1 / 11

ALPHA POWER SOLUTIONS

ALPHA POWER SOLUTIONS. An Introduction to Power Factor Correction. Presented by Eric Solot. What is Electrical Maximum Demand?. Demand = Voltage (Volt) X Current (Amp) Maximum Demand = highest average demand in a 30 minute window, usually during a 30 day period

lael
Download Presentation

ALPHA POWER SOLUTIONS

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. ALPHA POWER SOLUTIONS An Introduction to Power Factor Correction Presented by Eric Solot

  2. What is Electrical Maximum Demand? • Demand = Voltage (Volt) X Current (Amp) • Maximum Demand = highest average demand in a 30 minute window, usually during a 30 day period • Consumption (kWh) vs demand (kVA) • Why utility companies charge for maximum demand?

  3. What is Power Factor? • Most loads in modern electrical distribution systems are inductive (require or generate a magnetic field): • Motors • Transformers • Lighting ballasts • Induction furnaces, etc

  4. What is Power Factor? • Inductive loads require 2 kinds of current: • For the working power (kW): to perform the actual work of creating heat, light, motion, machine output, etc • For reactive power (kvar) to sustain the magnetic field • Does not perform useful “work” but circulates between the generator and the load • Results in higher loading on power sources as well as the distribution system (electrical cabling and transformers)

  5. Benefits of power factor correction • Reduction in apparent power • Lower electricity bills • Increased system capacity • Reduced volt drop • Reduction in (heat) losses • Automatic capacitor banks allow for optimal compensation during changing load cycles

  6. Capacitor banks and cabinets • Modular design • Indoor or outdoor application (IP rating) • Natural or forced ventilation • Corrosion and dust protection option

  7. Capacitors • Consist of a thin plastic film on which a layer of Zinc and Aluminium has been sprayed • Protection against capacitor pressure build-up: • Expansion zone in the aluminium housing • Internal wire • Gets severed when the housing expands • Acting as a back-up fuse • Aluminium housing allows for optimal heat dissipation • This film is then tightly rolled up and placed inside an Aluminium housing

  8. Factors influencing PFC investment payback period • Uncorrected power factor • Target power factor • Current and voltage harmonics present in the system • Load changes • Unbalanced loads • Installation constraints

  9. Pay-back period for PFC equipment • Only applicable to industrial and commercial installations, usually not residential • Accurate measurements of the electrical installation of a customer are required to determine the most cost effective solution • Pay-back periods of well designed systems are usually shorter than 18 months and the equipment has a life expectancy of at least 10 years

  10. Pay-back period for PFC equipment • Power Factor Correction has up to recently not been a financially viable proposition for most companies – long pay-back periods due to low cost of energy • Power factor correction still does not form part of IDM’s strategy: • not considered relevant contributor to energy efficiency • ignore the potential reduction in heat losses (which can contribute up to 3% of total kWh consumed)

  11. Questions?

More Related