Capacitor Power Factor Correction

Design of Power Factor Correction is dependent on the present level of PF ,the type of Load . Check weather the load is Highly inductive like Induction Heating Furnaces or regular AC Induction Motors or Purely Heating load like Furnace with Resistance Heaters etc. Second consideration is weather the correction is to be made at load centre or at Substations or both depending on load. It is aways advisable to provide Automatic Power Factor correction (APFC) at substations if finance is not a constrain . Otherwise Capacitors to be switched on at steps depending on measured reading of PF at the substations and prefix the number of capacitors to be connected the value obtained by trial and error method .But it has one disadvantage that is when there is no load condition the PF Will go leading and resulting loss of power. The most economical value of PF is 0.95 - 0.98 even though theoretically unity power factor only will maintain zero KVAR ( Reactive Power) . My design of APFC Panel is a combination of fixed capacitors and portion with automatic PF control , after careful study of the load conditions ,no load conditions etc. The total design of Power factor correction for a factory or Installation is possible only with availability of complete Technical and operational data and careful study of the information and working pattern of the organisation.

Contact your local ABB representative. They have the solution.

Thanks

Robert