 and electric winding
unites have even lower power factors of 0.2 or 0.3.
1.0 Effect of low power factor
Effect of low power factor can be
understood from the relation of actual (real)
power and apparent power indicated in Fig.
Mathematically,
Useful (real) power=Apparent power X CosФ
or KW = KVA X Power factor
Power.in.KW
or Apparent power in KVA =
p. f
i.e. for doing the same useful work (KW) the
apparent power (KVA) increases in inverse ratio to the power factor. Since the size of the
generators, transformers, switchgears, cables and conductors are all determined by the
KVA capacity, a low power factor mean the installation of larger equipment all along the
line for a given kilowatt capacity.
Also, with constant voltage, current is inversely proportional to the power factor
i.e. a device will draw twice as much current at 0.5 p.f. as at unity p.f. for the same
power. Since the heat loss is proportional to squire of current, the same can be said to be
1
inversely proportional to squire of power factor i.e. Heat loss α . i.e , a low
( p. f ) 2
power factor would mean increased heat loss.
When a load having a low lagging power factor is switched on, there is a large
voltage drop in the supply voltage because of the increased voltage drop in the supply
system. This drop in voltage adversely the affects the starting torque of the motors and
requires expensive voltage stabilizing equipment for keeping the consumer’s voltage
fluctuations within the statutory (legal) limits.
So to avoid low power factor, improvement at the load is economically justifiable.
Example1.: A 750KVA, 415V, 3phase gas engine generator supplies full load at a
lagging power factor of 0.7. What would be the percentage increase in earning capacity if
the power factor is increased to 0.95?
Solution.
The earning capacity is proportional to the power (in KW) supplied by the alternator.
Power supplied at 0.7 lagging power factor = 750x0.7KW= 525 KW.
Power supplied at 0.95 lagging power factor = 750x0.95KW= 712.5 KW.
The increase in earning capacity is (712.5-525) KW. = 187.5 KW.
.·. Percentage increase in earning capacity is (187.5/525) x100 = 35.7 %

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narsingdi-1611

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2.0 Power factor correction equipment / method

The following equipment is generally used for improving or correcting the power
factor.
2.1. Synchronous Condensers
A synchronous motor draws leading current when over excited and can, therefore,
be used for power factor improvement. When the motor is used for power factor
improvement only and not for driving any load, it is known as a Synchronous
Condensers. Synchronous motor are employed for correcting the power factor in bulk and
have the special advantage that the amount of correction can be varied by changing their
excitation. The disadvantages of a Synchronous Condensers are:
i. High initial cost.
ii. Comparatively low efficiency due to losses in rotating parts and heat losses. It
is about 97%.
iii. High maintenance and operating charges.

2.2. Static capacitors

In a capacitor, current leads voltage by nearly 90 degree. The active parts in a
static capacitor are layer of aluminium foil insulated by special quantity impregnated-
paper, placed in an hermetically sealed metal container.
The advantages of capacitors are:
i. Low initial cost.
ii. Negligible maintenance charges due to absent of any moving parts
iii. High efficiency, which is of the order of 99.6% or above.

2.3. Phase advancers

Phase advancers are fitted with individual machines. It is a device connected into
the rotor circuit of the induction motor, but mechanically external to it.
The two basic devices can be classified as
(i) Expedor, developing a voltage that is a function of a rotor current and has
some phase relation thereto; it generates or absorbs an e.m.f. equivalent to
an impedance rise or fall. The principal types of Expedor type phase
advancer are Kapp vibrator, Leblanc advancer, Schermie’s advancer.
(ii) Susceptor, voltage that is a function of the rotor open circuit e.m.f. and
has some phase relation thereto; it affects the magnetizing current of the
motor, and consequently its effective magnetic circuit susceptance. The
principal types of Susceptor type phase advancer is frequency converter.
In both case, the basic method consists in so adding to the rotor induced e.m.f.
that the rotor current is in advanced in phase and the consequent m.m.f. reaction
causes the stator current to be correspondingly advanced.

