Power Factor Correction

Hi Adeyami,

have a look at DRANETZ-instruments.
Regards Uwe

I have not seeen anything on the dranetz- instruments, please can you help with the web-site

Please look at dranetz-bmi.com !

how much power od you want?

info@ndt.cn

Thanks, the device is for a whole campus to improve power quality and reduce energy consumption. I will try and find out how much power I want. For now, can you just assume is for power lines for a campus.

Try Davis Instruments, AVO, or amultitude of others. Everyone has a piece of equipment.

It all depends on Price $$$$$$$$$

They usually will send a tech to show operation.

hi there ; power factor correction is done with capacitors /measure system with a watt meter , then compare that with VA [VOLTS X AMPERES] klystron

No need to design and build your own: Myron Zucker

Thanks, can you put more light on how I should go about this research first. I appreciate your comment.

Fluke Scopemeter does the job to figure out how much kVAr your system need to get required PF (cos fi). Measurements on real system is the best way to select PF correction devices.

Remember, calculations using nominal/rated values of inductive loads may suggest to high capacitive compensation and "move" PF in the wrong direction.

Hi southern123. I really appreciate your comment. What is happening here is that I need to design, construct and install a power factor correction device for a whole campus here- my research work. And I thought I need to first measure the power parameters on the lines at intervals to get datas at various points of power consumption.

From lawyemi2000@yahoo.com

Hi. I was connected to a company marketing energy savers. You might need a Power saver on a single phase or three phase system. What we need to know is the line voltage on each phase and the total load (ampere rating) of the whole system. If you are interested, I can help you purchase the equipment.

You would be wise to consult the electric utility's engineering department for advice. There might be un-anticipated consequences. If they don't sanction it, they could threaten to disconnect you.

Big capacitors are dangerous and they do funky things to your electric power. You wouldn't want responsibility for damaging 350 computers on the campus. The utility engineers are experts in power factor calculations and measurements.

Consider it this way, putting on a fancy contraption could be no different than your neighbor installing a contraption on the same water line that feeds your house, would you be suspicious?

Monkeying with power quality should not be done by amateurs.....

Thanks for your comment. Consulting the experts is for sure, but also remember that the experts were once "amateurs". It's not about failure but the success

Leave it to those who know. It could end up killing some one!

Ask your head of maintenance or your local power company engineer.

I don't know where you are from so I do not know who to recommend, but here is a point to consider. Power Factor is not something you can run around and measure with a portable meter.

Power factor requires to be measured and corrected at the main LV intake point of the consumers site or in large load group areas. Correcting power can can be potentially very dangerous as you must not artificially create An Xl = Xc situation as this creates a very destructive effect due to Resonance.

In most cases the problem will be excess inductive load requiring capacitor banks to correct this. Nowadays the capacitors are in multiple groups and are switched via a PF monitoring relay so they keep in step the with the constantly changing load (i.e motors being switched on and off. Power factor measurement requires both current and voltage recordings which cannot be measured with current clamps alone thereby requiring a hard connection to the installation - competent person required.

To initially assess the problem you need a load monitoring recording device which can be left connected to the mainswitch conductors for at least 24 hours/ 7 days a week. This will allow a study of the PF printout/graph to evaluate the correction required and if it is financially viable to install.

In the UK - Hawk instruments is one of the traditional suppliers of instruments.

With modern large volume energy contracts - PF is becoming less of an an issue. You must ensure that any tariff saving of the penalty can pay back the initial installation cost within the dilapidation period of the equipment/installation, or financially it is not worth while.

Thanks for your contribution. You are the only one so far that has really put some light in the project

You can check out Elspec products at: www.elspec-ltd.com

The newest technology in power quality measurement and analysis - Elspec G4400:
http://www.elspec-ltd.com/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=2239

The world's fastest power factor correction & energy savings system – The Equalizer for a variety of dynamic loads: http://www.elspec-ltd.com/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=1865