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How to Calculate the Suitable Capacitor Size in Farads & kVAR for Enter your email address:
Power factor Improvement (Easiest way ever)
Posted by: Electrical Technology 11/04/2013
in Basic/Important Electrical Formulas, Capacitors, Controlling, Generation Transmission and
Distribution, How To , Over Head Lines, Power factor, Power System, Questions/Answers (Electrical),
Single Phase AC Circuits, Three Phase AC Circuits
8 Comments Subscribe

How to Calculate the Suitable Capacitor Size in Farads & kVAR for Power factor Improvement (Easiest
way ever)
Hi there! With a very important tutorial.. I hope you will find it very useful because I have already spent two days
to prepare this article. I think all of those who have sent messages and mails about the topic will never ask again if
they follow these simple methods to calculate the proper Size of Capacitor bank in kVAR and micro-farads for  
power factor correction and improvement in both single phase and three phase circuits. I think it’s too much..
Now let’s begin… Subscribe 230
Consider the following Examples. To RSS Feed Followers
Example: 1
A 3 Phase, 5 kW Induction Motor has a P.F (Power factor) of 0.75 lagging. What size of Capacitor in kVAR is
required to improve the P.F (Power Factor) to 0.90?
Solution #1 (By Simple Table Method)
Motor Input = 5kW
 
From Table, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.75 to 0.90 is .398
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90 301,146 0
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table 1 Multiplier of 0.75 and 0.90 Fans Subscribers
= 5kW x .398
= 1.99 kVAR
And Rating of Capacitors connected in each Phase Advertisement
1.99/3 = 0.663 kVAR
Solution # 2 (Classical Calculation Method)
Motor input = P = 5 kW
Original P.F = Cosθ1 = 0.75
Final P.F = Cosθ2 = 0.90
θ1 = Cos -1 = (0.75) = 41°.41; Tan θ1 = Tan (41°.41) = 0.8819 Popular Recent Comments Tags
θ2 = Cos -1 = (0.90) = 25°.84; Tan θ2 = Tan (25°.50) = 0.4843
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90 A Complete Guide about Solar
Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 - Tan θ2)
Panel Installation. Step by Step
= 5kW (0.8819 – 0.4843)
= 1.99 kVAR
Procedure with Calculation and
And Rating of Capacitors connected in each Phase Images
1.99/3 = 0.663 kVAR 05/03/2013
Tables
The following tables have been prepared to simplify kVAR calculation for power factor improvement. The size of Automatic UPS system wiring
capacitor in kVAR is the kW multiplied by factor in table to improve from existing power factor to proposed power circuit diagram for Home or
factor. Check the others Examples below.
Office (New Design With One
Table – from 0.01 to 0.09 (Click image to enlarge)
Live Wire)
11/22/2012

Automatic Street Light Control

System.(Sensor using LDR &
Transistor BC 547.) Very Simple.
04/20/2013
Table – from 0.10 to 0.30 (Click image to enlarge)
Automatic UPS system wiring
circuit diagram (New Design
Very simple) for Home or Office
11/21/2012

Why Transformer Rating In kVA,

Not in KW?
02/20/2012

Find us on Facebook
 Table – from 0.31 to 0.49 (Click image to enlarge)
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Table – from 0.50 to 0.74 (Click image to enlarge)
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Table – from 0.75 to 1.00 (Click image to enlarge)

The whole Table – from 0.10 to 1.0 (Click image to enlarge)

