1

AUTOMATIC POWER FACTOR IMPROVEMENT

Presented By:-Saad Farooq (31)

Talal Ahmad (08)
Roshan Farooq (32)

Under the guidance of

Sir Naveel Qayyum
(Advisor)
2

ABSTRACT
o

(PFC)Power Factor Correction is for counteracting

the undesirable effects of electric loads that
create a power factor that is less than one.
(PFC) may be applied either by an electrical
power transmission utility to improve the stability
and efficiency of the transmission network
It can also installed by individual electrical
customers to reduce the costs charged to them by
their electricity supplier.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Literature Survey
Power
Definition of Power Factor
Causes of low Power Factor
Disadvantages of low Power Factor
Need of Power Factor Improvement

Our Methodology

Objectives
Block Diagram
Circuit Diagram

Advantages
Conclusion
Future enhances
References
Gantt Chart Activity
4

INTRODUCTION:
Most of the loads are inductive in nature like
induction motors. Inductive load cause a poor
power factor.
This poor PF will become the cause of
decrease in the efficiency of the system.
For this purpose we have installed capacitor
bank to compensate the inductive nature of
load .

LITERATURE SURVEY
These are methods for improving PF.

Static Capacitor
Synchronous Condenser
Phase Advance

Static Capacitor:
Static capacitors are connected in parallel with those
devices which work on low power factor.
Disadvantages:

The age of static capacitor bank is less (8 10 years).

If the rated voltage increases, then it causes damage it.

Synchronous Condenser:
When a synchronous condenser is connected across
supply voltage (in parallel) then it draws leading current
and partially eliminates the re-active component and
power factor is improved.
Disadvantages:

It is expensive
It produces noise

Phase Advancer:
Phase advancer is a simple AC exciter which is
connected on the main shaft of the motor and operates
with the motors rotor circuit for power factor
improvement.
Disadvantage:

Using Phase advancer is not economical for motors

below 200 H.P.
7

POWER

Instantaneous rate of consumption of

energy called power.
Power = voltage x current

Types of Power:
Active Power
Reactive Power
Apparent Power
8
Power Triangle

DEFINITION OF POWER FACTOR :

Power factor (P.F) is the ratio between actual
power to the apparent power.
P.F= Kw /Kva
Inductive loads cause the current to lag behind
the voltage. The wave forms of voltage and
current are then "out of phase" with each other.
The more out of phase they become then the
lower the Power Factor. Power Factor is usually
expressed as Cos Phi ().

CAUSES OF LOW POWER FACTOR

A poor power factor can be the result of
a significant phase difference between
the voltage and current at the load
terminals
OR
it can be due to a high harmonic content
or distorted/discontinuous current
waveform.

10

DISADVANTAGES OF LOW P.F:

Increases heating losses in the transformers and

distribution equipments.
Reduce plant life.
Unstabilise voltage levels.
Increase power losses.
Upgrade costly equipments.
Decrease energy efficiency.
Increase electricity costs by paying power factor
surcharges.

11

WHY WE NEED TO USE POWER

FACTOR IMPROVEMENT

The purpose of power factor improvement is

simply to reduce the load current drawn from
the supply.
This device able to reduce the power
consumption in the house and minimize the
electricity cost.

12

OUR METHODOLOGY
Capacitor Banks:

We have a method for automatic detection and controlling

of Power Factor for an inductive load comprising of both
induction load as well as resistive load.
In our projecting we will do this by switching capacitors
across the load with the help of microcontroller.
Microcontroller is to measure the needed reactive power
(VAR) that will be supplied through automatic switching of
capacitor banks for the improvement of power factor of the
load
We will do the programming of these microcontrollers in
Micro C. Then we will implement our circuit on the proteus.

13

OBJECTIVES:
There are the objectives of this project:
To learn the way of power factor correction
in power systems.
To learn and identify methods to control
capacitor banks.
Identify one method of power factor
correction with the low cost and practical.

14

BLOCK DIAGRAM

15

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

16
Fig: Automatic Power Factor Improvement

CAPACITOR BANK:
In

the electrical trade the capacitor bank

is used for power factor correction.
A bank of capacitor is connected across
the load.
Since the capacitor takes leading reactive
power overall reactive power taken from
the source decreases & system power
factor improves.

17

ADVANTAGES OF P.F
CORRECTION

Eliminate Power Factor Penalties

Increase System Capacity
Reduce Line Losses in distribution
systems
Conserve Energy
Improve voltage stability
Increase equipment life
Save on utility cost
Improve energy efficiency

18

POWER COST REDUCTION :

Utility companies in many areas include a
penalty charge in the electrical rate for low
power factor. The installation of power factor
capacitors on the user's electrical distribution
system eliminates the necessity of paying
premium rates to the utility company for poor
power factor.

19

CONCLUSION:
By observing all aspects of the power factor it
is clear that power factor is the most significant
part for the utility Company as well as for the
consumer. Utility company rid of from the power
losses while the consumer free from low power
factor penalty charges.
By installing suitably sized power capacitors
into the circuit the Power Factor is improved and
the value becomes nearer to 1 thus minimising
line losses and improving the efficiency of a plant.

20

REFERENCES

Murad Ali (2013) Design and Implementation of

Microcontroller -Based Controlling of Power Factor
using Capacitor Banks with Load Monitoring Global
Journal of Researches in Engineering Electrical and
Electronics Engineering (USA)
[wiki] en ,
Wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Factor_Correction
J. M. Bourgeois Circuit for power factor corrections
with regards to mains filtering, ST Micro electronics,
Italy retrieved August 23rd, 2006
H. Saadat Power System Analysis Mc Graw Hill

21

GANTT CHART ACTIVITY:

22

23