How to Calculate the Suitable Capacitor Size in Farads & kVAR for Power factor Im
provement (Easiest way ever)
Posted by: Electrical Technology 11/04/2013 in Basic/Important Electrical Fo rmulas, Capacitors, Controlling, Generation Transmission and Distribution, How T o, Over Head Lines, Power factor, Power System, Questions/Answers (Electrical), Single Phase AC Circuits, Three Phase AC Circuits 9 Comments 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 b ecause I have already spent two days to prepare this article. I think all of tho se 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 k VAR 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… Consider the following Examples. Example: 1 A 3 Phase, 5 kW Induction Motor has a P.F (Power factor) of 0.75 lagging. What s ize 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 Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table 1 Multiplier of 0.75 and 0.90 = 5kW x .398 = 1.99 kVAR And Rating of Capacitors connected in each Phase 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 θ2 = Cos-1 = (0.90) = 25°.84; Tan θ2 = Tan (25°.50) = 0.4843 Re uired Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90 Re uired Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 - Tan θ2) = 5kW (0.8819 – 0.4843) = 1.99 kVAR And Rating of Capacitors connected in each Phase 1.99/3 = 0.663 kVAR Tables The following tables have been prepared to simplify kVAR calculation for power f actor improvement. The size of capacitor in kVAR is the kW multiplied by factor in table to improve from existing power factor to proposed power factor. Check t he others Examples below. Table – from 0.01 to 0.09 (Clic k image to enlarge) Table – from 0.10 to 0.30 (Cli ck image to enlarge) Table – from 0.31 to 0.49 (Cli ck image to enlarge) Table – from 0.50 to 0.74 (Cl ick image to enlarge) Table – from 0.75 to 1.00 (Cli ck 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. Wha t size of Capacitor in kVAR is re uired to raise the P.F (Power Factor) to unity (1)? And how many more kW can the alternator supply for the same kVA loading wh en 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 Re uired Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.65 to unity (1) Re uired 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 Re uired Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90 Re uired Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 - Tan θ2) = 650kW (1.169– 0) = 759.85 kVAR How to Calculate the Re uired 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 f actor) of 0.6. The motor power factor has to be improved to 0.9 by connecting a capacitor in parallel with it. Calculate the re uired capacity of Capacitor in b oth kVAR and Farads. Solution.: (1) To find the re uired 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 Re uired Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.60 to 0.90 Re uired 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 Re uired 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 Re uired Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.60 to 0.90 Re uired Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 - Tan θ2) = 5kW (1.3333– 0.4843) = 10.188 kVAR (2) To find the re uired 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 re uired Capacity of Capacitor in kVAR, so we can easily convert it into Farads by using this simple formula Re uired 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 (Simle 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 Examle 4 What value of Caacitance must be connected in arallel with a load drawing 1kW at 70% lagging ower factor from a 208V, 60Hz Source in order to raise the overa ll ower factor to 91%. Solution: You can use either Table method or Simle Calculation method to find the require d value of Caacitance in Farads or kVAR to imrove 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 Re uired Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.71 to 0.97 Re uired Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table Multiplier of 0.71 and 0.97 = 1kW x 0.783 =783 VAR (re uired Capacitance Value in kVAR) Current in the Capacitor = IC = QC / 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 Caacitance Value in Farads) Good to Know: Imortant formulas which is used for Power factor imrovement calculation as wel l as used in the above calculation Power in Watts kW = kVA x Cosθ k = HP x 0.746 or (HP x 0.746) / Efficiency … (HP = Motor Power) k = √ ( kVA2- kVAR2) k = P = VI Cosθ … (Single Phase) k = P =√3x V x I Cosθ … (Three Phase) Aarent Power in VA kVA= √(k2+ kVAR2) kVA = k/ Cosθ Reactive Power in VA kVAR= √(kVA2- k2) 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 = k / kVA … (Both Single Phase & Three Phase) Power Factor = Cosθ = R/Z … (Resistance / Imedance) XC = 1/ (2 π f C) … (XC = Caacitive reactance) IC = V/ XC … (I = V / R) Re uired Caacity of Caacitor in Farads/Microfarads C = kVAR / (2 π f V2) in microfarad Re uired Caacity of Caacitor in kVAR kVAR = C x (2 π f V2)