Saving Energy Costs by implementing the correct Power Factor Correction system for your plant

In addition to the real power needed, most electrical devices will draw reactive power when in operation.  If this reactive power is not supplied from a source such as a capacity bank In the immediate vicinity, it must be supplied by the network requiring larger lines, transformers , and cables.  Moreover this extra power drawn causes additional power losses in the electrical system resulting in utilities charging also for reactive energy drawn. 

With the focus internationally to improve the efficiency of power systems, many power users are considering installing power factor correction systems on the supply systems.  IGS is a specialist Electrical engineering company that provides both engineering services and products to ensure that your plant will operate at optimised energy cost.  When implementing such schemes, due consideration has to be given to the safe operation of the plant after the installation.  A incorrect application can not only lead to more complex harmonic and other problems whereas giving the right engineering design and considerations,  power supply quality might even be improved, resulting in further maintenance cost savings on insulation such as motor windings. 

IGS Concept Design and Budget Pricing

Finding the optimum power factor correction system for your system that will yield the best economic solution in the long term are:

  • The magnitude and profile of the load and how this changes in time for day, week, month and other cycle
  • The speed and frequency at which the load changes must be assessed.
  • The presence of harmonics that might be generated in your plant or adjacent customers taking from the same load.
  • The electrical parameters of the supply equipment such as the impedances and ratings.    
  • The configuration of your supply circuit (Single line diagram) and how the circuit is operated.
  • Availability of spare breakers and space – indoor / outdoor for the compensation system. 
  • The cost of active and reactive power loads.

IGS has specialised equipment that we can safely install on your power system, recording load profiles and harmonic distortion, where required.  Our experts have all the tools and expertise to measure, simulate and analyse any harmonic problems that might have to be addressed on your system. 

IGS can implement power factor correction or compensation at HV (300 kV) , MV or LV level.  IGS will consider all the parameters and find the optimum solution for your plant.  Methods we can implement are:

  • Globally – directly on the supply point
  • Distributed  - two or more capacitor banks or systems at key load points
  • Local compensation – placed on key individual load typically used on the plant with large load points such a motors.

The type of compensation system we consider in the analysis are:

  • Capacitor bank/s
  • Two or more capacitor banks allowing changing levels of compensation
  • Banks with 1st or 2nd order filters reducing harmonics - where harmonics are present
  • Statcom and active – for fast acting controlled compensation.
  • Active PFC systems

IGS will provide a concept design with associated budget prices on the optimised cost saving including a report documenting the results on the proposed solutions.