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The best way to improve power factor is by adding capacitors. Low power factor is due to reactive loads (motors, pumps, etc.) that are connected to your electrical system.

ADDITION

The best way to improve power factor in the case of motors is to use a motor drive, like a Variable Frequency Drive. These drives allow very precise control over a motor, unlike the very sudden, jerky starting and stopping across the line seen when using a motor starter. They eliminate the huge inrush current required to start motors that causes low PF.

Answer:

1) Power factor can be calculated by connecting an energy meter [P] (voltage coil in parallel & current coil in series with the load), a voltmeter [V] across load and an ammeter [A] in series with the load. Measure P, V & I.

Since, Active Power (P) = V.I.Cosϕ

power factor = Cosϕ = P/VI

2) Power factor is usually (industrially) improved by connecting a shunt (parallel) capacitor bank at feeding end.

How it works??

Inductive loads contain both inductors and resistors. But due to phasor difference of coils and caps when voltage is applied across both, the two currents results in a smaller net current finally. So now the angle (ϕ) between the voltage phasor and current phasor is lessened. When ϕ is reduced, Cosϕ is risen resulting in a higher power factor.

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13y ago
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13y ago

Single phase PF = Input Watts/Volts x Amps. Three phase PF =Input Watts/Volts x Amps x1.732.

Additional Answer

You can determine the power factor of a circuit using three instruments: a voltmeter, and ammeter, and a wattmeter.

Multiplying the voltmeter reading by the ammeter reading will supply the value of the apparent power in volt amperes. The wattmeter reading will supply the value of the true power in watts.

Divide the number of watts by the number of volt amperes, and that will indicate the power factor of the circuit.

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12y ago
AnswerThe purpose of power factor improvement is simply to reduce the load current drawn from the supply. This allows conductors of smaller cross-sectional area to be utilised, reducing the amount (and cost) of copper used in those conductors and other supply plant.

In the case of larger commercial and industrial loads, power factor is part of the tariff, and loads with low power factors may be financially penalised, so higher power factors are desirable as a means of reducing utility bills.

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12y ago

power factor is the ratio of kilo watt & kAV.

PF is the ratio of resistance & Impedance.

PF define as cos fai.

Answer

Power factor is the cosine of the phase angle. So, if a circuit's load current is in phase with the supply voltage (a purely resistive load), then its phase angle is zero, and its power factor is unity (one). For an inductive-resistive load, the load current will lag by some angle, so its power factor will be less than unity. Power factor is also the ratio of a load's true power and its apparent power.

A load with a lagging power factor is drawing more load current than necessary. So, power-factor improvement describes a means of increasing the power factor towards unity, thus reducing the load current. This is usually done by connecting a capacitor of suitable value, expressed in reactive volt amperes, in parallel with the load.

The mathematics involved is too complex to describe in detail in this answer but, briefly, it involves calculating the circuit's existing reactive volt amperes, and subtracting from this the reactive volt amperes necessary to improve the power factor to its desired value. The result is the reactive volt amperes of the required capacitor. Note that power factor improvement capacitors are expressed in reactive volt amperes, and not farads.

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Q: Why we want to improve the power factor?
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How power factor helps to improve circuit?

Improving power factor does nothing to improve a circuit. It merely affects the amount of current drawn by the load.


Why the power factor improves with the load?

Power factor doesn't necessarily 'improve with the load', but it is determined by the load.


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Add capacitors from line to ground.


Can we improve generator power factor for increasing active power?

The 0.8 Power Factor provided by generator manufacturers is not the load power factor, but it is the nominal power factor used to calculate the kW output of an engine to supply the power for a particular alternator kVA output. Alternators are therefore designed to supply their rated kVA at 0.8 lagging power factor.


How select the rating of capacitor with respect to KW for improving power factor?

The capacitors must be sized according to the reactive power being used, not the real power being used, to improve power factor.


What is your opinion whether a low power factor can damage 20 watt led lights installed in a hotel?

The load (in this case, your led lighting) determines its own power factor. While you can improve the power factor (move it towards unity) at the terminals, you are not actually changing the power factor of the load.


Is it advisable to correct the power factor to unity?

power factor depends on the load being fed if the load is entirely resistive power factor will be unity ..if the load includes an inductor or capacitpr due to phase displacement between v and i the pf will be lag or lead respectievly