Power Factor and the

Power Triangle
What is Power Factor?

• Most loads in modern electrical distribution systems are inductive.

• motors, transformers, gaseous tube lighting ballasts, and induction
furnaces.
• Inductive loads need a magnetic field to operate.
• Inductive loads require two kinds of current:
• Working power (kW) to perform the actual work of creating heat, light,
motion, machine output, and so on.
• Reactive power (kVAR) to sustain the magnetic field
Power Components

• Working power consumes watts and can be read on a wattmeter. It is

measured in kilowatts (kW).
• Reactive power doesn’t perform useful “work,” but circulates between the
generator and the load. It places a heavier drain on the power source, as well
as on the power source’s distribution system. Reactive power is measured in
kilovolt-amperes-reactive (kVAR).
• Working power and reactive power together make up apparent power.
Apparent power is measured in kilovolt-amperes (kVA).
Power Components

• Magnetizing Current
• Also known as wattless; reactive or non-working current.
• It is the current that is required to produce magnetic fields necessary
for induction devices.
• Working Current
• Current which is converted into useful work, sometimes called “Working
Current”
Power Factor

• Power factor is the ratio of

working power to apparent power.
It measures how effectively
electrical power is being used.
• A high power factor signals
efficient utilization of
electrical power
• A low power factor indicates
poor utilization of electrical
power.
• To determine power factor
(PF), divide working power
(kW) by apparent power
(kVA). In a linear or s
• When the current in
an AC system lags the
voltage, the power
factor is said to be a
lagging power factor.
• “ELI”

• When the current in

an AC system leads
the voltage, the
power factor is said
to be a leading
power factor.
• “ICE”
Power Factor
• Industrial plants normally have lagging power factors because of the large number of
motors and transformers.
• The power factor could become leading if the plant has a large number of capacitors
used for power factor correction, and the capacitors are not switched off during light
load periods.
• A power factor of 100% or 1.0 (unity) would mean that only resistive power is being
supplied to the load and no reactive power is being supplied to the system.
• A power factor of 70% or 0.7 means that about an equal amount of resistive power
and reactive power is being supplied by the system to the load.
Why Are We Concerned
About Poor Power Factor?

• From a utility perspective, low power

factor means a greater portion of the
system capacity is being used to supply
reactive current.
• System I2R Losses (line losses) are
greater with poor power factor.
Concerns with Poor Power Factor

When circuit Power Factor is less than 1 (unity):

• A utility billing on kW and kWh only is not being compensated for all of the kVA
(apparent power) it supplies.
• The power grid carries more current than necessary to accomplish a given amount of
work.
• Because V and A do not peak at the same time
• Because negative work is being done part of the time
• Utility customers with good power factor are compensating for those with bad power
factor. (Fairness?)
Power Factor Penalties
• “Cost of Service” studies may assign power factor penalties to customers
• Compensates utility for generation and delivery of VARs
• Provides incentive for customers to correct power factor.
• Requires Reactive Metering – kVArh
• Traditionally done with a second reactive meter with disk detent and phase shifting
transformers
• Modern electronic meters can have a reactive channel/register
• Various Tariffs used to bill penalties
• kVA demand (rather than kW)
• Average Power Factor below 90% (0.3% penalty for each point below 90%)
Power Factor
Correction

• Inductive VARS can be cancelled out with

capacitive VARS
• Capacitors can be added to correct and
entire system or connected at individual
loads
Power Factor
Correction
Example
• 100 kW demand with 70%
Power Factor
• At 70% power factor, kW =
kVAr
• 67 kVAr Capacitor added
Power Factor
Correction
Example
• A plant has a 500 kVA transformer
operating near capacity. It draws 480 kVA
or 578A at 480V. The present power
factor is 75%, so the actual working
power available is 360 kW.
• It is desired to increase production by
25%, which means that about 450 kW
output must be obtained.
• A new 750 kVA transformer would
certainly be one solution.
• Or we could improve the power factor
and release enough capacity to
accommodate the increased load. To
correct 450 kW from 75% to 95%, power
factor requires 250 kVAR.
Capacitor Bank
Location
• Utility-owned on the
primary distribution
system or in substations
• Customer-owned
downstream from the
utility revenue meter
Benefits of Capacitors
• Reduce generator VAR loading
• Free up capacity in electrical systems
• Reduce thermal loading
• Reduce electrical and system losses
• Improve voltage levels
• Decrease voltage regulation
• Decrease electrical costs
Problems with Capacitors

• Voltage Rise
• Harmonics
• Variable Frequency Drives
• Excessive tweaking process
• Cost
• Maintenance
Harmonics and Capacitors
• Harmonics are waveform distortion caused
by non-linear loads – Speed control,
frequency control & rectification
• Most of the harmonic current will flow
through the capacitor and a much smaller
amount into the system
• High harmonic current flow through a
capacitor could cause excessive heating and
possible failure – Resonant Frequency
• Harmonic currents can be trapped using a
tuned filter