11-10-2017, 10:36 AM
Power factor is the relationship between the KW and the KVA drawn by an electric charge where the KW is the actual load power and the KVA is the apparent load power. It is a measure of the efficiency with which the current is becoming a useful work output and more particularly is a good indicator of the effect of the load current on the efficiency of the delivery system. All the current flow causes losses in both the supply and the distribution system. A load with a power factor of 1.0 results in the most efficient load of the supply. A load with a power factor of, for example, 0.8, results in much greater losses in the delivery system and a higher bill for the consumer. A comparatively small improvement in the power factor can lead to a significant reduction in losses, since the losses are proportional to the square of the current.
When the power factor is less than one, the "missing" power is known as reactive power which unfortunately is necessary to provide a field of magnetization required by the motors and other inductive loads to perform their desired functions. Reactive power can also be interpreted as shuffling, magnetization or waste of energy and represents an additional burden on the electricity supply system and the consumer bill. A poor power factor is usually the result of a significant phase difference between the voltage and current in the or may be due to a high harmonic content or a distorted waveform. A poor power factor is generally the result of an inductive load such as an induction motor, a power transformer and a ballast in a luminaire, a welding assembly or an induction furnace. A distorted waveform of the current may be the result of a rectifier, inverter, speed variator, switched power supply, discharge light or other electronic loads.
When the power factor is less than one, the "missing" power is known as reactive power which unfortunately is necessary to provide a field of magnetization required by the motors and other inductive loads to perform their desired functions. Reactive power can also be interpreted as shuffling, magnetization or waste of energy and represents an additional burden on the electricity supply system and the consumer bill. A poor power factor is usually the result of a significant phase difference between the voltage and current in the or may be due to a high harmonic content or a distorted waveform. A poor power factor is generally the result of an inductive load such as an induction motor, a power transformer and a ballast in a luminaire, a welding assembly or an induction furnace. A distorted waveform of the current may be the result of a rectifier, inverter, speed variator, switched power supply, discharge light or other electronic loads.