THE ADVANTAGES OF MAINTAINING A HIGH POWER FACTOR
REDUCTION OF I2R LOSSES
Potential savings in billed kW-Hrs can be realized depending upon where PFCCs are located in an electrical system. When PFCCs are energized, total power is reduced from their location in the system back to the utility source. In other words, PFCCs reduce the electrical current flowing from the utility provider's generator to the capacitor location. This reduction in current can be as high as 20%. Power loss results from current passing through a conductor and is expressed by the following formula:
Power Loss = Current2 x Resistance = I2R
Power loss is measured in watts, current is measured in amperes and resistance is measured in ohms.
Considering the formula above it becomes obvious that locating the PFCC at the extremities of the feeders and branch circuits (where the loads are) can result in a reduction in power loss of approximately 30% for a typical facility. Note, this is a reduction in power loss and not in total power consumption.