Power Factor Correction Lake Macquarie
Is your facility wasting too much power?
With power factor correction, you can optimize reactive power and improve load carrying capabilities of an existing circuit. It automatically switches the capacitors in or out of the circuit, depending on the electrical load to counteract the distorted energy.
At O’Brien Electrical, we use the highest quality power factor correction unit to monitor, control, and measure reactive energy. Our licensed technicians can offer solutions to ensure energy efficiency for the most severe of applications.
We can also help with low voltage electrical installations, ensuring all safety requirements are met in every environment. Our qualified electricians operate locally and are trusted by the Lake Macquarie community.
Call us (02) 4953 6656 – button
What is Power Factor Correction?
Though all machines utilize real power, there is also reactive power that remains unused by electrical devices. Both actual and reactive power together form apparent power, contributing to your monthly electricity bills.
Apparent power has a direct correlation to a function called the power factor. Critical to a machine’s operation, power factor tells you how efficiently incoming power is being used by the equipment present at your site.
For the majority of electrical circuits, the power factor value falls below normal when a large quantity of energy gets wasted due to reactive loads. This puts a strain on your power supply as both active and reactive power become insufficient.
A low power factor draws in more actual power, resulting in high energy bills, power grid failures, and unstable electrical networks. Having a poor power factor also means you have to pay additional fees for wasted energy.
Power factor correction (PFC) improves the phase angle between the circuit current and the supply voltage, while the real power consumption remains the same. You can also install power factor correction capacitors in the AC circuit to control reactive power.
With power factor correction, you can integrate alternators and transformers to relieve an overloaded system. It ensures you don’t have to operate any equipment above the rated voltage. This helps improve energy efficiency of an industrial plant.
With a capacitor bank plugged into your distribution system, you can increase the life expectancy of your power supply. This means you don’t need to upgrade your distribution system with new machinery. With pfc units, you can save on installation and infrastructure costs.
What is PFC and How Does it Work?
Power factor correction increases the power factor of an electrical distribution system. It uses high-grade tech to optimize reactive power by reducing the input RMS current and apparent power across an electrical distribution system.
Most power factor correction capacitor banks create reactive energy to oppose the energy absorbed by external electrical loads. This helps minimize unwanted usage in an AC/DC circuit, stopping unnecessary current from flowing in the network.
This technology helps maintain a good power factor, regardless of grid size and power demand. There are two common types of power factor correction methods for enhancing input and output quality.
Passive power factor correction unit
This type of power factor correction is ideal for power supplies that are about 100W or less. Using a low pass harmonic filter with the inductor and capacitor, you can form a series resonance circuit for enhancing power factor.
It has a simple and robust framework that’s excellent for low power requirements. But the body itself is heavy and large owing to the inductor. Though it is fairly inexpensive to install, it has a limited AC voltage range.
Active power factor correction unit
Power supplies that go over 100W work effectively with an active power factor correction equipment. This method uses lighter and less bulky components in the control circuit. It prevents phase difference between the input voltage and current by adjusting the switch time and duty cycle.
Unlike its passive variant, active PFC is a complex system that ensures automatic correction for a wide range of input voltages. Though the inductive load is less, active PFC equipment is expensive to assemble since it requires extra components. This system is ideal for applications that demand a lot of input power.
Most utility companies use active power factor correction units to convert stored energy into useful power.
Benefits of Power Factor Correction?
From power shortage to voltage drops, low power factor value causes significant damage to your business. Excessive change in the voltage can cause overheating and damage inductive equipment.
If your electrical system needs a quick boost, power factor correction proves to be a cost-effective solution. It optimizes current electrical demands by smoothing out high-magnitude pulses.
Keeping the current and voltage in phase helps reduce system losses that are often encountered in real-time.
Here are some other benefits of power factor correction.
Avoid power factor penalties
Processing facilities often use induction motors to drive heavy-duty machinery, such as conveyors and pumps, in the plant. Such industrial applications that need high voltage, affect the power factor of an electrical system.
As a result, you end up paying a penalty for a power factor value that’s 0.80 or 0.85 or below.
You can avoid this additional fee with power factor correction. This method uses electrical capacitors to minimize reactive power that increases as a result of inductive loads. With less strain on the system to produce power, the power factor also increases.
With a leading power factor, you can avoid paying such penalties.
Increase load carrying capabilities in existing circuits
Electrical loads that draw in reactive power also demand high reactive current. By placing a power factor correction equipment at the end of an existing circuit, you can reduce reactive energy near the inductive load. When the current flow decreases, the power factor increases which facilitates load carrying capabilities in an existing circuit.
Do You Need to Replace Your Current Power Factor Correction System?
To select appropriate PFC equipment, you must determine the required reactive power to improve power factor.
The payback period in power factor correction is typically between 1 to 3 years, though it depends on factors, such as:
- The level of inefficiency that needs correction
- The type and structure of the electricity bill
- The type of power factor correction required
Power factor correction units consist of intricate electrical components designed to reduce the maximum power demand.
Overtime, you may see a decline in your PFC unit’s performance. As a result, you’ll have to replace an existing circuit with equipment that ensures optimal performance.
To learn more about power factor calculation, talk to an expert.
Power Factor Correction & Emergency Electricians
Is your electrical network disrupted by a lagging power factor?
Get in touch with O’Brien Electrical for power factor correction services in Lake Macquarie. We work with on-site engineers and electrical contractors to highlight and rectify issues in your electrical distribution system.
We can keep your facility fully-equipped with after hours repair and same day emergency breakdown service. Our expert electricians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering solutions to improve your facility’s power quality.
If you’re in need of emergency power factor correction, call our expert emergency team 24/7 and we’ll come back to you as soon as possible.
Get in touch
To find out how an experienced power factor correction team can assist with installation, repair, and energy usage, speak to an expert at O’Brien Electrical Lake Macquarie.
Our trusted, professional, and licensed electricians can offer solutions over the phone as per your electrical requirements.
Call us (02) 4953 6656
