Power Factor Correction

[bashirali]

Gentlemen:

What effect do UPS, solid-state devices, computers, and other electronic equipment have on power factor?

Improve, decrease, or no effect.

Thanks for any assistance.

 

[Skogsgurra]

The distortion power factor is usually influenced in a bad way.

The displacement power factor will usually stay just under 1.00

If the UPS, solid-state devices, computers, and other electronic equipment have an Active Front End (AFE) or a PFC (Power Factor Correction) system then the influence is close to nil.

Please note that PFC is not the same thing as power factor compensation capacitors.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.

 

[VTer]

Solid states devices in general draw non-sinusoidal current. This total rms current can be broken down per Fourier analysis into fundamental current and multiple different harmonic currents. One a pure voltage sinusoidal source, only the fundamental rms current delivers real power, watts. All other harmonic currents only cause distortion and additional heating in the supply. This relationship between the total rms current and fundamental rms current is referred to as distortion power factor, Dist PF = Fund rms/total rms. The real power delivery for a single phase system equation then becomes P=V1*Irms(tot)*dist.PF *Disp.PF. Hope that helps.

"Throughout space there is energy. Is this energy static or kinetic! If static our hopes are in vain; if kinetic ù and this we know it is, for certain ù then it is a mere question of time when men will succeed in attaching their machinery to the very wheelwork of nature". û Nikola Tesla

 

[bashirali]

Gentlemen:

Thanks for your informative responses. My questions are now resolved.