3.0 Capacitor banks

The individual capacitor is called a ‘units’. The preferred ratings for capacitor
units are 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 KVAR. A number of such units are assembled in series,
parallel, or series-parallel arrangement to achieve the desired current and voltage ratings.
Such assemblies are known as Capacitor banks

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narsingdi-1611

 EE 12.0 3P

4.0 Discharge device.

A capacitor must be provided with a suitable discharge devise to dissipate the
stored energy, and to reduce the residual voltage to a save value within a short period.
The voltage must be reduced to 50V or less within one minute in the case of medium
voltage capacitors, within five minute in the case of high voltage capacitors.
The discharge resistance is usually incorporated within the units itself in the case
of medium voltage capacitors. In the case of high voltage capacitors, potential
transformers of the circuit breaker are generally utilized as a discharge devise.
5.0 KVAR rating of capacitor

KVAR rating of capacitor required for the desired improvement in power factor
can be obtained from following table.
Multiplying factors for P.F. Improvement in KVAR/KW
(Calculated by interpolation)
Initial P.F. Proposed power factor
0.850 0.900 0.950 0.980 Unity
0.500 1.112 1.248 1.403 1.529 1.732
0.520 1.024 1.160 1.315 1.441 1.644
0.540 0.939 1.075 1.230 1.356 1.559
0.560 0.860 0.996 1.151 1.277 1.480
0.580 0.785 0.921 1.076 1.202 1.405
0.600 0.714 0.849 1.005 1.131 1.334
0.620 0.645 0.781 0.936 1.062 1.265
0.640 0.580 0.716 0.871 0.997 1.200
0.660 0.518 0.654 0.809 0.935 1.138
0.680 0.459 0.595 0.750 0.876 1.079
0.700 0.400 0.536 0.691 0.811 1.020
0.720 0.343 0.479 0.634 0.754 0.963
0.740 0.289 0.425 0..580 0.700 0.909
0.760 0.235 0.371 0.526 0.652 0.855
0.780 0.183 0.319 0.473 0.594 0.803
0.800 0.130 0.266 0.421 0.541 0.750
0.820 0.078 0.214 0.369 0.489 0.698
0.840 0.026 0.162 0.317 0.437 0.645
0.860 *** 0.109 0.264 0.390 0.593
0.880 *** 0.054 0.209 0.335 0.538
0.900 *** *** 0.155 0.281 0.484
0.920 *** *** 0.097 0.223 0.426
0.940 *** *** 0.034 0.160 0.363
0.960 *** *** *** *** 0.292
0.980 *** *** *** *** 0.203
The load in KW is multiplied by the appropriate factor from above table to arrive at the
required KVAR rating of capacitor.
Example: Suppose it is desired to improve power factor from 0.6 to 0.95 for a plant with
100KVA load.
Load in KW = 100¬0.6 = 60 KW.
Multiplying by from table for improving power factor from 0.6 to 0.95 = 1.005
KVAR rating of capacitor = 60¬1.005 = 60.3 KVAR = Say 60 KVAR

