power factor correction

[nolesfan1954]

Does anyone know of a cost effective method other than capacitors for power factor correction on small 480 volt distribution system <6300 kva? Capacitor purchase and install too costly for this installation.

 

[Skogsgurra]

Active compensation will be even more expensive. And rotary compensators, too. I think that you are stuck with capacitors. They are cheap, compared to the alternatives.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

 

[smitanuj]

yes, Capacitance is the cheapest solution. But what is your present power factor. Improvement above 0.96 does not comes out to be techno-commercially viable.
if you have own generators, put it on PF compensation mode. It will automatically maintain the P.F.
Try to maintain P.F at load end, Not on PCC or main bus.
Anuj

 

[margaret695]

What kind of loads are being used? Are there lots of motors? What type of lighting fixtures? Are the phases balanced? I have been told that sometimes balancing the phases will help improve the power factor.

Margaret

 

[wareagle]

nolesfan1954
What is the PF and load in KVA now? What is the demand charges (usually about $5/KVA per month)?