OPTIMUM SELECTION OF CAPACITOR BANK FOR

IMPROVEMENT OF POWER FACTOR

Prajwal Mali Sagar Wagh Mahesh Dongare Christina Thottan

MMCOE, Pune MMCOE, Pune MMCOE, Pune Asst. Prof, MMCOE, Pune

1. ABSTRACT

The novel model presented in this paper is used for correcting the power factor. The model is able to
work in both ways automatically as well as manually. The model is designed for an inductive load. Various
combination of capacitive banks are used according to the load. The model gives maximum of 0.95 power
factor. The appropriate combination of capacitor bank is selected by the microprocessor. The suggested model
gives a 3-stage power factor compensation.

2. INTRODUCTION

India is facing a big problem when it comes to supply of electricity to each village. So
in this situation, wasting of electricity power is undesirable. One of the major reason for
wastage of electrical power is low power factor. Power factor is nothing but the ratio of two
quantities i,e real power (Kw) and apparent power (Kvar). Less the ratio i,e power factor,
more will be the losses. Also it should not exceed the unity. As it responsible for loss. Most
of the inductive as well as domestic load is inductive which is responsible for low power
factor.

The electric machine like induction motor, transform, induction generator is major
source of inductive load which contributes to power factor less than unity. These inductive
loads are usually varying. This problem can be solved by connecting a capacitor bank in
parallel withsupply side. The suggested model compensates power factor from 0.75 to 0.95
for load of 18 Kw. This is done by switching 3 capacitor bank of rating- 2Kvar, 3Kvar,
5Kvar.

3. LITERATURE SURVEY

There are different methods of correcting power factors. A modest technique to

improve power factor is to add and remove the capacitor bank or inductive bank and hence
minimize the effect of inductive as well as capacitive load respectively [1]. The power factor
can be corrected by a microcontroller and can be analysed by proteus VSM software based
simulation [2].

A capacitive load will be added to the actual load and thus convert the final output
power and hence power factor will be improved. The power factor is monitored manually by
referring the display on LCD panel [3].

Power rectification method involved correction of power factor by selecting capacitor

bank, if system identifies that power factor is below the specified value [4].
 4. A NOVAL POWER FACTOR CORRECTION

The proposed model is mainly used to compensated the load consisting of 18 kW

which had a initial power factor is 0.75 and have the intentions to bring it up to 0.95. Here
special type of microprocessor, called as SYCON 5506, is used to compensate the power
factor. The function of this microprocessor is to select exact capacitor bank to connect it to
the supply side so as to compensate the power factor. The microprocessor uses FIFO
algorithm to select appropriate capacitor bank.

Fig 1. Block diagram of a three stage capacitor bank power factor correcting device

The capacitor bank is selected based on current and voltage of main supply side. The
system selects the appropriate capacitor by giving signal to the corresponding contactor after
sensing of change in pf. Circuit breakers is employed for protection purpose. The CT will
sense the current and the data are fed to microprocessor. An arrangement for manual
selection of capacitor bank is also provided. The single line diagram for power factor
correction
Fig. 2: Single Line Diagram for 10 kVAR

Fig. 3: Power and Control wiring diagram

 4.2. INCOMER AND FEEDER SUPPLY
The incoming supply for 10kVAr panel is given by MSCB which is about 11kV.
Capacitor bank used in this panel have rated current 1.28 Amp/kVAr. To calculate limitation
for current, the factor required is Amp/kVAr, Inrush current and safety factor.
1. Amp/kVAr = 1.28
2. Inrush Current = 1.4 A
3. Safety Factor = 1.3
Component Calculation Final Rating
1. Main MCB 10kVAr * 1.28 * 1.4 * 1.3 = 63A (For safety
23.3 A and future
expansion of
capacitor banks)
2. Feeders
Feeder 1 (F1) Feeder Feeder 3 Final Ratings
2(F2) (F3)
MCB 2kVAr * 1.28 3kVAr * 5kVAr * F1= 10A
* 1.4 * 1.3 1.28 * 1.4 * 1.28 * 1.4 * F2= 10A
=4.6A 1.3 =7A 1.3 =11.9A F3= 10A
(Ratings are
select in
accordance with
safety and
availability of
component.)
Contactor 2kVAr * 1.28 3kVAr * 5kVAr * F1= 9A
* 1.4 * 1.3 1.28 * 1.4 * 1.28 * 1.4 * F2= 9A
F3= 12A
=4.6A 1.3 =7A 1.3 =11.9A
(Ratings are
select in
accordance with
safety and
availability of
component.)
5. RESULT TABLE:

The proposed system was tested and following results were obtained

Power factor Capacitor Needed Calculated Preferable Capacitor

Bank Combination
k VAR

Before After

0.75 0.86 960µF 5.1 Bank 1 + Bank 2

0.75 0.92 14.85µF 8.3 Bank 2 + Bank 3

0.75 0.95 18.39µF 9.95 Bank 1 + Bank 2 +

Bank 3

Table 1: Result table

p1
f
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5 Before
0.4 After
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
5.1 8.3 9.95 kVAR

Fig 5. Graphical representation of result

According to result given by system it is observed that as power factor increases the required
kVAR, which is to be minimised from the actual load, is increased.
 Fig 6. Hardware implementation

6. Conclusion:

The hardware implementation of the system verifies that by selecting optimum

combination of capacitor bank the pf can be improved effectively. It was observed that power
factor was improved from 0.75 to 0.95. Thus the suggested model gives a cost effective and
flexible control of power factor

7. Future Scope:

The number of stages can be increased to give more accurate result. The proposed
model is capable of having 6 stages capacitor bank variations. The stepped variations of
capacitor bank can be modified to get smooth control.

8. References:
1. Rekendu Mandal; Sanjoy Kumar Basu; Asim Kar; Shyam Pada Chowdhary (1994)
“A Microcomputer – Based Power Factor Correction”, IEEE Transactions on
Industrial Electronics, Volume: 41, Issue: 3, Pages: 361-371.
2. Mr. A Kumar Tiwari ,“Automatic Power Factor correction using Capacitive bank” ,
Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Application ISSN: 2248-9622,Vol 2,Feb
2014
3. Praveen V.A.,“Automatic Power Factor correction Using Capacitor Bank and 8051
Microcontroller” Int. journal Engineering research and technology (IJIERT),ISSN:
2394-3696
4. Saurabh Kumar Sharma; Gaurav Kumar Sharma; Abhijeet Sharama, “A Review
Paper on Automatic Power factor Correction”, 2018 IJCRT,Volume 6, Issue 2 April
2018, ISSN: 2320-2882