Power Factor correction

Thread Starter

hhhunzai

Joined Nov 14, 2011
72
Hello Polychromeuganda,
I have a power factor corrector of duccati is installed, I want to install an other PF correction relay.
Would you please tell me how I can calculate the Power factor of of an installation.
The Installation is a critical problem, that is there are a number of pumps with 55KW motors, which do not continuously running but at different timings there are.
What should be the criteria of designing PF correction for this kind of Installation?

Thank you, awaiting for your reply.

HHH
 
To get PF you measure load current and load voltage using instrumentation that seperates real and reactive part. You can buy or rent the equipment, you probably only need it for a few days to begin your design, and then after you build it to check the result.

Your local power company has system engineers who do this for their system from time to time. Ask for a short meeting (1/2 hour) to explain just a little of your project and ask them to suggest equipment that you can get and where. Don't try to do this on the phone. Ask to meet in person at their office. You get better answers in person, and they might follow up by coming to your plant and get all the data you need much more quickly than you could.

Correcting your PF to 0.8 is a typical goal, but your local power company may have specific guidance. For example if you are far away from the generator and from other loads, you may be paying real money for transmission losses on every VAR, and correcting to 1.0 PF would be cost effective. If they are 1/2 mile away, and moderately loaded they may be able to make your vars less expensively than you can. It is also possible that you are adjacent to a large data center with an uncorrected leading power factor and the power company is counting on you and the data center to cancel each other out. (If you are generating your own power, you should consult with the generator manufacturer)

As to the design of the capacitor bank - 1 big bank is only simpler until it fails. Multiple smaller banks will fail more often, with smaller consequences. Controlled by computer is nice until it fails, or someone uploads a software update that crashes both the primary and backup controllers. A manually operated board is a good backup plan if software can undo n+1 redundancy.

Whatever solution you pursue should make economic sense (cost less) in a reasonable time. If it can pay for itself in 1 year, its a good plan. if it will take 100 years to pay for itself - its a bad plan. In between, management usually holds meetings about it until you come up with a design that pays for itself in 1 year.
 

Thread Starter

hhhunzai

Joined Nov 14, 2011
72
You r very true sir and your advices are too good to think about and I have done some point here u described, but please tell me how may I find KVAr without having a KVAr calculating & recording machine, Is there any way that would be available with a digital multimeter with which we can calculate current and voltage.

HHH
 

Thread Starter

hhhunzai

Joined Nov 14, 2011
72
Ok I am sorry for that, I didn't know about it yet.
Please tell me about the topic, what are your Ideas about it.
Thank u.
HHH
 

DickCappels

Joined Aug 21, 2008
10,152
What I think you are thinking of is the "Three voltmeter method", which is a little bit complicated but allows you to calculate the phase difference in reactive circuits.

The method is described on page 6 of this powerpoint presentation:
journal.mercubuana.ac.id/data/pertemaun%2013.ppt
 

Thread Starter

hhhunzai

Joined Nov 14, 2011
72
I have checked it and know a little about it.
I am searching a new idea, to measure through easy calculations.
If you can understand me , please let me know through calculations.
 
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