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Power Factor Correction For Unbalanced Load |
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 Sep 28 2008, 04:56 AM
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#1
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Intermediate Member  Group: Full Member Posts: 37 Joined: 28-September 08 From: Kuala Lumpur Member No.: 4,848  |
Hi,
How can we do power factor correction for an unbalanced load in a low voltage distribution system? Say, Line Voltage: 415V Phase A, I: 80A Phase B, I: 60A Phase C, I: 50A Pf: 0.75 lagging OR, is it a must to do load balancing before PFC can be applied? Kana |
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Aug 27 2009, 09:56 AM
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#2
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Intermediate Member Group: Full Member Posts: 37 Joined: 28-September 08 From: Kuala Lumpur Member No.: 4,848 |
Hi,
Sorry for refreshing this topic again. I'm dealing with a similar problem, anyone got an idea on power factor correction for unbalanced system? Can we reduce the total kWH if we do load balancing for unbalanced system? Regards, kana |
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Aug 27 2009, 06:56 PM
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#3
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Posting Freak Group: Moderator Posts: 2,383 Joined: 24-April 02 From: Christchurch, New Zealand Member No.: 1 |
QUOTE Can we reduce the total kWH if we do load balancing for unbalanced system? Adding power factor correction will not reduce the KWHr drawn by the load. It will only reduce the distribution losses between the point where the supply is metered and where the capacitors are connected. To comment further on correcting the unbalanced load, we would need more details about the connected load. If you have a three phase motor and some single phase load as well, the VARs for each phase may be the same and a standard three phase capacitor may surfice. Best regards Mark. -------------------- Mark Empson administrator
Skype Contact = markempson | phone +64 274 363 067 LMPForum | LMP Tech Warehouse | L M Photonics Ltd | Empson family | Advanced Motor Control Ltd | LMP Software | Mark Empson Website |
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Aug 28 2009, 02:37 AM
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#4
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Intermediate Member Group: Full Member Posts: 37 Joined: 28-September 08 From: Kuala Lumpur Member No.: 4,848 |
Hi Mr. Mark,
Thank you for the reply. There were a number of three phase loads like A/C compressors and single phase loads like fluorescent lights, split A/C units and computers. I have measured the ampere reading in each phase and it was about 70A/49A/31A and the neutral current was about 30A. There was a penalty charged on this installation since the power factor drop to 0.8. I recommended a power factor correction unit to be installed and I sized it to correct the overall power factor to 0.95. When computing the size of the capacitor bank I choose to use the 70A reading since it's the highest reading of all there phases. Can I assume the installation to be balanced when computing the reactive power? The maximum demand shown by the kWHr meter was 40kW. Can load balancing for this system reduce electricity bill besides the use of capacitors to eliminate the penalty? Thank you. Regards, kana |
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Aug 28 2009, 05:45 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Full Member Posts: 78 Joined: 13-June 09 Member No.: 5,502 |
Sorry for interfering.
I consider a net with 31A on one ph an 70A on an other is asking for balancing. 40kW's consumer in any case is not a very big deal on my view, will costs connected with installing the unit justify the penalties paid now for the bad p.f.? What is the penalty for 1 kVAR (returning to mains)? Best regards. |
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Aug 28 2009, 05:59 PM
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#6
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Member Group: Full Member Posts: 78 Joined: 13-June 09 Member No.: 5,502 |
QUOTE (kana @ Aug 28 2009, 03:37 AM)  Can I assume the installation to be balanced when computing the reactive power? Can load balancing for this system reduce electricity bill besides the use of capacitors to eliminate the penalty? I think a standard 3-phase capacitor will not suffice untill all 3 phases are load balanced. Load balancing might not affect the bills at all. Sorry again for interfering. |
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Aug 28 2009, 08:46 PM
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#7
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Posting Freak Group: Moderator Posts: 2,383 Joined: 24-April 02 From: Christchurch, New Zealand Member No.: 1 |
My suggestion is to add static correction to each of the three phase motors.
