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Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/17/2016 3:19 PM

Does improving power factor in power station reduce fuel consumption for example:

Running CAT model 3512 generator 1MW ....run 700kw at PF 0.6 and 700kw at PF 0.85 is there any difference in fuel consumption ? if there why ??????

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#1

Re: power factor vs fuel consumption

05/17/2016 3:37 PM

Yes, and no.

Depends on the rest of the circuit.

The generator doesn't care, but a higher power factor circuit will use less current at the end of the day.

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#2

Re: power factor vs fuel consumption

05/17/2016 4:41 PM

Real power is real power. The engine cannot see power factor. It only sees a torque on the shaft as the engine spins.

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#3

Re: power factor vs fuel consumption

05/17/2016 5:40 PM

Not significantly.

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#4

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/17/2016 8:45 PM
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#5

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/17/2016 9:39 PM
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#6

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/17/2016 10:04 PM

There is an incremental change in the overall power consumption due to the amount of excitation/field current required. The more overexcited you operate, the higher are the excitation losses; conversely, the more underexcited you operate, the lower are the losses. Overall the excitation losses are miniscule, but measurable.

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#7

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/18/2016 3:42 AM

If you can calculate efficiency of the generator under various load conditions, you will get the answer to your question. Please make an attempt.

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#8

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/18/2016 4:03 AM

What it does is reduce the losses in the feeder cable supplying the load.

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#12
In reply to #8

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/18/2016 1:42 PM

That plus the KVA rating of your power distribution transformers have to be much larger than the "real power".

It is the current that shifts with respect to the voltage. As the current shift drifts away from a power factor of 1.00 the current has to increase in order to provide the same amount of real power. Consequently, the power transformer has to meet both specifications of voltage and current.

So, whether the wire is in the form of a supply line or a transformer winding, it really boils down to ampacity.

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#9

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/18/2016 9:03 AM

Definitely there will be difference ......and that will be mainly determined /based on how much and type of load(s) that gets connected to the generator!

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#10

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/18/2016 1:10 PM

Brothers till now I can not determine that if power factor affect the fuel consumption or nor please more explain ????

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#11
In reply to #10

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/18/2016 1:30 PM

Several people have explained that there is a small effect, but not large.

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#13
In reply to #10

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/18/2016 5:12 PM

NO!

Further explanation would only confuse you more.

If you cannot grasp the concept of power factor, then why would it matter?

Don't worry about it!

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#14
In reply to #10

Re: Power Factor vs Fuel Consumption

05/19/2016 8:48 AM

Think of it this way. Power factor is just a delay factor in the delivery of usable power but delay or not, real power is what makes things move. The rest is just temporary storage of energy.

Or perhaps you can think of it as inventory that can not be sold but you have to carry it anyway, just in case an opportunity to make a sell comes up. After all, it is usually not possible to sell something you do not have.....right? Very few markets sell out completely by the end of the day unless severe shortages are the mitigating factor.

Out of phase current (power factor less than 0.99) may be consumed by a resistive distribution system, but most designs strive to avoid making the distribution system part of the load. If designed properly, the load is the load and the distribution is insignificant. If that is the case, power factor does not affect fuel consumption.

Poor power factor does require heavier (larger) equipment to distribute the power, but the fuel consumption is a factor of load and loss only.

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