Example 2:
An Alternator is supplying a load of 650 kW at a P.F (Power factor) of 0.65. What size of Capacitor in kVAR
is required to raise the P.F (Power Factor) to unity (1)? And how many more kW can the alternator supply
for the same kVA loading when P.F improved.
Solution #1 (By Simple Table Method)
Supplying kW = 650 kW
From Table 1, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.65 to unity (1) is 1.169
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.65 to unity (1)
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table 1 Multiplier of 65 and 100
= 650kW x 1.169
= 759.85 kVAR
We know that P.F = Cosθ = kW/kVA . . .or
kVA = kW / Cosθ
= 650/0.65 = 1000 kVA
When Power Factor is raised to unity (1)
No of kW = kVA x Cosθ
= 1000 x 1 = 1000kW
Hence increased Power supplied by Alternator
1000kW – 650kW = 350kW
Solution # 2 (Classical Calculation Method)
Supplying kW = 650 kW
Original P.F = Cosθ1 = 0.65
Final P.F = Cosθ2 = 1
θ1 = Cos -1 = (0.65) = 49°.45; Tan θ1 = Tan (41°.24) = 1.169
θ2 = Cos -1 = (1) = 0°; Tan θ2 = Tan (0°) = 0
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 - Tan θ2)
= 650kW (1.169– 0)
= 759.85 kVAR
How to Calculate the Required Capacitor bank value in both kVAR and Farads?
(How to Convert Farads into kVAR and Vice Versa)
Example: 3
A Single phase 400V, 50Hz, motor takes a supply current of 50A at a P.F (Power factor) of 0.6. The motor
power factor has to be improved to 0.9 by connecting a capacitor in parallel with it. Calculate the required
capacity of Capacitor in both kVAR and Farads.
Solution.:
(1) To find the required capacity of Capacitance in kVAR to improve P.F from 0.6 to
0.9 (Two Methods)
Solution #1 (By Simple Table Method)
Motor Input = P = V x I x Cosθ
= 400V x 50A x 0.6
= 12kW
From Table, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.60 to 0.90 is 0.849
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.60 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table Multiplier of 0.60 and 0.90
= 12kW x 0.849
= 10.188 kVAR
Solution # 2 (Classical Calculation Method)
Motor Input = P = V x I x Cosθ
= 400V x 50A x 0.6
= 12kW
Actual P.F = Cosθ1 = 0..6
Required P.F = Cosθ2 = 0.90
θ1 = Cos -1 = (0.60) = 53°.13; Tan θ1 = Tan (53°.13) = 1.3333
θ2 = Cos -1 = (0.90) = 25°.84; Tan θ2 = Tan (25°.50) = 0.4843
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.60 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 - Tan θ2)
= 5kW (1.3333– 0.4843)
= 10.188 kVAR
(2) To find the required capacity of Capacitance in Faradsto improve P.F from 0.6 to
0.9 (Two Methods)
Solution #1 (Using a Simple Formula)
We have already calculated the required Capacity of Capacitor in kVAR, so we can easily convert it into Farads by
using this simple formula
Required Capacity of Capacitor in Farads/Microfarads
C = kVAR / (2 π f V2 ) in microfarad
Putting the Values in the above formula
= (10.188kVAR) / (2 x π x 50 x 4002)
= 2.0268 x 10-4
= 202.7 x 10-6
= 202.7μF
Solution # 2 (Simple Calculation Method)
kVAR = 10.188 … (i)
We know that;
IC = V/ XC
Whereas XC = 1 / 2 π F C
IC = V / (1 / 2 π F C)
IC = V 2 F C
= (400) x 2π x (50) x C
IC = 125663.7 x C
And,
kVAR = (V x IC) / 1000 … [kVAR =( V x I)/ 1000 ]
= 400 x 125663.7 x C
IC = 50265.48 x C … (ii)
Equating Equation (i) & (ii), we get,
50265.48 x C = 10.188C
C = 10.188 / 50265.48
C = 2.0268 x 10-4
C = 202.7 x 10-6
C = 202.7μF
Example 4
What value of Capacitance must be connected in parallel with a load drawing 1kW at 70% lagging power
factor from a 208V, 60Hz Source in order to raise the overall power factor to 91%.
Solution:
You can use either Table method or Simple Calculation method to find the required value of Capacitance in Farads
 or kVAR to improve Power factor from 0.71 to 0.97. So I used table method in this case.
P = 1000W
Actual Power factor = Cosθ1 = 0.71
Desired Power factor = Cosθ2 = 0.97
From Table, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.71 to 0.97 is 0.783
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.71 to 0.97
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table Multiplier of 0.71 and 0.97
= 1kW x 0.783
=783 VAR (required Capacitance Value in kVAR)
Current in the Capacitor =
IC = Q C / V
= 783 / 208
= 3.76A
And
XC = V / IC
= 208 / 3.76 = 55.25Ω
C = 1/ (2 π f XC)
C = 1 (2 π x 60 x 55.25)
C = 48 μF (required Capacitance Value in Farads)
Good to Know:
Important formulas which is used for Power factor improvement calculation as well
as used in the above calculation
Power in Watts
kW = kVA x Cosθ
kW = HP x 0.746 or (HP x 0.746) / Efficiency … (HP = Motor Power)
kW = √ ( kVA2- kVAR2)
kW = P = VI Cosθ … (Single Phase)
kW = P =√3x V x I Cosθ … (Three Phase)
Apparent Power in VA
kVA= √(kW2+ kVAR2)
kVA = kW/ Cosθ
Reactive Power in VA
kVAR= √(kVA2- kW2)
kVAR = C x (2 π f V2)
Power factor (from 0.1 to 1)
Power Factor = Cosθ = P / V I … (Single Phase)
Power Factor = Cosθ = P / (√3x V x I) … (Three Phase)
Power Factor = Cosθ = kW / kVA … (Both Single Phase & Three Phase)
Power Factor = Cosθ = R/Z … (Resistance / Impedance)
XC = 1/ (2 π f C) … (XC = Capacitive reactance)
IC = V/ XC … (I = V / R)
Required Capacity of Capacitor in Farads/Microfarads
C = kVAR / (2 π f V2 ) in microfarad
Required Capacity of Capacitor in kVAR
kVAR = C x (2 π f V2 )

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8 comments
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11/05/2013 at 11:22 am

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Siva Shankar
11/21/2013 at 5:54 pm

sir u have biven best examples<br /> and i have one dought how we r going to get 1.169 value<br /> From
Table 1, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.65 to unity (1) is 1.169
Reply

Electrical Technology
11/22/2013 at 8:11 am

Check in the table… the existing PF is 0.65 and required one is unity (i.e, 1)<br />so the
connecting point number between these two numbers (i.e, 0.65 and 1) is 1.169. this is multilier…
<br />or<br />you can find it easily by scientific calculator as;<br />θ1 = Cos-1 = (0.65) = 49°.45;
Tan θ1 = Tan (41°.24) = 1.169<br />θ2 = Cos-1 = (1) = 0°; Tan θ2 = Tan (0°) = 0<br />(Check solution
number
Reply

Electrical Technology
11/22/2013 at 8:15 am

Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 – Tan θ2)

Reply

abba sarkinfawa
12/31/2013 at 8:05 pm

pls i need a simple circuit to try and see @fb.com/sarkinfawa

Reply

Anonymous
02/09/2014 at 10:40 pm

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Anonymous
02/14/2014 at 12:46 pm
 Nice Article.<br /><br />Can you also teach us on how to size up the capacitors in capacitor start –
capacitor run motor?<br /><br />Thanks..
Reply

Er Parveer Singh
06/02/2014 at 12:07 pm

I am Mechanical Engineer But i love to do Electrical Job to, Love this Page
Reply

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