[Vwdiesel] Power Generation --- ( Power Factor for beginners )

[H.Hagar]

FAQ  :    What do they mean by "Power Factor" ???.

Answer :   They are talking about the phase shift between Current and Voltage. A/C.

Engine power is a product of Torque and RPM.   Likewise electrical power is a
product of Amperage and Voltage .    To get energy we must add time.

Ideally the current should peak when the voltage is highest. Both being sine waves.

When that is the case we say Powerfactor is  "Parity"   "Unity"    "100 %"    "Good"
etc.

When it is not the case we say that the Powerfactor  is " Leading " or " Lagging" .

So why does the current not always follow the Voltage ???    there a two reasons
Inductance and Capacitance .

In an Inductance (like a motor)  --- The voltage peaks first ---then the current.   "Bad".

In a capacitor the current peaks first then the voltage.   "Good"

This shift is why we do not rate transformers and Generators etc   in Watts.   but 
in VA   volt amps.

Does the power company charge industrial customers for bad powerfactor ?   yes.

Why ?   because there is such a thing as  Wattless current.      If say you pull
100 amps when the voltage is 1 volts. (not likely)  the line has to support 100 Amps
but the company get paid for  100Watts--- they do not like that. So if your powerfactor
is below a set point, they penalize you.

 The simple way to correct a "Baddie"  is to connect some capacitors.  a  motor
will do the same thing  ---Synchronous motors look like capacitors if the field
is increased and the motor is not loaded.

Are you with me so far ???    ------ good.

Hagar.   

PS:    Leading current good   Lagging current  bad.