ABB Power Quality Products
All Energy Power Quality Presentation
Power Factor Correction
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 1
Our world is changing
Our every day necessities…

Ever-growing population

Energy consumption to double
within 30 years

Sustaining a powerhungry world

Concern about climate change

Ensuring a reliable grid

Providing energy efficient
products and solutions
 Rising Electricity energy costs
More than ever, the need for energy efficient products and
reliable grids continues to grow. ABB’s power quality solutions
support the vital electricity networks that keep our world running.
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 2
Reactive Power Compensation for Renewables
Stacom
EMPAC
1-36 kV
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 3
ABB’s commitment to improving Power Quality

ABB is the leading global manufacturer of power quality products.

ABB is committed to the ongoing development of products that
meet increasingly stringent demands for environmental and
energy efficiency requirements

ABB has developed a complete portfolio of power quality solutions
to suit virtually any customer requirement or applications,
including:

Power Factor Correction (PFC)

Active / Passive Harmonic Filters

Dynacomp
In this presentation we focus on Power Factor Correction
equipment tailored to suit the specific needs of UK customers
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 4
Presentation overview

What is power factor?

Why is power factor correction important?

Typical Installations

Savings - PFC solutions that pay for themselves – practical examples

Overview of the benefits of power factor correction.
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 5
What is Power Factor
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 6
What is Power Factor ?

An electrical system’s power is composed of different parts:

Active (working) power which performs the useful work.

Reactive (non-working) power which creates the magnetic fields for inductive
devices.

Apparent power (kVA) = Active power (kW) + Reactive power (kvar)
Reactive power
Active power
Let’s start by looking at reactive power

Electrical power comes in two distinct parts – just like a frothy latte

The coffee body is ‘active power’ that you can use to do work.

The froth on top is ‘reactive power’. Some is useful, but too much
is simply a waste – the same as the foam you leave behind in your
glass.
A perfect body = Good power
factor correction
A frothy latte = Poor power
factor correction
Latte glass = Capacity = kVA
Coffee = Useful energy = kW
Froth = Waste capacity
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 8
Reactive Power
In case of a transformer loaded to a considerable degree
Reactive power (Q)
Active power (P)
Available Active power
Generation
•
•
© ABB Group
© ABB Group
June
6, 2014
June 6, 2014
| Slide |9 Slide 9
Transformer
Inductive Loads
The system capacity is often limited to the Transformer capacity.
Reactive Power demand for the loads is catered by the Generation
Reactive power compensation
By power factor correction capacitors
Reactive power
Active power
Available Active power
Inductive loads
Transformer
Capacitors
A capacitor consists of two electrically conducting plates, electrodes, isolated from
each other by a medium, dielectric system.
Capacitors are used to Store Energy (DC).
Capacitors are used to Generate Reactive Power (AC). This property is used for
Power Factor Correction. Power capacitors are normally rated by power (kvar).
© ABB Group
© ABB Group
June
6, 2014
June 6, 2014
| Slide |10Slide 10
Poor power factor
The causes
Causes of poor PF include
inductive loads equipment such
as:

AC motors

Arc welders

Furnaces

Fluorescent lighting

Air conditioning
The more inductive loads there
are on the network, then the
greater possibility of a poor PF
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 11
Why is Power Factor Important?
correction important?
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 12
Typical Electricity Account

If a network is 100% efficient its power
factor (PF) is 1 or unity.

A poor PF results in additional costs for the
electricity supplier

These costs are passed on to the customer
as a ‘reactive power charge’ or ‘exceeded
capacity charge’

All UK electricity suppliers impose a reactive
penalty charge when the average PF falls
below 0.95 in a month.
Typical Electricity Account:
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 13
Electricity Details Shown
kW & kVA maximum
demand
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 14
Electricity Details Shown
Excess kVArh
charges calculable
from total
kWh & kVArh units
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 15
Electricity Details Shown
Authoriised Capacity
Charges (ASC)
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 16
Electricity Details Shown
Excess reactive
charges in this case
£641 per month
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 17
Typical Installation
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 18
Typical Installation
132 kV
11 kV
M
415 volts
M
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 19
M
415 volts
M
M
PFC Applications
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© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 20
Mining
Heavy industry
Chemical
Pulp & Paper
Shipping
Commercial Buildings
Leisure
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Cement
Plastics
Petro-Chemical
Printing
Food industry
Datacentre
Supermarkets
Savings
PFC solutions that pay for themselves
Practical examples
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 21
Typical PFC Installation & Payback Examples

Ceramics Manufacturing Company

Max demand 665 kW

Capacitance required: 300 kvar

Typical cost of PFC including installation: £8000.00

Potential savings in reactive charges & kVA Authorised Supply Capacity
(ASC): £5176.00p pa.


Operating power factor: 0.78 lag
Payback: 1.6 years
Food Manufacturing Company

Max demand 637 kW

Capacitance required: 200 kvar

Typical cost of PFC including installation: £5800.00

Potential savings in reactive charges & reduction in kVA Authorised Supply
Capacity (ASC): £3273.00p pa.

© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 22
Payback: 1.77 years
Operating power factor: 0.85 lag
CO2 Reduction
Based on BCMA data

An average operating time of
6000 working hours pa

CO2 emissions of 0.105 Tonne
CO2 per kvar pa could be
realised
Examples based on the above
figures:
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 23

a) With 350 kvar of capacitance
an approx reduction of 36.75
tonnes per annum could be
realised

b) With 200 kvar of capacitance
an approx reduction of 21.00
tonnes per annum could be
realised
Overview of the Benefits of Power Factor Correction

Increased system efficiency

Reduction in load


Gives the possibility to installed more load or machines without the need to
uprate the incoming supply, transformers, incoming network.

Possibility of no increase in the existing Authorised Supply capacity (ASC)
Energy saving resulting in reduced electricity charges

Reduction of reactive charges

Possible reduction of Authorised Supply Capacity (ASC)

Reduction transformer losses contributing to reduced Climate Levy
Charges

Reduced carbon emission
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 24
© ABB Group
June 6, 2014 | Slide 25