Experiment no.

4 Power System

Experiment no.4:
Power factor for lagging load
Objective:
To perform power factor compensation for lagging Load
Apparatus:
1. 3-phase Power Supply
2. Power factor meter
3. Ampere meter
4. Line model
5. Variable R,L&C Load
Theory:
Power Factor:
In electrical engineering, the power factor of an AC electrical power system is defined as
the ratio of the real power flowing to the load to the apparent power in the circuit, and is
a dimensionless number in the closed interval of −1 to 1. A power factor of less than one
means that the voltage and current waveforms are not in phase, reducing the instantaneous
product of the two waveforms (V × I). Real power is the capacity of the circuit for
performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and
voltage of the circuit. Due to energy stored in the load and returned to the source, or due to a
non-linear load that distorts the wave shape of the current drawn from the source, the
apparent power will be greater than the real power. A negative power factor occurs when the
device (which is normally the load) generates power, which then flows back towards the
source, which is normally considered the generator.
In an electric power system, a load with a low power factor draws more current than a load
with a high power factor for the same amount of useful power transferred. The higher
currents increase the energy lost in the distribution system, and require larger wires and other
equipment. Because of the costs of larger equipment and wasted energy, electrical utilities
will usually charge a higher cost to industrial or commercial customers where there is a low
power factor.
Linear loads with low power factor (such as induction motors) can be corrected with a
passive network of capacitors or inductors. Non-linear loads, such as rectifiers, distort the
current drawn from the system. In such cases, active or passive power factor correction may
be used to counteract the distortion and raise the power factor. The devices for correction of
the power factor may be at a central substation, spread out over a distribution system, or built
into power-consuming equipment.
Power triangle:

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Experiment no.4 Power System

Figure 4.1: Power Triangle

One can relate the various components of AC power by using the power triangle in vector
space. Real power extends horizontally in the î direction as it represents a purely real
component of AC power. Reactive power extends in the direction of ĵ as it represents a purely
imaginary component of AC power. Complex power (and its magnitude, Apparent power)
represents a combination of both real and reactive power, and therefore can be calculated by
using the vector sum of these two components. We can conclude that the mathematical
relationship between these components is:

Increasing the power

factor:

Figure 4.2: Increasing Power Triangle

As the power factor (i.e. cos θ) increases, the ratio of real power to apparent power (which =
cos θ), increases and approaches unity (1), while the angle θ decreases and the reactive power
decreases. [As cos θ → 1, its maximum possible value, θ → 0 and so Q → 0, as the load
becomes less reactive and more purely resistive].
Decreasing
the power
factor:

Figure 4.3: Decreasing Power Triangle

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Roll no: 16-ELE-03
Experiment no.4 Power System

As the power factor decreases, the ratio of real power to apparent power also decreases, as the
angle θ increases and reactive power increases.

Lagging and leading power factors:

There is also a difference between a lagging and leading power factor. The terms refer to
whether the phase of the current is leading or lagging the phase of the voltage. A lagging
power factor signifies that the load is inductive, as the load will “consume” reactive power,
and therefore the reactive component Q is positive as reactive power travels through the
circuit and is “consumed” by the inductive load. A leading power factor signifies that the load
is capacitive, as the load “supplies” reactive power, and therefore the reactive component Q is
negative as reactive power is being supplied to the circuit.

Figure 4.4: Lagging and leading power factors

If θ is the phase angle between the current and voltage, then the power factor is equal to
the cosine of the angle, cosθ:

