What are they?
Several negative issues can derive from a low power factor.
- Penalties assessed from the utility provider
- Higher demand charges
- Decreased capacity in your electrical and breaker distribution system
- Volatile voltage for other equipment in the facility.
Penalties in and of themselves are monetary reasons to correct power factor. A mid sized facility can be assessed tens of thousands of dollars per year for low power factor.
Because of the inefficiencies of the kVA to kW ratio (lower kW real power usage”), the higher kVA use from the utility will spike higher overall. Increasing your peak demand charges. This is a cost you will not be able to decipher on the bill as it will appear to be real usage. In reality your actual demand is something much lower than the measured demand.
Because of the higher spiking kVA to kW ratio, your amperage or breaker capacity in your distribution system will have less capacity. A 2500kVA transformer running 1000kW real load with a .75 power factor will actually require 1333kVA of Utility kVA power. These are major reasons to correct power factor.
When you install equipment that will correct power and hold voltage, you can also accommodate power factor issues.
Halting wear and tear on other equipment in the facility by having stable voltage and power factor is the goal. The long term positives are lowered operations and maintenance costs by limiting voltage and amperage anomalies inside the facility.
Have an ICP site survey done to survey your facility and install a power metering device.
When you install equipment that will correct power and hold voltage within your facility, you will be providing your facility with protection against all outside influences of power. Halting wear and tear on other equipment in the facility by having stable voltage and power factor is the goal. The long term positives are lowered operations and maintenance costs by limiting voltage and amperage anomalies inside the facility. It is common to vet these issues by installing a monitoring device at the service entrance of the facility utility power. This is a low-cost method to really understand these issues and to make a proper diagnosis.
We are available to review electrical one-lines, Power Reports, Demand Usage, and any other data on your facility power.
Call your ICP Technical Representative today to discuss options to increase efficiency in your facility and correct our facility power issues!