To do this, add enough correction to neutralise 80% of the magnetising current to each starter. This will make a significant improvement. It may then be necessary to add further correction to the inductive single phase loads, but I would wait until you have done the three phase loads first. Computers can not be corrected using capacitors as the displacement power factor is better than 0.95. Fluorescent lights come in a number of formats and modern lights do not usually require correction. Best regards, Mark. -------------------- Mark Empson administrator
Skype Contact = markempson | phone +64 274 363 067 LMPForum | LMP Tech Warehouse | L M Photonics Ltd | Empson family | Advanced Motor Control Ltd | LMP Software | Mark Empson Website |
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Aug 29 2009, 11:43 AM
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#8
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Intermediate Member Group: Full Member Posts: 37 Joined: 28-September 08 From: Kuala Lumpur Member No.: 4,848 |
Thanks for the reply Mr.Mark and Yuri.
The penalty is about 8% of the total payable amount. The cost of installing capacitor bank is not really expensive solution after all considering the penalty paid. Static power factor correction is a bit difficult solution. It’s hard to get the parameters of the three phase motors because the A/C compressors are hard to reach. Static power factor correction would cost more as there is a lot of work need to be carried out considering the number of loads. The bulk power factor correction is only effective with balanced load. This means I have to balance the loads in the distribution boards before I could apply the bulk PFC. Regards, kana |
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Aug 29 2009, 08:18 PM
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#9
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Posting Freak Group: Moderator Posts: 2,383 Joined: 24-April 02 From: Christchurch, New Zealand Member No.: 1 |
QUOTE The bulk power factor correction is only effective with balanced load. I disagree. There is a combination of single phase load and three phase load. If you correct the three phase load, then the overall result will be much improved. You may then need to add some single phase correction, but I would suggest that the single phase load may not need much if any correction. If you wish to use a bank correction installation, then size it for the lowest phase current, and connect the feedback CT on that phase. This will effectively correct the three phase load. Once you have done that, then look at the power factor on each of the other two phases and see if it is a problem. Best regards, Mark. -------------------- Mark Empson administrator
Skype Contact = markempson | phone +64 274 363 067 LMPForum | LMP Tech Warehouse | L M Photonics Ltd | Empson family | Advanced Motor Control Ltd | LMP Software | Mark Empson Website |
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Aug 30 2009, 04:26 PM
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#10
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Member Group: Full Member Posts: 78 Joined: 13-June 09 Member No.: 5,502 |
QUOTE (marke @ Aug 29 2009, 08:18 PM) If you wish to use a bank correction installation, then size it for the lowest phase current, and connect the feedback CT on that phase. This will effectively correct the three phase load. Best regards, Mark. Sorry but only the lowest loaded phase p.f. would be properly corrected. |
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Aug 30 2009, 07:05 PM
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#11
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Posting Freak Group: Moderator Posts: 2,383 Joined: 24-April 02 From: Christchurch, New Zealand Member No.: 1 |
QUOTE Sorry but only the lowest loaded phase p.f. So what will happen to the pf on the other phases? If you consider the total load is composed of a mixture of three phase motor load (connected to all three phases) and single phase load which may not need correction, then correcting the three phase load will improve the power factor on all three phases even iff the current is unbalanced due to the single phase loads. Take the case where there is a three phase motor on three phases and heating (resistive) load on two phases. For power factor correction, we are only concerned about the magnitude of the inductive current and this is still equal on all three phases. A three phase correction will correct all three phases even though the current is imbalanced. Best regards, Mark. -------------------- Mark Empson administrator
Skype Contact = markempson | phone +64 274 363 067 LMPForum | LMP Tech Warehouse | L M Photonics Ltd | Empson family | Advanced Motor Control Ltd | LMP Software | Mark Empson Website |
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Aug 30 2009, 07:27 PM
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#12
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Member Group: Full Member Posts: 78 Joined: 13-June 09 Member No.: 5,502 |
Ubiquites nowadays in almost any building air conditioners (splits) and heat pumps are mostly 1ph.
Best regards. |
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Aug 31 2009, 01:47 AM
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#13
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Intermediate Member Group: Full Member Posts: 37 Joined: 28-September 08 From: Kuala Lumpur Member No.: 4,848 |
Thanks again for the reply.
I will go with Mr.Mark's suggestion. Regards, kana |
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