Question

Discuss the disadvantages of having low power factor and discuss the various methods of power factor improvement.

Answer 1

Power factor : It is the ratio between real power and Apparent power.

Real Power:It is the power used to do the work...(W)

Apparent Power: It is the power delivered to circuit...(VA)

Disadvantages of Low Power Factor:

1) Power Factor also know as the Cosine angle between Voltage and Current .

Relation between Power Factor and Current is inverse in nature...

If we have the low power factor equipment has to supply more current...

2) More current deliver equipments cost is higher...

3) Due to this high current large line losses means copper losses will be high...

4) Conductor size will be high to carry high current the Cost too high...

5) Efficiency will be low due to the Low power factor .

6)Voltage regulation will be poor and high voltage drop at the conductor due to high current.

Methods to Improve the Power Factor:

1)Using Capacitor banks

Power factor is low in the presence of Rl circuit because inductor having the lagging nature...

If we add the Capacitor in parallel to Rl circuit we can have the improvement in Power factor...Because Capacitor always leads...

2)Synchronous Condenser Method

Synchronous Condensers are same like the Capacitor banks ...Using this Synchronous Condensers we can Improve the power factor.

3)Phase Advancer

Phase Advancer provides the leading current.

Which finally causes to improvement of Power factor...

I have given a brief idea regarding it ...

If you have any doubts ask in Comment...

Thank you...

Have a great day...