Automatic Power Factor Control Panel is designed to maintain power factor of plant to unity. To maintain power factor of unity means to achieve demand in KVA on lower side. Power factor is maintained to set value using APFC relay in auto mode where as in case of failure of APFC relay push buttons are used. Auto as well as manual mode is provided for power factor control. Various types of capacitors are used depending on load conditions. Typically MPP, APP or mix dielectric types of capacitors are used. In case of non linear loads like VFD, UPS thyrister switching, suitable reactors are used along with capacitors to filter harmonics.
We at GVL design and manufacturer of Automatic Power Factor Correction Panels comprising of Capacitor duty Contractors,MCCB,detuned reactors (Harmonic Filters) . Since APFC panel generates Heat , Exhaust Fans at top and louvers at bottom are provided for longer life .
Power factor is low in industrial settings where most of the plant energy is used to power electric motors. It is lowest when the induction motors tend to be oversized and under-loaded. A lagging (less than 1.0) power factor causes some additional energy loss because more current is required to deliver a required amount of power. Correcting power factor can be an appropriate and cost-effective measure.
Inductive load is major cause of poor factor and which is responsible for unnecessarily power loss, hence it results in rise of electricity bills of
industrial, commercial consumer so Reactive power compensation is
very need of today’s industries. We can easily control and maintain power factor near to unity with Automatic Power Factor Correction Panel.
APFC Panel Provides :
+ Automatic power factor correction.
+ Wide range of correction stages 4 – 14 stage.
+ Dampen effect of transient during capacitor switching.
+ Optimum reactive power compensation.
+ Savings and incentives in electricity bills.
Most of the commercial and Industrial installations in the country have large electrical loads which are severely inductive in nature, such as motors, large machines, air conditioners, drivers etc. Which results in a severely lagging power factor. This means loss and wastage of energy and heavy penalties by electricity boards. In case of fixed loads this can be taken care by manual switching of capacitors.
However in case of rapidly varying and scattered loads it becomes difficult to maintain a high power factor by manually switching on/off the capacitors in proportion to variation of load within an installation. This drawback is overcome by using an APFC panel (Automatic Power Factor Correction Panel) which not only maintains a high power factor but also eliminates the need for constant manual intervention.
Advantages :
+ Economical with faster payback periods.
+ Ability to maintain a constant high power factor.
+ Eliminates low power factor penalties levied by EB.
+ Reduces the KVA demand charges.
+ Improves efficiency of the system by reducing losses.
+ Prevents leading power factor in the installation during low load conditions.