How to Find Capacitor Size in kVAR & F for Pf Improvement https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2013/11/How-to-Calculate-Suitabl...

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How to Find Capacitor Size in kVAR & F for Pf Improvement https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2013/11/How-to-Calculate-Suitabl...

Motor input = P = 5 kW
Original P.F = Cosθ1 = 0.75
Final P.F = Cosθ2 = 0.90
θ1 = Cos-1 = (0.75) = 41°.41; Tan θ1 = Tan (41°.41) = 0.8819
θ2 = Cos-1 = (0.90) = 25°.84; Tan θ2 = Tan (25°.50) = 0.4843
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 – Tan θ2)
= 5kW (0.8819 – 0.4843)
= 1.99 kVAR
And Rating of Capacitors connected in each Phase
1.99/3 = 0.663 kVAR

Tables (Capacitor sizing in kVAr and Farads for PF correction)

The following tables have been prepared to simplify kVAR calculation for power factor
improvement. The size of capacitor in kVAR is the kW multiplied by factor in table to
improve from existing power factor to proposed power factor. Check the others
Examples below.
Table – from 0.01 to 0.09 (Click image to enlarge)

Table – from 0.10 to 0.30 (Click image to enlarge)

Table – from 0.31 to 0.49 (Click image to enlarge)

Table – from 0.50 to 0.74 (Click image to enlarge)

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How to Find Capacitor Size in kVAR & F for Pf Improvement https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2013/11/How-to-Calculate-Suitabl...

Table – from 0.75 to 1.00 (Click image to enlarge)

The whole Table – from 0.10 to 1.0 (Click image to enlarge)

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How to Find Capacitor Size in kVAR & F for Pf Improvement https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2013/11/How-to-Calculate-Suitabl...

Example 2:

An Alternator is supplying a load of 650 kW at a P.F (Power factor) of 0.65. What

size of Capacitor in kVAR is required to raise the P.F (Power Factor) to unity (1)?
And how many more kW can the alternator supply for the same kVA loading when
P.F improved.

Solution #1 (By Simple Table Method)

Supplying kW = 650 kW
From Table 1, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.65 to unity (1) is 1.169
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.65 to unity (1)
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table 1 Multiplier of 65 and 100
= 650kW x 1.169
= 759.85 kVAR

We know that P.F = Cosθ = kW/kVA . . .or

kVA = kW / Cosθ
= 650/0.65 = 1000 kVA
When Power Factor is raised to unity (1)
No of kW = kVA x Cosθ
= 1000 x 1 = 1000kW
Hence increased Power supplied by Alternator
1000kW – 650kW = 350kW

Solution # 2 (Classical Calculation Method)

Supplying kW = 650 kW
Original P.F = Cosθ1 = 0.65
Final P.F = Cosθ2 = 1
θ1 = Cos-1 = (0.65) = 49°.45; Tan θ1 = Tan (41°.24) = 1.169
θ2 = Cos-1 = (1) = 0°; Tan θ2 = Tan (0°) = 0
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.75 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 – Tan θ2)
= 650kW (1.169– 0)
= 759.85 kVAR

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How to Find Capacitor Size in kVAR & F for Pf Improvement https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2013/11/How-to-Calculate-Suitabl...

How to Calculate the Required Capacitor bank value in both kVAR and
Farads?
(How to Convert Farads into kVAR and Vice Versa)

Example: 3

A Single phase 400V, 50Hz, motor takes a supply current of 50A at a P.F (Power
factor) of 0.6. The motor power factor has to be improved to 0.9 by connecting a
capacitor in parallel with it. Calculate the required capacity of Capacitor in both
kVAR and Farads.

Solution.:

(1) To ;ind the required capacity of Capacitance in kVAR to improve P.F from 0.6 to
0.9 (Two Methods)

Solution #1 (By Simple Table Method)

Motor Input = P = V x I x Cosθ

= 400V x 50A x 0.6
= 12kW

From Table, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.60 to 0.90 is 0.849

Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.60 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table Multiplier of 0.60 and 0.90
= 12kW x 0.849
= 10.188 kVAR

Solution # 2 (Classical Calculation Method)

