Power Factor
Typical benefits of power factor correction
Basic overview
Sizing guide
Technical overview
A facility’s power factor will rarely be at 100% (unity) if mainly inductive loads with uncorrected power factor are operated. Poor power factor adds to the facility inefficiencies, increases operating costs, increases plant breakdowns, and subsequently increases maintenance costs.
Eskom charges an additional reactive power (kVAR) fee where a facility’s power factor is less than 0.96 1. Low power factor also reduces the electrical system’s distribution capacity by increasing current flow, thereby reducing the distribution network voltage. The brochure has a detailed technical overview POWER FACTOR TECHNICAL OVERVIEW