Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Power Factor and Phase

Power Factor is calculated: PF = Cosine ( phase angle in radians)

Power factor has no engineering units.

The value of PF ranges from -1 to 0 to 1 (lagging – none – leading)

Loads that only present a resistive load (no capacitance or inductance) have a PF of 1.

Inductive Loads
    Current phase lags the Voltage
Typical - Transformers and motors (wound conductors)

Capacitive Loads
    Current phase leads the Voltage
Typical - Buried Cables, capacitor banks

There is nothing ‘wrong’ with having a power factor that isn’t 1.0.

See also Apparent Power

Convert automation protocols

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