Since the units are consistent, the power factor is by definition a dimensionless
number between −1 and 1. When power factor is equal to 0, the energy flow is entirely
reactive and stored energy in the load returns to the source on each cycle. When the power
factor is 1, all the energy supplied by the source is consumed by the load. Power factors are
usually stated as "leading" or "lagging" to show the sign of the phase angle. Capacitive loads
are leading (current leads voltage), and inductive loads are lagging (current lags voltage).
If a purely resistive load is connected to a power supply, current and voltage will change
polarity in step, the power factor will be 1, and the electrical energy flows in a single
direction across the network in each cycle. Inductive loads such as induction motors (any
type of wound coil) consume reactive power with current waveform lagging the voltage.
Capacitive loads such as capacitor banks or buried cable generate reactive power with current
phase leading the voltage. Both types of loads will absorb energy during part of the AC cycle,
which is stored in the device's magnetic or electric field, only to return this energy back to the
source during the rest of the cycle.
For example, to get 1 kW of real power, if the power factor is unity, 1 kVA of apparent
power needs to be transferred (1 kW ÷ 1 = 1 kVA). At low values of power factor, more
apparent power needs to be transferred to get the same real power. To get 1 kW of real power
at 0.2 power factor, 5 kVA of apparent power needs to be transferred (1 kW ÷ 0.2 = 5 kVA).
This apparent power must be produced and transmitted to the load, and is subject to the losses
in the production and transmission processes.

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Experiment no.4 Power System

Electrical loads consuming alternating current power consume both real power and reactive
power. The vector sum of real and reactive power is the apparent power. The presence of
reactive power causes the real power to be less than the apparent power, and so, the electric
load has a power factor of less than 1.
A negative power factor (0 to −1) can result from returning power to the source, such as in
the case of a building fitted with solar panels when surplus power is fed back into the supply
Procedure:
1. I connected the circuit as shown in the circuit diagram.
2. Then I attached the inductive load and turn on the power supply.
3. I note the power factor from p.f meter and current at this load.
4. Then I increased the inductive load & again note the readings of p.f & load current.
5. I repeated this &get different readings on different values of inductive load.
6. Then I connected the capacitive load & note down the readings
7. Similarly I increased the capacitive load step by step and note different readings at
different values of capacitive 1.

Figure 4.: Block Diagram

Observation Table:
Sr.no. Operation Load Current P.F
1 Lagging 0.52A 0.97
2 Lagging 0.57A 0.95
3 Lagging 0.69A 0.91
4 Lagging 0.84A 0.88
5 Capacitor Implementation 0.72A 0.89
6 Capacitor Implementation 0.67A 0.94
7 Capacitor Implementation 0.49A 0.99
8 Leading 0.59A -0.97
9 Leading 0.67A -0.85
Conclusion:
I observed they by increasing inductive load the value of power factor get poor and the value
of load current increases while on the other hand by increasing capacitive load first power
factor improved towards unity from lagging and further increase the capacitive load the
power factor poorer again but now towards leading sides and load current once again raise as

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Experiment no.4 Power System

capacitive load increases. Load current is minimum power factor at unity power factor also
load current have inverse relationship with power factor. Inductive load get reactive
power(KVAR) from system while the capacitor injected the reactive power (KVAR) in the
system. Our mostly load is inductive type load so by using a proper combination of inductive
and capacitive load we can improve our power factor.
Questions:
Q#1:Describe the impact of the poor power factor on line losses and Voltage drop?
Ans: The large current at low lagging power factor causes greater voltage drops in
alternators, transformers and transmission lines. This results in decrease in voltage at the
driving end and enables the use of extra equipment to counter act the voltage drop like
voltage stabilizers. This increase the cost of power supply system.The low power factor
reduces the handling capacity of the system. I.e. the reactive competent in the current
prevents the full use of machinery in power system.
Q#2:Describe the impact of the power factor on load current?
Ans: Leading PF is caused by a net capacitive load and the effect of it is the same as a
lagging PF (inductive load); the supply current is higher than for a truly resistiveload. ...
Leading power factor means that the current leads the voltage, that is, theload is capacitive.
Q#3:Describe the construction of the Power factor meter?
Ans: Power Factor Meter:
Definition: The power factor meter measures the power factor of a transmission system. The
power factor is the cosine of the angle between the voltage and current. The power factor
meter determines the types of load using on the line, and it also calculates the losses occur on
it.
The power factor meter construct in two types:
 Single Phase Power factor meter
 Three phase Power factor meter
Q#4:Describe the different conditions under the power factor regulation device could be
implemented to a power system?
Ans: In power system the power factor regulation in three case:
1. Leading power factor (Inductive load)
2. Unity power factor(only resistive load)
3. Lagging power factor(capacitive load)

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Roll no: 16-ELE-03