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narsingdi-1611

 EE 12.0 4P

6.0 Control of Capacitors

Control of capacitors would depend upon their size and method of installation. The
common methods control are given below
i. By the motor control gear in the case of capacitors connected directly across a
motor.
ii. Manual control by switches or circuit breakers.
iii. Automatic control.
6.1 Shunt Capacitors Connected Directly To Motors.
Capacitors may be connected directly across the terminals
of a motor, when these are controlled by the control gear of the
motor itself as shown in figure. This method of installation is the
simplest and the cheapest.
The KVA rating of the capacitor in such a case must not
exceed the magnetizing KVAR of a motor, otherwise,
dangerously; high voltage will be generated when the motor is
coming to a halt. The rating of a directly connected capacitor is
recommended to be only 90% of the magnetizing KVAR of a motor.
6.2 Manual control of the capacitor.
Capacitors can be controlled by switches which are of quick-make and quick-break
type or by circuit breakers. Only such switches which are designed for the control of
capacitors should be used for the purpose. The current rating of the switch must be at
least twice the rated current of the capacitor, as the control of capacitors imposes the
severest duty on a switch.
In case of manual control, it must be always be ensured that the capacitor is
switched on after the load and is switched off before the load switched off; otherwise,
there will be over-compensation resulting in dangerous rise in voltage.
6.3 Automatic control of the capacitor.
In large installation, where capacitors are connected in large groups, there is always
the possibility over compensation on light load. The leading power factor suffers from
same disadvantages as the lagging power factor. In addition, there is the possibility of
dangerous rise in voltage caused by over compensation.
Therefore, where the load does not follow any set pattern and human operation
cannot be entirely relied upon, installation of Automatic controlled switchgear becomes
very important. It is, however, desirable to use the simplest type of control that will
achieve the desire result. The automatic control accomplished by
i. Voltage sensitive relay
ii. Current sensitive relay
iii. KVAR or power factor sensitive relay
Where capacitors are used primarily for voltage improvement, Voltage sensitive
control should be used. The capacitor will be automatically switched on when voltage is
low, switched off when voltage is high.
Current sensitive control is recommended where voltage is regulated by some other
method and the power factor is practically constant over a wide variation of load.

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narsingdi-1611

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KVAR or power factor sensitive control is used where power factor varies considerably
with variation of load.
Large capacitor banks with manual or automatic control may be operated minimum
three steps to guard against over compensation.
7. Installation of capacitor.
Capacitor should be installed in a well ventilated place away from the vicinity of
any heat radiating source. A minimum clearance of 15 cm. should be provided on all side
of a capacitor unit to permit circulation of air. No direct sun rays should be allowed to fall
on the indoor type capacitors.
8. Operation of capacitor.
It may be recommended that a capacitor, unlike most other electrical equipment,
has always to operate at full load. Also its KVAR loading varies as the squire of the
applied voltage. Hence, it is very necessary to keep a close watch on the voltage. While
specifying the voltage rating of capacitors, their effect in improving voltage must be
taken into account. Capacitor should normally not be operated at a voltage not exceeding
110% of the rated voltage. Multiplying
They may, however, be operated above 110% of. The rated Duration
factor
voltage under emergency and infrequent Condition 200 to300 (Times rated
rms voltage)
times during their lifetime. The maximum r.m.s. over voltage
1 sec 2.2
to which the capacitors may be exposed without any lose of life 15 sec 1.8
expectancy with the corresponding duration of application of 1 minute 1.7
voltage are given in side table. The maximum continues output 5 minute 1.5
should never exceed 130% of rated output. 30 minute 1.35
As a regular rule, it will be a good practice never to operate
the capacitors maximum permissible voltage and maximum ambient temperature
simultaneously.
Fuse should be checked frequently, if the same have been provided for protection of
capacitor ‘units’ and banks.
If there is tripping of supply, sufficient time should be allowed for capacitors to
discharge before switching them on again. There must not be more than 10% residual
voltage across the terminals at the time of re-closing of the breaker. Suitable timing
device should be incorporated for this purpose in automatically controlled capacitors.
9. How to check a capacitor
A capacitor can be checked with a battery- operated Avometer as below.
i. A good capacitor shows ‘dead short’ any two terminals at the first, and the
resistance reading gradually starts building up as the capacitor begins to charge
up to the battery voltage.
ii. A good capacitor show an almost an infinite resistance between the terminals and
the earthing points from the very beginning.
10. Maintenance of capacitor
Capacitors need little maintenance beyond cleaning and tightening of the connections
periodically. The heat generated at a loose or poor connection can damage a capacitor
unit. Capacitors should be allowed to discharge through the discharge device provided for
the purpose before working on them. A capacitor must never be discharge by short-
circuiting its terminals, as it can get damage this way.

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narsingdi-1611

 EE 12.0 6P

Actually power factor is a ratio of active power and apprent power.

• Active Power is what power motor actually provides at shaft.

• And apprent power is summation of active and reactive power.

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narsingdi-1611

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Now during lower loads motor active power is less and reactive power is more
compared to active. So power factor is lower.

As load increases active power increases so in above ratio numerator is more than
denominator. Thus power factor increases.

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narsingdi-1611