Power Factor Correction in RLC Circuit | Assignment

Power Factor Correction in RLC
Circuit
Fundamentals
Inductive load is the most common load and found in variety of applications such
as generators, transformers and induction motors. These loads contain a kind of
winding, which creates electromagnetic field to drive motor or transformer.
Electrical power is needed to maintain this electromagnetic field and it is called
Reactive power. The actual work is performed by the remaining portion of total
power known as Active power. The sum of active and reactive power is called
Apparent power.
Power Factor: Power factor gives the important association among the three
powers- active, reactive and apparent power. Basically, it signifies how efficiently
electrical power is consumed. Higher the value of p.f., more better and efficient
is the use of electrical power. (ABB Inc. Low Voltage Products 2015)
Figure-1: Relationship among Power factor, active, reactive and apparent
power.
Power factor reduces (increase in angle Φ) with increasing reactive load. The
relationship between apparent and active power is geometrically represented by
right angle triangle shown in figure-1. cos ∅=p . f .= active power
apparent power = kW
kVA
-----------------------------(1)
where, Apparent power=load voltage × load current----(2)
Reactive power= √ (apparent power2−active power2)----(3)
Power factor correction: Power factor can be boosted by connecting power
factor improvement capacitors in parallel with the system working at lagging
power factor. In three-phase systems, delta or star connections of these
capacitors can improve the power factor of the system. These capacitors
contribute to the generation of reactive current and thus, provide reactive power