A diverse range of measures can be applied in electric and power management systems to enhance their capabilities. One of these capabilities which can aid a power management system is power factor correction. The advantages of power factor corrections range from lower demand charges linked to a power system to extended load carrying skills in your existing circuits and a comprehensive depletion in power system losses. These benefits can be explained in detail below
Preventing Power Factor Penalties
Most prominent industrial processing facilities have to employ a huge number of induction motors to operate their pumps, conveyors, and similar machinery in an industrial plant. These induction motors permit the power factor to be naturally low for nearly all industrial facilities. Many electric utility companies are penalised over power factor penalty for lower power factor (usually below 0.80 or 0.85). By employing power factor correction, you can eliminate the burden of power factor penalty from your bill
Reduce Demand Charges
Many electric utility entities charge for maximum metered demand either depending on the highest registered demand in kilowatts (KW meter) or a fraction of the maximum registered demand in KVA (KVA meter), whichever figure is higher. If in any scenario the power factor is low, the percentage of the measured KVA will be significantly greater than the KW demand. Increasing the power factor through power factor correction will, therefore, lower the demand charge, helping to reduce electricity bills.
Increase Capabilities of Existing Circuits
Loads drawing reactive power also mandate the need for reactive current. Employing power factor correction capacitors at the peripheral of existing circuits close to the inductive loads reduces the current flowing in all the circuit. This reduced current flow arising from improved power factor could probably enable the circuit to carry new loads. This reduces the costs of replacing the distribution network when extra capacity is needed for new machinery or equipment, saving individuals or companies huge expenses in unnecessary upgrade costs. Additionally, the lowered current flow also completely reduces resistive losses in the circuit.
Better Voltage
A lower power factor would lead to a higher current flow for a given load. As the line current rises, the voltage drop in the conductor rises simultaneously, which could lead to a situation where there is lower voltage at the equipment. With a more favourable power factor, the voltage drop in the conductor does not impact that much, enhancing the voltage at the equipment.
Lower Power System Losses
Although the financial benefits from conductor loss reduction itself is not a reason to warrant the installation of capacitors, it is sometimes a tempting added benefit; particularly in the case of seasoned plants with long feeders and field pumping operations.
#SchneiderElectric has established itself as an top brand in the domains of power management and electrical power distribution, not just in India, but across the world as well. The brand has also divulged in power factor correction as well to a comprehensive level. The brand also has a varied range of MCB’s, motor control products, and smart technology (smart homes, smart building) as well