As there is an ever increasing demand for electricity within the manufacturing industry, demands on the supply authorities to produce more power is ever on the increase. As we are all aware in industries their are losses, within the manufacturing process, for example material off cuts, wastage, time losses and the most important loss of all is electricity losses, (High Power Factor) all of which are costly.
The supply authorities are now encouraging more than ever, that the manufacturing industry reduce power consumption by correcting their plants power factor. Poorly managed energy supplies result in unnecessary, and avoidable power wastage.
What is Power Factor?
"Power Factor" involves a relationship between two types of power. Working Power and Reactive Power. Most loads in modern electrical distribution systems are inductive, which means they require an electromagnetic field to operate.
- Active Power (K.W.) – Performs the actual work of creating Heat, Light, Motion etc
- Reactive Power – Energises the magnetic field
The operating power from the supply authority is comprised of both active (working) and reactive (non working) elements. The active power does all the useful work, while the reactive power only provides the magnetic field, and yes you are charged for both..
Left is a switching capacitor bank which we have recently installed for a client. The unit is a six step capacitor power factor correction system.(237.5 KVAR). As the power factor increases banks of capacitors come into circuit via a computer controlled switching unit which monitors our clients supply mains
The use of Power factor Correction will significantly reduce our clients electricity bill and free up power resources used by the manufacturing plant. (Click on image below for a larger view)
