Automatic capacitor switching that keeps power factor near unity and removes utility penalties.
Our Automatic Power Factor Correction panels are assembled with heavy-duty capacitor banks, microprocessor-based relays and contactors rated for capacitive switching duty. Every panel is built on a modular CRCA frame of 2.0 or 3.15 mm sheet with a dedicated capacitor compartment, so heat from the banks is kept away from the control section and capacitor life is extended.
An APFC panel continuously measures the reactive power drawn by the plant and switches capacitor stages in or out to hold the target power factor between 0.95 and unity, lagging or leading. Correction is available in 8, 12 or 16 steps with a control accuracy of 0.01 PF and rated capacity up to 1000 KVAR. By reducing reactive demand the panel lowers the recorded kVA, eliminates low power factor penalties on the electricity bill and releases transformer capacity for additional load.
Straight answers to common questions about the APFC Panel.
An automatic power factor correction (APFC) panel measures the power factor continuously and switches capacitor steps in and out to hold it near the target. That keeps utility penalties away without leaving the plant over-corrected at low load.
Our APFC panels are specified for a target power factor of 0.95 to 1.0, lag or lead, with microprocessor control, 8, 12 or 16 steps and a rated capacity of up to 1000 kVAR at 415 V, 440 V or 525 V.
A fixed bank sized for full load over-corrects at night and at low load, and a leading power factor is penalised on many tariffs. An APFC panel switches steps with the load, so the figure holds through the day.
Where harmonics are present, a capacitor bank and the supply transformer can form a resonant circuit that amplifies them. We offer capacitor with duty contactor, capacitor with a 7 percent detuned reactor, and thyristor switching with a 7 percent detuned reactor. A harmonic measurement at your incomer decides which one you need.
Where demand is billed in kVA, poor power factor inflates the recorded demand, so correcting it brings the kVA figure down for the same useful load. Your tariff schedule states whether demand and the power factor penalty are billed this way.
Send the connected load or maximum demand, the present and target power factor, the supply voltage, and a recent electricity bill or interval data if you have it. If the plant has VFDs or other electronic loads, mention that too, because it decides whether a detuned reactor is needed.
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