24-09-2013, 03:21 PM
Automatic power factor Correction
Automatic power factor.ppt (Size: 2.46 MB / Downloads: 86)
INTRODUCTION
In view of constantly rising power tariff & penalties imposed by the State Electricity Boards / Utility companies, it is imperative for any HT & LT Industry / Consumer to install an automatic power factor controller system for curtailment of Power Factor penalty and also to Save Energy by consistently maintaining higher power factor.
So, the proposed project named “Automatic power factor Correction” used to improve power factor automatically using capacitor through microconroller.
power factor
The power factor of an electrical power system is defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to the load to the apparent in the circuit. Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and voltage of the circuit.
AN EXAMPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER FACTOR
Consider a canal boat being pulled by a horse. If the horse could walk on water then the angle (Phi) Ø would be zero and COSINE Ø=1. Meaning all the horse power is being used to pull the load.
However the relative position of the horse influences the power. As the horse gets closer to the barge, angle Ø1 increases and power is wasted, but, as the horse is positioned further away, then angle Ø2 gets closer to zero and less power is wasted.
Power Factor correction
Power Factor correction (PFC) is applied to electric circuits as a means of minimising the inductive component of the current and thereby reducing the losses in the supply. The introduction of Power Factor Correction capacitors is a widely recognised method of reducing an electrical load, thus minimising wasted energy and hence improving the efficiency of a plant and reducing the electricity bill. It is not usually necessary to reach unity, i.e. Power Factor 1, since most supply companies are happy with a PF of 0.95 to 0.98.By installing suitably sized switched capacitors into the circuit, the Power Factor is improved and the value becomes nearer to 1.
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. 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.