Stop paying for wasted power!
Businesses and farms unknowingly pay for wasted power due to inefficient power usage every month.
Reduce your electricity bill and improve power efficiency with Power Factor Correction.
Power Factor Correction (PFC) eliminates unnecessary reactive power, reducing energy waste and lowering electricity costs
What Type of Loads Cause Power Factor Problems?
Certain electrical loads generate reactive power, which leads to inefficiency and increased electricity costs.
The most common culprits include:
Transformers
Unbalanced loads
Fluorescent & LED lighting
Welders & induction heaters Variable speed drives (VSDs)
HVAC systems & refrigeration units Electric motors ( pumps, fans, conveyors, compressors )
These loads contribute to poor power factor, harmonic distortion, and phase imbalance—resulting in wasted energy and unnecessary expenses.
Wasted Power: Motor Load vs 50HZ on Grid Power
What is Power Factor Correction, and Why is it Important ?
Power factor correction (PFC) improves electrical efficiency by reducing reactive power, which is the unused energy in an electrical system.
The effectiveness of PFC’s and the savings on electrical power bills depend on the type of load in use.
Businesses and industries implement PFC to lower electricity costs, prevent equipment overheating, and extend the lifespan of electrical components.
The benefits PFC’s include:
Savings on electricity bills ranging from 10% to 30% Fast Return on investment (ROI) within 6–12 months Improved system stability and compliance with grid regulations For solar applications, PFC ensures optimal energy usage and better integration with the power grid.
Power Losses Explained
Transformer Losses & Rating in kVA
- Transformers are rated in kVA because they do not account for the power factor (PF) of the load they supply.
- Their losses include:
- Core (iron) losses: Dependent on voltage.
- Copper losses: Dependent on current.
- Since these losses are independent of the power factor, transformers are rated in apparent power (kVA).
Motor Ratings in kW
- Motors convert electrical power into mechanical power, so their rating is in kW (real power), which represents the actual usable power output.
- A motor’s power consumption is affected by its efficiency and power factor.
- Typical power factors:
- 0.80 for standard induction motors
- 0.95 for high-efficiency motors
Differences Between Transformers and Motors
- Power Factor Consideration
- Transformers: Handle various PF loads → Rated in kVA.
- Motors: Have a nearly fixed PF → Rated in kW.
- Energy Conversion
- Transformers: Only transfer electrical energy.
- Motors: Convert electrical energy into mechanical work, with losses.
- Losses & Utility Billing
- Transformers: Losses are iron & copper-based, independent of PF.
- Motors: Experience additional losses (mechanical, thermal, electrical).
- Reactive power (kVAR) from inductive loads like motors is billed separately by utility companies because it increases demand on the grid power system.
Power Factor Correction Unit:
- Performs power factor correction
- Filters harmonics effectively
- Balances phase loads
- Optimized for solar applications
- Supports up to 8 units in parallel
- 12-month warranty
Get a Professional Power-Quality Survey Assessment & Start Saving!
Eco Trades uses advanced power quality metering equipment to analyze the load profile of your business or farm, ensuring that the optimal power factor correction system is correctly sized and quoted based on your needs.
Power quality metering needs to be done on-site for a minimum of 7 days under full load conditions.
Power-Quality Survey (PQS) Include:
- Travel time to install the power quality meter
- Travel time to collect the power quality meter
- Data analysis & custom PFC system design
- A comprehensive quote for your optimal solution
Power-Quality Survey (PQS) Cost:
Please contact our office for more information
Contact us today to book a power-quality survey appointment!