Poor Power Factor When Using Generator

I'm a little bit confused by your description. Are you running the generator while connected to the power line? If so, it sounds like you are slightly out of sync (as in slightly out of phase) which should be something you could adjust.

Perhaps someone with more experience with feeding power back into the grid will have an answer for you.

It's your KVAR off (IF it's the gen causing the low PF) and that will be your voltage regulator that needs adjustment or repair. What kind of AVR and Speed Regulator are you using?

1) Just cofnirm if you are synchronising the DG with Grid.

2) The value of PF while DG running and DG not running.

3) What is the typr of load for which you need to run DG. Chekc KVAR before and after you run DG.

We have a dual PF correction relay, which is spanish make. The relay will display the entire power and energy parameters with the class of accuracy of 0.5 and Harmonics spectrum of V&I up to 31st level and Bargraph display also there. RS-485 Helps to interface with PC.

You can use your existing PF control panel for DG set also to maintain the required Pf for your DG set operation.

I am sure, you will get highest efficiency and increase of Units per Litre.

Ravi - Coimbatore

Fix a pf meter for each,the utility,genset and load and record the readings.

This is a substantial difference between the contract supply (300KVA) and the use of a 1250KVA generator. I presume your load during events is up in the 1000KVA range. By leaving the mains breaker closed, it is also presumed that your contract will not tolerate a momentary outage during events.

Have you considered the economies of scale of having a second generator or UPS (for backup) versus the cost of high peak charges from the supplier to satisfy the "have to have a backup" contract?

Depending on the frequecy of events (once a week, once a month) you may also want to consider leasing a second generator for backup.

1. Is the original "poster" Salty Seal still there?
2. Any more information to give us?
3. Did any answers help?

67model

Many thanks for the help and info. I've been parted from my desk & computer for a few days, so have been unable to reply until now.

I spent some time talking to the generator supplier and our energy consultant (who identified the problem), and it appears that the generator was poorly set up and all control was done in manual (badly). The advice regarding KVArs was on the button. We have now arranged for better set up and control.

I repeat, many thanks for the help - itsaved me some considerable time and grief.

GOOD, keep us posted on how the re-setup of your NOT Automatic VR goes, with the cubic flux effect they are a lot harder to set up than Speed Regulators, why yours was put in manual, the KISS way and if you weren't on a grid it would have maybe worked. now back to the Decorah Eagles, third egg going to hatch

hello salty , we face same problem we use 1250kva and we have same supply contract our genset fp is up and down and the end shutdown have the burn exciter diod then we fix it , and we desided to use 2unit of step up transformer input @ 415acv @ 200kva output is 33kv and the second TR 33kv input @ 415acv output. this we in one villeges about 2oo houses or more, hope this wiil give you the idea how to solve your problem !!!

warning always protect your machine !!!