News
We can now offer a full installation service for all of the equipment we supply through our installation team that is NICEIC approved
We are proud to announce we have opened a regional office in Scotland.
Tel: 0141 266 0726
We are able to offer full OEM support to the ICAR, ORTEA, ITALFARAD and Gruppo Energia brands from Italy.
Professionals
In Power
WHAT IS POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
01 / WHAT IS POWER FACTOR CORRECTION?
The Reactive Power charge on your electricity bill is directly targeted against those companies who do not demonstrate clear energy efficiency use. You will find this charge itemized on your electricity bill.
Reactive power charges can be made significantly smaller by the introduction of Power Factor Correction Capacitors which are a widely recognized method of reducing an electrical load and minimizing wasted energy, improving the efficiency of a plant and reducing the electricity bill.
It is not always necessary to reach a power factor of 1. A cost effective solution can be achieved by increasing your power factor to greater than 0.95
A full site survey is required to determine what type and size of system is required to meet your current and future needs.
Power Factor Correction Ltd will carry out the survey, including harmonic analysis, and the cost of the survey can be remitted against the cost of the equipment purchased.
Power Factor is a measure of how efficiently electrical power is consumed. In the ideal world Power Factor would be unity (or 1). Unfortunately in the real world Power Factor is reduced by highly inductive loads to 0.7 or less. This induction is caused by equipment such as lightly loaded electric motors, luminary transformers and fluorescent lighting ballasts and welding sets, etc.
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Once in place, the cost of PFC can often be recovered in less than 1 year.
02 / WHAT DOES IT DO TO MY ELECTRICITY BILL?
In a 3 phase supply, kW consumed is (VOLTS x AMPS x 1.73 x Power Factor) / 1000. The Electricity Company supply you VOLTS x AMPS and they have to supply extra to make up for the loss caused by poor Power Factor. When the power factor falls below a set figure, the electricity supply companies charge a premium on the kW being consumed, or, charge for the whole supply as kVA.
03 / WHAT CAUSES POWER FACTOR TO CHANGE?
Inductive loads cause the AMPS to lag behind the VOLTS. The wave forms of VOLTS and AMPS are then "out of phase" with each other. The more out of phase they become then the lower the Power Factor. Power Factor is usually expressed as Cos Phi.
In 3 phase power supplies the "power" can be measured as a triangle.
ACTIVE Power is the base line and is the real usable power measured in kW.
REACTIVE power is the vertical or that part of the supply which causes the inductive load. The reactive power in is measured in kVAr (kilo volt-amperes reactive).
APPARENT Power is the hypotenuse. This is the resultant of the other two components and is measured in kVA.
04 / WHY DO I NEED POWER FACTOR CORRECTION?
Capacitive Power Factor correction (PFC) is applied to electric circuits as a means of minimizing the inductive component of the current and thereby reducing the losses in the supply.
The introduction of Power Factor Correction capacitors is a widely recognized method of reducing an electrical load, thus minimizing wasted energy and hence improving the efficiency of a plant and reducing the electricity bill. It is not usually necessary to reach unity, i.e. Power Factor 1, since most supply companies are happy with a PF of 0.95 to 0.98
05 / HOW DOES IT WORK?
By installing suitably sized switched capacitors into the circuit, the Power Factor is improved and the value becomes nearer to 1 thus minimising wasted energy and improving the efficiency of a plant.
POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
MYTH BUSTING
One of the biggest myths on many websites is that PFC saves Kwhr's (units)
IT DOES NOT
We would be delighted to be proven wrong so if anyone out there can show us how and provide the formula to prove any kWHr (unit) savings then we will delete this from out Myth Buster Section.
MYTH BUSTER 2
Another myth is that you cannot use PFC on Generators
Yes you can especially with our systems that utilise low and zero transient switching and you will save fuel!
This is based on actual experience not theory
MYTH BUSTER 3
Another Myth is that you can use PFC on
Domestic supplies and it will reduce your bill
It will not
Reactive power or a poor Power Factor is not
charged for on Domestic supplies
The Benefits of PFC
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Removes Reactive Power Penalty Charges On Electricity Bills
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Reduces Availability & Capacity Charges on Electricity Bills
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Reduces Maximum Demand Based Charges on Electricity Bills
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Reduces Transformers Losses
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Improves Renewable Generation
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Reduces Fuel Consuption Of Generators
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Reduces Carbon Emissions
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Reduces Circuit Currents & Allows for Connection of Additional Load
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Reduces Maintenance Costs
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Reduces Temperature on Busbars
Features
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Heavy-Duty Capacitors with Dielectric Rated at 500V (600V on Detuned Systems)
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Medium-Duty Detuning Reactors (189hz Detuned)
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Heavy-Duty Detuning Reactors (135hz Detuned)
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Correction to 0.96pf or better (96% Efficiency)
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Correction to 1.00pf (100% Efficiency) With Our SVG's and AHF's
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Design by Engineers for Ease of Installation
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Power Factor Display, Harmonic Alarm and Multi Meter Function
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Fully Extendable for Future Expansion
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Large Range of Off The Shelf Equipment
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Bespoke Equipment Manufactured, to Suit Client Requirements
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Harmonic Overload Protection Systems
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Full 12 Month Warranty as a minimum
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Low Maintenance just once a year for most installations
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Maintenance Friendly Design with Accessible Components
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Wide Range of Models to Suit All Environments & Performance Requirements
About Us
OUR STORY
We are a company that has been built on firm principles of caring for our clients and always offering them the best technical solution.Our 2 principal engineers have 70 years of accumulated experience between them.
OUR SERVICES
We offer a comprehensive maintenance and repair package for all power quality products and switchgear. Irrespective of manufacturer or supplier, these products may offer a challenge to general maintenance staff and contractors who may not be experienced with this type of specialized equipment.
Malfunctioning equipment can manifest a multitude of effects onto the whole system with unexplained electrical failures.
This equipment is usually vital to a customers operation, we will ensure the correct operation and reliability through a cost effective preventative maintenance scheme that covers all the equipment.
KVAR Calculator
OUR PRODUCTS
Standard PFC
Heavy Duty PFC
Standard Detuned PFC
Heavy Duty Detuned PFC
Thyristor Switched PFC
VO / Voltage Optimization
Spares / Components
Proudly Partnered With
Clients
Since 1997
Since 2009
Since 2015
GET IN TOUCH
Main Office: 01302 247666
Midlands Office: 01455 246352
Scottish Office: 0141 266 0726
220 Cedar Road, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 9ET