Motor Input = P = V x I x Cosθ

= 400V x 50A x 0.6
= 12kW
Actual P.F = Cosθ1 = 0..6
Required P.F = Cosθ2 = 0.90
θ1 = Cos-1 = (0.60) = 53°.13; Tan θ1 = Tan (53°.13) = 1.3333
θ2 = Cos-1 = (0.90) = 25°.84; Tan θ2 = Tan (25°.50) = 0.4843
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.60 to 0.90
Required Capacitor kVAR = P (Tan θ1 – Tan θ2)
= 5kW (1.3333– 0.4843)
= 10.188 kVAR

(2) To ;ind the required capacity of Capacitance in Faradsto improve P.F from 0.6
to 0.9 (Two Methods)

Solution #1 (Using a Simple Formula)

We have already calculated the required Capacity of Capacitor in kVAR, so we can easily
convert it into Farads by using this simple formula
Required Capacity of Capacitor in Farads/Microfarads
C = kVAR / (2 π f V2) in microfarad

Putting the Values in the above formula

= (10.188kVAR) / (2 x π x 50 x 4002)
= 2.0268 x 10-4
= 202.7 x 10-6
= 202.7μF

Solution # 2 (Simple Calculation Method)

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How to Find Capacitor Size in kVAR & F for Pf Improvement https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2013/11/How-to-Calculate-Suitabl...

kVAR = 10.188 … (i)

We know that;
IC = V/ XC

Whereas XC = 1 / 2 π F C

IC = V / (1 / 2 π F C)
IC = V 2 F C
= (400) x 2π x (50) x C
IC = 125663.7 x C

And,
kVAR = (V x IC) / 1000 … [kVAR =( V x I)/ 1000 ]
= 400 x 125663.7 x C
IC = 50265.48 x C … (ii)

Equating Equation (i) & (ii), we get,

50265.48 x C = 10.188C
C = 10.188 / 50265.48
C = 2.0268 x 10-4
C = 202.7 x 10-6
C = 202.7μF

Example 4
What value of Capacitance must be connected in parallel with a load drawing 1kW
at 70% lagging power factor from a 208V, 60Hz Source in order to raise the overall
power factor to 91%.

Solution:

You can use either Table method or Simple Calculation method to Find the required
value of Capacitance in Farads or kVAR to improve Power factor from 0.71 to 0.97. So I
used table method in this case.
P = 1000W
Actual Power factor = Cosθ1 = 0.71
Desired Power factor = Cosθ2 = 0.97
From Table, Multiplier to improve PF from 0.71 to 0.97 is 0.783
Required Capacitor kVAR to improve P.F from 0.71 to 0.97
Required Capacitor kVAR = kW x Table Multiplier of 0.71 and 0.97
= 1kW x 0.783
=783 VAR (required Capacitance Value in kVAR)
Current in the Capacitor =

IC = QC / V
= 783 / 208
= 3.76A

And
XC = V / IC
= 208 / 3.76 = 55.25Ω
C = 1/ (2 π f XC)
C = 1 (2 π x 60 x 55.25)
C = 48 μF (required Capacitance Value in Farads)

Good to Know:
Important formulas which is used for Power factor improvement calculation as
well as used in the above calculation

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How to Find Capacitor Size in kVAR & F for Pf Improvement https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2013/11/How-to-Calculate-Suitabl...

Power in Watts
kW = kVA x Cosθ
kW = HP x 0.746 or (HP x 0.746) / EfFiciency … (HP = Motor Power)
kW = √ ( kVA2– kVAR2)
kW = P = VI Cosθ … (Single Phase)
kW = P =√3x V x I Cosθ … (Three Phase)

Apparent Power in VA
kVA= √(kW2+ kVAR2)
kVA = kW/ Cosθ

Reactive Power in VA
kVAR= √(kVA2– kW2)
kVAR = C x (2 π f V2)

Power factor (from 0.1 to 1)

Power Factor = Cosθ = P / V I … (Single Phase)
Power Factor = Cosθ = P / (√3x V x I) … (Three Phase)
Power Factor = Cosθ = kW / kVA … (Both Single Phase & Three Phase)
Power Factor = Cosθ = R/Z … (Resistance / Impedance)

XC = 1/ (2 π f C) … (XC = Capacitive reactance)

IC = V/ XC … (I = V / R)

Required Capacity of Capacitor in Farads/Microfarads

C = kVAR / (2 π f V2) in microfarad

Required Capacity of Capacitor in kVAR

kVAR = C x (2 π f V2)

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Phase)?
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