Abstract:

Power factor losses represent a significant factor of power losses in both

industrial and domestic units. Various methods have been devised earlier to tackle
this problem. This paper aims to present an indigenous technique and method
which could be used for static power factor correction. Application of Automatic
Power Factor Correction panels (APFC) in electrical distribution network is
gaining importance due to the advantages of APFC panels over fixed capacitor
banks, like, ability to maintain the target power factor with varying load and
hence improve efficiency of the system and consequently reduce distribution
losses. The desired performance of the APFC panels can be efficiently achieved
with appropriate design, material, construction and application. A power factor
correction unit would allow the system to restore its power factor close to unity
for economical operation. The advantages of correcting power factor include
reduced power system losses, increased load carrying capabilities, improved
voltages and much more. The APFC based power factor improvement algorithm
is developed and implemented on different loads i.e., 3 phase Induction motor,
purely resistive load, purely inductive load and the effectiveness of the algorithm
is tested under no-load and loaded condition. Based on the instantaneously
measured value of power factor, the APFC switches the appropriate bank of
capacitors into the circuit depending on the load condition to improve the pf. A
significant improvement in power factor under different loading conditions is
observed.

Keywords- Power Factor, Automatic Power Factor Correction, Induction Motor,

Inductive Load, Resistive Load, Capacitive Load

Introduction

Most of the electrical loads are inductive in nature resulting in severely lagging
power factor. The most practical and economical solution to improve the power
factor (PF) is to provide reactive compensation by installing power capacitors of
suitable rating at strategic locations. PF correction is more important in electrical
distribution systems. For accomplishing the same, low voltage (LV) capacitors
are being extensively used both as fixed capacitor banks and in Automatic Power
Factor Correction (APFC) panels. Application of APFC panels is becoming more
attractive due to their techno commercial advantages like (1) Ability to maintain
PF at the required high value (close to unity) and hence avoid penalties imposed
by electricity supply companies due to low PF, (2) A void over compensation
during low load conditions and (3) Improved efficiency of the system due to
reduction in losses. These desired features
of the APFC panels can be efficiently achieved with appropriate design, material,
construction and application.
Power factor correction (PFC) is the process of compensating a lagging current
by a leading current, through connecting capacitance to the supply. Capacitors
contained in most power factor correction system draws current that leads voltage
and produces a leading power factor. A sufficient capacitance is connected so that
power factor is adjusted as close to unity as possible. Theoretically, capacitors
could provide 100% of the needed reactive power, however, practically,
correcting power factor much nearer to unity may
result in harmonic distortion. If capacitors are connected to a circuit that operates
nominally at a lagging power factor, the extent to which the circuit lags will
reduce proportionately. Power factor correction is applied to neutralize as much
of the magnetizing current as possible and to reduce losses in the distribution
system. It offers many benefits to the commercial electrical consumer, including
reduced utility bills by eliminating charges on reactive power, reduced losses
making extra KVA available from the existing supply. Thus, it improves energy
efficiency.

Power Factor Improvement through Capacitive Switching

At No-Load operation the inductive load (3 phase IM, purely inductive load) has
a very low pf of about 0.1 lagging, as it draws a large magnetizing current
component and a small real current component to meet the no-load losses.
Under loaded conditions the inductive load draws a large amount of real current
to meet the increased load and losses while the magnetizing component of the
current remains constant. As a result, pf of the system increases.
The capacitors in the APFC unit provide required reactive for the system.
Power factor correction capacitors reduce the total current drawn from the
distribution system and subsequently increase the system's capacity by raising the
pf level. By supplying the reactive power requirement at the load end, the
industrial user frees the utility from having to supply it, resulting in reduction of
the total amount of apparent power supplied by the utility thus leading to
conservation of energy and reduction in energy cost.

AUTOMATIC POWER FACTOR CORRECTION UNIT