Power Factor Correction
What is power factor correction?
Power factor correction helps improve the power factor of your power supply. Some electrical loads have a bad power factor, which results in higher electrical current flowing than is necessary to achieve the end result. This is irrespective of whether it is heating, lighting, mechanical power or ventilation. This means more generators and a heavier distribution network is required, which can cost you more money.
Power Factor can be regarded as a measure of “efficiency” and has values ranging from 0 to 1 where 1 is 100% efficient. Power Factor Correction equipment improves this “efficiency” so that less electrical current is needed to achieve the same result.
How can Equiptest help me?
We use a wide variety of products, some of which operate automatically, that compensate for varying electrical loads. This situation is common in today’s manufacturing plants and offices and we are ideally placed to help you improve the way you make use of your electricity supply.
What does power factor correction do?
Our power factor correction service can reduce the load in Cables and Switchgear, resulting in the extension of their useful life and improving system reliability. It can increase the useful load from a given transformer. For example, a 1MVA transformer at 0.75 PF can only supply 750KW of load. Increasing to 0.95PF can give extra 200KW of load. It can also reduce the current flow and power loss in cables and transformers. Overall it can reduce the number of KWH inits consumed.
This will result in reduced levied charges. Using the above example, a 200KVA saving in chargeable load saves £300 per month on a typical charge of £1.50 per KVA of maximum demand charge for supply. Power factor correction can also reduce PF charges and climate levy charges.
