Search

Premium Membership ♕

Limited Time Offer: Save 15% on PRO Plan with discount code: LRN15 and study specialized LV/MV/HV technical articles and studies.

Home / Download Center / Electrical Engineering Books and Technical Guides / Electrical engineering guides / How To Apply Capacitors To Low Voltage Power Systems

Understanding Power Factor

In most modern electrical distribution systems, the predominant loads are resistive and inductive. Resistive loads are incandescent lighting and resistance heating.

How To Apply Capacitors To Low Voltage Power Systems
How To Apply Capacitors To Low Voltage Power Systems (on photo FRAKO 7.5 – 100 kvar, 400 V capacitor banks via DirectIndustry.com)

Inductive loads are A.C. Motors, induction furnaces, transformers and ballast-type lighting. Inductive loads require two kinds of power:

  1. Active (or working) power to perform the work (motion) and
  2. Reactive power to create and maintain electro-magnetic fields.
The vector sum of the active power and reactive power make up the total (or apparent) power used.

This is the power generated by the utility for the user to perform a given amount of work.

  • Active power is measured in KW (1000 Watts)
  • Reactive power is measured in KVAR (1000 Volt-Amperes Reactive)
  • Total Power is measured in KVA (1000 Volts-Amperes)

Power factor then is the ratio of active power to total power. We can illustrate these relationships by means of a right triangle. (See Figure 1.)

How to apply capacitors to low voltage power systems

Note that a low power factor requires a larger amount of KVA to accomplish a fixed amount of work (KW), whereas a high power factor would require a lesser amount of KVA to accomplish the same amount of work. Utilities provide the KVA to the user, and by means of continuous metering, they bill the user each month, and provide actual values of the components of power shown in Figure 1.

If the values shown on the bill indicate a low power factor, many utilities will add a penalty to the bill.

In like manner, a high power factor may result in a reduction in the over-all cost of total power consumed.

Title:How To Apply Capacitors To Low Voltage Power Systems – MYRONZUCKER Inc.
Format:PDF
Size:0.35MB
Pages:13
Download:Right here | Video Courses | Membership | Download Updates
How to apply capacitors to low voltage systems
How To Apply Capacitors To Low Voltage Power Systems

Premium Membership

Get access to premium HV/MV/LV technical articles, advanced electrical engineering guides, papers, and much more! It will help you to shape up your technical skills in your everyday life as an electrical engineer.
50% Discount 💥 - Save 50% on all 90+ video courses with Enterprise Membership plan.

More Information

8 Comments


  1. Abdullahi
    Jan 09, 2024

    When you are on gas, it is likely that the capacitor banks are used to control the variable voltage due to the turbine/equipment in efficiencies, gorvernor control timing, and reduce start up excitation.
    The gas equipment needs to get to rated speed/frequency before heavy loading, otherwise it may trip.

    Your diesel generator is probably better designed for the load and has a more selectable control (frequency and voltage).


  2. Teddy M. Recomes
    Apr 20, 2018

    How can I have a copy How to Apply Capacitors To Low Voltage Power system.


  3. kazibwe eriab
    May 09, 2017

    good work


  4. Akinraye bolaji oluwayomi
    Apr 12, 2017

    Good morning to u over there. Let me begin by saying u people have really help me alot with ur post everyday. I want to ask i work in a flour mill company here in Nigeria and we have capacitor bank and this is use whenever we are on gas power supply but whenever we switch to generator it we b open. My question now is what is the work of this capacitor bank thank u


  5. JK SHARMA
    May 25, 2015

    Thanks for good & useful information. Good luck!


  6. Naung Tun
    May 03, 2015

    For me, junior engineer still learning, this EEP is very helpful. Many Thanks!


  7. Arifgul
    Sep 05, 2014

    Thank you for giving your information it is really good and useful information for all engineers . I am very happy that I have connected with your link hope you to prepare beneficial and essential information as much as possible.
    Good luck!


  8. patil sp
    Aug 17, 2012

    How to apply 11KV HTAPFC Panels HRC FUSE, vacuum contactor.

Leave a Comment

Tell us what you're thinking. We care about your opinion! Please keep in mind that comments are moderated and rel="nofollow" is in use. So, please do not use a spammy keyword or a domain as your name, or it will be deleted. Let's have a professional and meaningful conversation instead. Thanks for dropping by!

eighty four  ⁄  twelve  =  

Learn How to Design Power Systems

Learn to design LV/MV/HV power systems through professional video courses. Lifetime access. Enjoy learning!

Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our Weekly Digest newsletter and receive free updates on new technical articles, video courses and guides (PDF).
EEP Academy Courses - A hand crafted cutting-edge electrical engineering knowledge