Improvement of Power Factor & Ensuring

Better Understanding

by
Sh.Jitendra K. Rathod,
Jalaram Consultancy & Technical Services, Raipur

jitendrarathod@rediffmail.com
What is power factor?

Power Factor (PF) is the ratio between the

active power (kW) and apparent power (kVA).
Trigonometrically is the Cosine of Angle
between the Reference Voltage vector and the
Current vector.
Direction of Rotation

Voltage
Vector

Angle Current
Vector
φ1
Vectors and Angle between them

Voltage Vector

Angle φ1 Current
Vector
Current and Components

Active Current

Reactive
Current
Measured Current

Angle φ1
Power Diagram

Active Power

Reactive
Power
Apparent Power

Angle φ1
Energy Diagram

Active Energy

Reactive
Energy

Apparent Energy

Angle φ1
Glass containing Froth
and Beer
Glass containing lot of Froth and
small quantity of Beer
Situation Before and After
application of Capacitors

kW

kVAR2

kVA2

kVAR1

Angle φ1 kVA1
Angle φ2
Current values before and after
Capacitor Application

IACTIVE

IREACTIVE 2
IAPPARENT 2

IREACTIVE 1
Angle φ1 IAPPARENT 1
Angle φ2
Relation between Current Values

Being a Right Angled Triangle, existing Current

components shall follow Pythagoras theorem:-
IACTIVE 2 + IREACTIVE-12 = IAPPARENT-12

Being a Right Angled Triangle, the New Current

components shall follow Pythagoras theorem:-
IACTIVE 2 + IREACTIVE-22 = IAPPARENT-22
Old and New Power Factor

It is considered as Lagging. Existing power factor are

taken as PF1 and improved power factor as PF2.
Nomenclature of Current and Reduction in Load and also
reduction in Copper Losses

Reactive Current Switched ON = IREACTIVE-3 (IR3). We can easily measure;

this being output from the capacitors connected to the circuit.
Original Reactive component of Current = IREACTIVE-1 (IR1)
Reduced Reactive component of Current = IREACTIVE-2 (IR2)
Balance Uncompensated Reactive Current IREACTIVE-2 (IR2) = IREACTIVE-1
(IR1) - IREACTIVE-3 (IR3)

Active Current IACTIVE remains constant and hence Same Amperes.

Original Apparent Current = IAPPARENT-1 = IAPP-1= I1. We can easily measure
Reduced Apparent Current = IAPPARENT-2 = IAPP-2= I2 We can easily measure
Reduction in Apparent Current = IAPPARENT- 3 = IAPP 3 = I3. We can calculate.
Reduction in Apparent Current IAPP-3 = I3 = (I1 - I2). We can calculate.
% Reduction in Apparent Current = (I3 / I1) * 100. We can calculate.
Or, % Reduction in Apparent Current = (I1 - I2) / I1 * 100
Or, % Reduction in Apparent Current = {1 – (I2 / I1)}* 100
% Reduction in Copper Loss = {1 – (I2 / I1)2}* 100
Trignometrical Review
Existing Angle is in Degrees φ 1º
Existing power factor in % = PF1 Cos φ1

Reactive Power Switched ON kVAR3 MVAR3

New Angle is in Degrees φ 2º

Improved power factor in % = PF2 Cos φ2

New (Balance) Reactive Power kVAR2 MVAR2

New Apparent Power kVA2 MVA2

Improvement of Power Factor = PF1-PF2 Cos φ1 - Cos φ2

Reduction in Apparent Power kVA3 = kVA1 - kVA2

Addition of Capacitors kVAR3 = kVAR1 – kVAR2
Numerical Values – Before and After Capacitor
Application
Apparent Power 325 kVA1 Existing Values Improved Values
Power Factor in % Cos φ1 = 76% Cos φ2 = 90%

Angle is in Degrees φ1= 40.54 φ2= 25.84

Same Active Power kW = 247.000
Apparent Power kVA1 = 325.000 kVA2 = 274.444
Current at 440 Volts, in Amp. I1 = 426.452 I2 = 360.115
Reactive Power kVAR1 = 211.225 kVAR2 = 119.628
Capacitors applied kVAR3 = 211.225 kVAR1 - 119.628
91.597
kVAR2 =
91.597 kVAR3 / 325 kVA1 = 0.28184
% Reduction in Apparent Power = (1 - 274.444 kVA2 /
15.56% Refer Table – 3
325 kVA1) =
E.C. i.e. % Reduction in Copper Losses = 1 - (360.115 I2 /
28.69% Refer Table – 4
426.452 I1)2 =
Reduction of Current

kW

kVAR2

kVA2

kVAR1
kVA1
Angle φ1
Angle φ2
Components of Power & Inter-
relationship

Being a Right Angled Triangle, existing power shall

follow Pythagoras theorem:-
kW2 + kVAR12 = kVA12

Being a Right Angled Triangle, the New Power triangle

shall also follow Pythagoras theorem:-
kW2 + kVAR22 = kVA22
RESULT
Reduction in Apparent Power i.e. kVA3 = kVA1 - kVA2
Addition of Reactive Power i.e. kVAR3 = kVAR1 - kVAR2
CSEB suggested values

S. No. Rating of individual Induction motor in . KVAR rating of LT capacitors

1 3 and above up to 5 1 KVAR

2 Above 5 to 7.5 2 KVAR

3 Above 7.5 to 10 3 KVAR

4 Above 10 to 15 4 KVAR

5 Above 15 to 20 5 KVAR

6 Above 20 to 30 6 KVAR

7 Above 30 to 40 7 KVAR

8 Above 40 to 50 8 KVAR

9 Above 50 to 100 9 KVAR

Values of Capacitors suggested by
us.
In order to correct this error, We are suggesting Following; to be supplemented Voltage
Correction factor, as needed.
Maximum Values Suggested by Jalaram Consultancy & Tech. Services, RAIPUR
Note:- The recommended motor rating given in below mentioned table are only for guidance
purposes. (The capacitor rating should correspond approximately to the apparent power of the
motor at no-load.)
The following table considers that the actual applied line voltage is the same as the Rated
capacitor voltage. If not, apply a correction factor.
This table does not need loading of the motor since the capacitors are applied directly across
the motor, so the no load conditions are considered.
MAXIMUM KVAR RATINGS FOR DIRECTLY CONNECTED CAPACITOR
Motor
Motor K.W. ACROSS INDUCTION MOTOR – for SPEEDS
H.P.
3000 1500 1000 750 600 500
1.865 2.5 1 1 1.5 2 2.5 2.5
3.730 5 2 2 2.5 3.5 4 4
5.595 7.5 2.5 3 3.5 4.5 5 5.5
7.460 10 3 4 4.5 5.5 6 6.5
9.325 12.5 3.5 4.5 5 6.5 7.5 8
11.2 15 4 5 6 7.5 8.5 9
13.1 17.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 8 10 10.5
14.9 20 5 6 7 9 11 12
16.8 22.5 5.5 6.5 8 10 12 13
18.7 25 6 7 9 11 13 14.5
20.5 27.5 6.5 7.5 9.5 11.5 14 16
22.4 30 7 8 10 12 15 17