Lab 6

Power Factor and Power Factor Correction

Objective
1. To observe and measure the real, reactive, and apparent power requirements of a
typical inductive load.
2. To observe and measure the effects of power factor correction through the use of a
capacitor bank.

3. o measure the active

power, reactive power and
power factor of an
4. inductive load.
5. o measure the active
power, reactive power and
power factor of an
6. inductive load.
Software Required
OrCAD Pspice
Introduction
The ratio between real power and apparent power in a circuit is called the power factor. It's a
practical measure of the efficiency of a power distribution system. For two systems transmitting
the same amount of real power, the system with the lower power factor will have higher
circulating currents due to energy that returns to the source from energy storage in the
load. These higher currents produce higher losses and reduce overall transmission efficiency. A
lower power factor circuit will have a higher apparent power and higher losses for the same
amount of real power.
Where the waveforms are purely sinusoidal, the power factor is the cosine of the phase angle
(φ) between the current and voltage sinusoid waveforms.
Lab Task
 Figure 1(a)

Figure 1(b)

Procedure:
1. Apply an input sinusoidal
voltage of peak 5V to the series
R-L circuit shown in figure
2. Measure the current and the
phase difference between the
voltage across resistor and
voltage across inductor.
 3. Calculate the active power,
reactive power, complex
power and power factor with
the
help of following formula
Procedure:
1. Apply an input sinusoidal voltage of 200Vrms, 50Hz to the series R-L circuit shown in figure 1(a).
2. Measure the current and the phase difference between the voltage across resistor and voltage
across inductor.
3. Calculate the active power, reactive power, complex power and power factor with the help of
following formulas:
P= (Vrms) (Irms) Cosθ
Q= (Vrms) (Irms) Sinθ
S=VI
P.F=Cosθ
4. Repeat the step 1 and 2 for different values as Table 1.
5. Calculate the appropriate capacitor to correct the power factor to a value of 0.95.
6. Connect the capacitor in parallel as shown in figure 1(b).
7. Measure the current and the phase difference between the voltage across resistor and
voltage across inductor and capacitor.
8. Now again calculate the active power, reactive power, complex power and power factor
with the help of following formulas and fill table 2.
9. Repeat the step 5 and 8 for different values as Table 2.
Induc VR VL I Theta Active Reactive Complex Power Power
-tor Power Power (Q) Power Factor Factor
(P) (S) (P/S)
2 1
10mH 1.817×10 1.905×10 1.817∠ 17.46 16.41 5.16 17.31 0.948 0.954
∠ -1.636 ∠ -1.636
1.58×101 
20mH 1.815×102 2.144×101∠ 1.815∠ 32.39 16.6 10.56 19.46 0.85 0.84
∠ -3.269 2.887×101 -3.269

30mH 1.812×102 2.489×101∠ 1.812∠ - 43.3 17.49 14.15 22.55 0.77 0.77
 ∠ -4.897 3.841×101 4.897
Table 1
1:

2:
3:
Inductor C VR VL I Theta Active Reactive Complex Powe Power
Power Power Power r Factor
(P) (Q) (S) Factor
(P/S)
10mH 1u 181.7∠- 19.07∠15.64 1.817∠- 17.261 1654.48 514.07 1732.51 0.95 0.95
 1.621 1.621
20mH 80u 177∠- 23.78∠13.7 1.77∠- 11.876 2052.55 431.64 2097.45 0.978 0.978
1.824 1.824
30mH 100u 171∠- 30.48∠16.37 1.71∠- 13.49 142.17 34.11 146.205 0.97 0.97
2.88 2.88

Calculations for Capacitors

2:
 a) What is the value of P.F if Reactive Power becomes equal to the Active
Power?

b) What is the effect of P.F on Complex Power?

c) Verify that your power factor correction is working.

d) Trace the voltage and current by simulating the circuit in OrCAD and comment on the
relationship observed from obtained graph.

The power factor is one when

the voltage and current are in
phase. It is zero when the
current
leads or lags the voltage by
90 degrees. Power factors are
usually stated as "leading" or
"lagging" to show the sign of
the phase angle, where leading
indicates a negative sign.
Purely capacitive circuits cause
reactive power with the current
wave form leading the voltage
wave by 90 degrees, while
purely inductive circuits cause
reactive power with the current
wave form lagging the voltage
waveform by 90 degrees. The
result of this is that
capacitive and inductive circuit
elements tend to cancel each
other out.
Where the waveforms are
purely sinusoidal, the power
factor is the cosine of the phase
angle
(φ) between the current and
voltage sinusoid waveforms