# Power Factor Correction w/ Cap.

Discussion in 'Homework Help' started by jegues, Sep 14, 2011.

1. ### jegues Thread Starter Well-Known Member

Sep 13, 2010
735
43
A 120-V, 60Hz source is applied across an inductive load of (100 + j700)Ω. What is the power factor of the load? What must be the size of the capacitor that can be placed in parallel with the load in order to improve the power factor to 0.95 lagging?

See figure attached for my attempt, I can't figure out what the impeadance of the capictor has to be.

I'm thinking I could do,

$Z_{new} = Z_{c} // Z_{l} = x +jy$

and select C such that,

$arctan(\frac{y}{x}) = -18.195^{o}$

but the math and algebra gets pretty ugly taking this approach.

Is there another way?

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2. ### t_n_k AAC Fanatic!

Mar 6, 2009
5,448
784
Your work is fine so far.

The uncompensated inductor current

I_L=120/(100+j700)=0.024 - j0.168 Amps

With the same real term of 0.024 Amp a pf of 0.95 would equate to a new total reactive current 0.024tan(acos(0.95))=0.007888 Amp

The change in reactive current is therefore 0.168-0.007888=0.1601A

The required Xc is then Xc=120/0.1601=749.48Ω

Or C=1/(ωXc)=3.539uF

Last edited: Sep 15, 2011
nyasha likes this.
3. ### jegues Thread Starter Well-Known Member

Sep 13, 2010
735
43
Where are you getting this from? I know the acos(0.95) is going to be the angle of the new current phasor, but why is it multiplied by the real portion of the current phasor?

EDIT: Nevermind I see it now, from the power triangle,

$tan \alpha = \frac{Q}{P} \quad \rightarrow \quad Ptan \alpha = Q$

Last edited: Sep 15, 2011
nyasha likes this.
4. ### nyasha Active Member

Mar 23, 2009
90
1
I was about to post a thread on this question. Jegues, l guess he didn't use the power triangle here since he is talking about reactive current, but l guess the same concept from the power triangle can be adopted to the current also.

5. ### bujang senang New Member

Sep 11, 2011
2
0
I have see the True, Reactive, and Apparent power note.....it use 1500 as the watt and 9.165 s the amp.if i us about 2500 watt, how would i get the amp that shuld be use