The inductive reactive currents serve no useful purpose and place additional burden on the electrical supply by reducing the efficiency, reducing the utilisation of switchgear, transformers and increasing monthly utility bills..

Power factor in simple terms is a measure of electrical efficiency, a typical uncorrected power factor in most industrial & commercial organisations is around 0.8pf which in real terms means a 1000kva transformer can only supply an 800kw load, a reduction in utilisation by 20% which could also be applied to the switchgear and cables.

An efficient electrical system operating on a good power factor with a 1000Kva transformer could supply 1000Kw of load.

An inefficient 1000Kw load @ 0.8pf would draw approx 1750A.

An efficient 1000kw load @ 0.99pf would draw approx 1415A, a saving of 335A per 1000Kw of load or 33A per 100Kw of load, in simple terms, 335A of additional load may be added to an otherwise inefficient, overloaded 1000Kva transformer.

Typical charges or Penalties on the Electricity Utility Bill for operating an inefficient electrical system are displayed as a"Reactive Power charge", or a "Kvar charge" and are normally reflected in higher "Maximum Demand" or "availability" charges along with inflated CCL charges (Climate Levy).

The addition of Capacitors to improve the efficiency or correct the load is known as Power Factor Correction which, if sized correctly introduces equal and opposite "Capacitive Reactive Currents" to the undesirable "Inductive Reactive Currents" thus removing the above penalties and reducing the Utility charges.

Power Factor Correction can offer substantial savings on monthly utility bills and reduce circuit currents to enable additional loads to be fitted to an otherwise inefficient electrical system.

Power Efficient Systems Ltd offer a FREE service to check your electricity bill for penalties and hidden expenses, simply fax the last two or three bills on 01257 426600, we will do the rest.

There is no charge for this service and no obligations whatsoever, your organisation could make substantial annual savings.

Contact Power Efficient Systems now for a FREE demonstration on how Power Factor Correction could provide substantial monthly savings to your organisation.