Date: 09.04.

22
Experiment No.: 05

Experiment Name:
MATLAB simulation of reactive power compensation
Objective:
(i) To study power factor and its effect.
(ii) Observe and measure the reactive power and power factor in single-phase circuits.
(iii) Observe and measure the reactive power and power factor in three-phase circuits.

Theory:
Power factor is the measure of how efficiently incoming power is used in an electrical
installation. It is the ratio of active to apparent power, when:
 Active Power (P) = the power needed for useful work such as turning a lathe, providing
light or pumping water, expressed in Watt or KiloWatt (kW)
 Reactive Power (Q) = a measure of the stored energy reflected to the source which does
not do any useful work, expressed in var or Kilovar (kVAR)
 Apparent Power (S) = the vector sum of active and reactive power, expressed in Volt
Amperes or in KiloVolt Amperes (kVA)
The power triangle: S

Φ
P (kW)
Power factor is a dimensionless number in the interval of 0-1. Poor power factor results in more
current being required for the same amount of work. The “ideal” power factor is unity. This is
when there is no reactive power through the circuit, and hence apparent power (kVA) is equal
to real power (kW). A load with a power factor of 1 is the most efficient loading of the supply.
But in practice power factor will be less than unity. Power factor correction is obtained via the
connection of static capacitors/capacitor banks in parallel with those devices which work on
low power factor and produce reactive energy in opposition to the energy absorbed by loads.
As the power factor is improved then in-phase component of current will remain constant as
the load is not changed, only reactive component will change.

Required Apparatus:
 Computer with MATLAB and Simulink software installed.
Circuit Diagram:

Fig. 1: Measurement of reactive power & power factor in single-phase circuits

without capacitor bank.

Fig. 2: Measurement of reactive power & power factor in three-phase circuits

with capacitor bank.
Fig. 3: Measurement of reactive power & power factor in three-phase circuits
without capacitor bank.

Fig. 4: Measurement of reactive power & power factor in three-phase circuits

with capacitor bank.
Output:
The response of this measurement block is shown in fig. 5-8.

Fig. 5: Response of active, reactive power & power factor in single-phase circuits
without capacitor bank.

Fig. 6: Response of active, reactive power & power factor in single-phase circuits
with capacitor bank.
Fig. 7: Response of active, reactive power & power factor in three-phase circuits
without capacitor bank.

Fig. 8: Response of active, reactive power & power factor in three-phase circuits
with capacitor bank.
Conclusion:
Measuring for the given system was formed and the results were verified using MATLAB
Simulink.
Discussion:
Various power factor correction techniques are used to help increase the power factor to this
ideal state. Power factor correction (PFC) aims to improve power factor, and therefore power
quality. It decreases the likelihood of instability and failure of equipment.
In this model, power factor correction is obtained via the connection of capacitors which
produce reactive energy in opposition to the energy absorbed by loads such as motors, locally
close to the load. This improves the power factor from the point where the reactive power
source is connected, preventing the unnecessary circulation of current in the network.
The response model of single phase electrical circuits in fig. 1 is shown in fig. 5, it shows the
power factor of the given R-L load without correction
Real power (P) = 683 W
Reactive power (Q) = 775 VAR
Power factor (cos Φ1) = 0.75
Power factor of the given R-L load is cos Φ1. In order to improve it to cos Φ2 a shunt
capacitor can be installed at the load end in fig. 2. As the power factor is improved to cos Φ2
lagging in fig. 6.
Real power (P) = 287 W
Reactive power (Q) = 727 VAR
Power factor (cos Φ2) = 0.929
The response model of three phase electrical circuits in fig. 3 is shown in fig. 7, it shows the
power factor of the given R-L load without correction
Real power (P) = 4988 W
Reactive power (Q) = 4401 VAR
Power factor (cos Φ1) = 0.662
Power factor of the given R-L load is cos Φ1. In order to improve it to cos Φ2 a shunt
capacitor with a small resistance can be installed at the load end in fig. 4. As the power factor
is improved to cos Φ2 lagging in fig. 8.
Real power (P) = 2098 W
Reactive power (Q) = 4415 VAR
Power factor (cos Φ2) = 0.903
Precautions:
(i) Program must be written carefully to avoid errors.
(ii) Programs can never be saved as standard function name.
(iii) Functions in MATLAB are case sensitive so commands must be written in proper
format.