Power factor correction or PFC is the technique of reducing reactive component of power in an ac circuit in-order to improve its efficiency and reduce losses because of extra current drawn by the load due to reactive component. It enhances the efficiency of the system by reducing the extra current drawn by the load due to reactive component of power. This technique is used to increase the active component of the power to keep power factor near to the unity.
Need of Power Factor Correction
In ac circuit, due to the inductive loads like winding, chokes, solenoids, transformer, motors, fans e.t.c, the current become out of phase with the voltage. This means actual power consumed is less than the product of voltage and current.
For pure resistive load, both voltage and current are in phase but for inductive load due to inductive reactance, the current lags behind the voltage. This inductive reactance reduces power factor and results increase in power losses that's why power factor needed to be corrected i.e should be kept near to unity.
Advantages of Power Factor Correction
The main advantages of power factor correction has been listed below.
- Reduces Power Losses
- Improve Efficiency
- Improve Voltage Regulation
- Reduces Heat Generation
- Reduces Carbon Emission
- Reduces Voltage Drop
- Reduces Electricity Bills
- Reduces Power Consumption
Methods of Power Factor Correction
There are three methods of power factor correction which has been listed below.
- Capacitor
- Synchronous Condenser
- Phase Advancer