Reduced energy costs
The installation of a power factor correction system inside a plant allows for immediate cancellation of the penalties for low Cos φ imposed by Energy Distributors.
PFC Intro and benefits
Reactive Energy penalties
Almost in all Countries worldwide, the Electric Utilities charge end users for excessive consumption of reactive energy, or Cos φ. There are many regulation since every Country imposes to respect its target P.F. (usually not less 0,90 but in some areas it’s required up to 0,98)
Which are the users under risk of penalties?
The reactive energy penalties are charged to applications with a minimum available power of «X» kW. For example in Italy start from 16,5 kW, while in others areas from 30 kW, or 50 kW until 1 MW; it depends from the regulation of each Utility.
How much it costs?
The costs of penalties depends about the value of P.F. and the method appiedò from the Utility for the calculation. In Europe, the Utilities charge end users mainly with a fix price for each excessive kVArh consumed, compared to kWh consumption. In Africa, Asia ans South America, even if with different methods, the calculation is approximately the same, while in USA and Oceania are charged the extra kVA compared to kW.
Which is the payback of a PFC?
The standard payback in major cases is inside the 12-18 months after PFC installation and not over 24 months.
Benefits for Cos φ > 0.95
Plant efficiency
- Correcting the power factor from Cos φ=0.7 to Cos φ=0.98 reduces both the apparent power and the current by 40%, thus:
- 1) Extending the life of machines and components.
- 2) Reducing Joule Losses (kW) on Generators, Transformers, Cables and Protection Equipment.
- Thus, with power factor correction that is part of the energy efficiency measures of CEI 64-8 / 8-1, significant savings are also achieved on Active Energy.
Energy quality
The increase of the power factor with the consequent decrease of the current reduces voltage drops. Correcting the power factor and therefore reducing the current value with which electric transformers are charged, one moves away from saturation and therefore from operation in a non-linear zone, with a consequent reduction in the emission of harmonics.
Increased Active Power (kW) supplied by Generators and Transformers
The increased power factor also determines an increase of the Active Power (kW) available to Generator and Transformer terminals, since these machines, exempted from the burden of producing reactive power, can at minimum deliver as much active power as is their apparent power (kVA) by means of power correction.