Types Of Devices Used To Improve Power Factor, Power Factor Correction

Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. In this article, I will discuss the types of devices used to improve power factor, power factor correction, what is a static capacitor, what is a synchronous condenser, what is phase advancers, etc.

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Types Of Devices Used To Improve Power Factor

Power factor is the ratio of active power to apparent power. The apparent power is also popularly known as the required demand. Apparent power is the sum of active power in KW and reactive power in KVAR. Considering the right-angled triangle as the example the two sides are one is active power and the other is the reactive power and the hypotenuse is the apparent power.

The power factor considers the active power as the working power and the demand as the apparent power, here the reactive power comes under the wasted power. Power factor plays a key role in the electrical concepts and industries as efficiency is dependent on it. The industrial loads consider the power factor as the key point to get the annual high product. The angle between the apparent power and the active power is considered as the value of the power factor and by finding the cosine of that angle we can conclude the power factor of machinery.

Power factor is mainly based on three types of values such as the lagging, unity, and leading power factors. The unity power factor will give the high overall efficiency whereas lagging and leading may lead to some losses in the machinery. To improve that lag and lead values of power factors different methods/devices are used. There are mainly three types of power factor improvement devices:

Static Capacitor
Synchronous Condenser
Phase Advancer

01. Static Capacitor

The major part of the industries contains reactive power type loads and machinery which may lead to the lag power factor. As we all know that the capacitors are the leading type of power factor. The reactive power components provide the lagging power factor which is managed by using the static capacitors, the lagging power factor and the leading power factor will get to equilibrium which produces a unity power factor.

The capacitors are connected in parallel to the machines which are having a lag power factor. This connection will provide the industry machinery the desired efficiency. The angle between the apparent power and the active power is considered as the value of power factor and by finding the cosine of that angle we can conclude the power factor of machinery as the placement of the capacitors will provide the difference in cosine angle which improves the power factor of the equipment.

The static capacitor bank is a popularly used device for power factor improvement in the industry. The connection of capacitor banks is different in three-phase load. The delta connection and the star connection of capacitor banks are used in the three-phase load supply. The three-phase connection will show the high improvement in the power factor. The capacitor bank consists of parallel-connected capacitors which are used for the power factor improvement.

02. Synchronous Condensor

The synchronous motor which runs at no load and is overexcited then it is popularly called the synchronous motor. When the motor is running at no load the motor will be over-excited and it will start providing the leading power factor. The leading current production by the synchronous motor at no load will lead to acting as the capacitor.

The synchronous motor is connected in parallel to the load when the reactive components are heavy in load the synchronous motor will draw the leading current and the reactive components will be eliminated partially. In this way, the synchronous condenser works and improves the power factor.

The synchronous condenser is mainly used to improve the power factor in the 3 phase supply and loads. Hence this made the synchronous condenser used in large industries. The synchronous condensers are the most used power factor improvement devices and the exciters in the power system.

03. Phase Advancers

Phase advancer is a basic exciter that is used to increase the power factor of the induction motor. The phase advancer is connected to the main shaft of the motor and operates with the motor’s rotor circuit for power factor improvement. The external connection makes the lag power factor compromise with the lead power factor generated by the phase advancer.

The stator winding will take the lagging current leads to 90 degrees lag by the supply voltage this will make the power factor angle lag as the angle changes. The phase advancer will be connected to the shaft and manages the lagging current by providing the leading current. This is majorly used in the industries where induction motors are majorly used as machinery. Phase advancers are generally used in small industries.

These are the major devices used for the power factor improvement methods. Achieving desired power factors will lead to the achievement of sufficient efficiency.

I hope this article ” Types Of Devices Used To Improve Power Factor ” may help you all a lot. Thank you for reading ” Types Of Devices Used To Improve Power Factor “.

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