Power Factor Correction Capacitors: Guidelines for the Plant Supervisor and Engineer

by George Haynes

Contents:
· Power Factor and Capacitors (Précis)
Power Factor - What does it mean?     
Factors that could degrade electricity supply quality  
Power Factor Correction and Variable Speed Drives
Reactive compensation systems  
Maintenance of capacitor banks
Understanding Power Factor 
Special  Applications: Power  Factor  Correction  Capacitors  on  Reduced  Voltage Motors  and  Multi-Speed  Motors  
Design and Production of LV Power Factor Correction Cubicles: Panel Builder Guide  


· Power factor correction: a guide for the plant engineer (Lecture)

1) Fundamentals of power factor  
2) Power Factor Correction and Harmonic Resonance: A Volatile Mix   
3) PFC Boost Converter Design Guide   
4) The Case of the Exploding Capacitor  
5) Shunt Capacitor Bank Fundamentals and Protection 
6) Capacitor  Bank  Protection  for  Simple and Complex  Configurations (slides) 
7) EPCOS: Power Factor Correction – Power Quality Solutions  
               
Appendix  

Power factor is a measure of the relationship between the input voltage and current waveforms to an electrical load that is powered from an AC source. This source is most often the AC utility mains, but could also be the output of an electronic inverter, motor drive or other localized AC source. Before specifying how power factor is defined and measured, it is useful to be aware of the generalized types of AC current waveforms that is discussed in this treatise.

Today's electronic equipment does not represent a completely passive load to the AC mains or powerline. Historically, loads have been fairly benign, having either resistive characteristics (light bulbs) or input currents that are sinusoidal but phase-shifted (AC motors). Most electronic systems now use one or more switchmode power converters that will tend to draw current from the powerline in a non-sinusoidal fashion. This input current characteristic results in current and possibly voltage distortions that can create problems with other equipment connected to the powerline and degrade the capability of the mains. These problems have led to the creation of design standards for the purpose of limiting the allowable harmonic distortion on the powerline. Fortunately, solutions are available for meeting these standards. These solutions are referred to as Power Factor Correction (PFC) techniques. In this treatise we will first define the various terms used in the field of PFC. We will then discuss the characteristics of the off-line rectifier, which is the most common front-end for conventional switchmode power supplies. The possible effects of high harmonic distortion and low power factor will be discussed along with the tradeoffs involved in correcting them. Examples will be provided of both passive and active correction techniques. The status of the latest international standards for harmonic distortion and power factor will be discussed along with general design strategies for achieving compliance with them. [Treatise-238pgs (MSWord)]
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304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2016