Power Factor Defined
Power Factor (PF) is the ratio of useful current to total current.
It also is the ratio of useful power expressed in kilowatts (KW) to
total power expressed in kilovolt-amperes (KVA). Power factor
usually is expressed as a decimal or as a percentage.
The significant effect of improving the power factor of a circuit
is to reduce the current flowing through that circuit which in turn
results in the following benefits:
Power Quality
Two areas frequently overlooked are those of Power Factor and Harmonics.
These invisible characteristics of an electrical system can influence
consumption, cost and even life expectancy of equipment.
Consumers with poor power factor waste electricity and incur additional
costs - often without knowing it. Yet power factor correction equipment
is easy to specify and install. A further consideration however, is that
because at the heart of power factor correction equipment lie capacitors,
as these devices deteriorate towards their natural half-life, upgrades
may be required to maintain the highest possible power factor.
Maintenance can therefore also be key to maximizing savings.
Traditionally, maintenance roles have always been reactive, but
maintenance can be planned and scheduled. The advantage
of this maintenance being planned and budgeted, rather than
considered only when the need arises. Such practice often results
in maintenance work being delayed or even ignored.
Apart from simplifying the roles of maintenance staff, intelligent
energy management is inexpensive. In fact
INCREASE PROFIT DOLLARS
In an article written by Ron Blagus, energy-market director for Honeywell Building Solutions, he writes. "Successful energy management will rest on an organization's ability to compliment traditional efficiency measures."
The article goes on to explain the reality of critical peak pricing and how to generate savings through automated demand response. The smart-grid concept is giving way to dynamic pricing structures,which more closely link overall demand with the cost of delivering electricity.
These pricing structures include critical-peak-pricing tariffs, in which electricity rates are based on consumption levels and production cost. Pricing shifts already being experienced in California and the East Coast; the rest of the country is not far behind. Critical peak pricing likely will become increasingly common.
He uses California as the example and contends that the state can provide a useful blueprint for facilities in other areas. He goes on to say, "Facilities should consider joining automated-demand-response programs now."
Things to Come
