We’ve talked about Power Factor Correction for a few years now. We’ve also spent a great deal of time discussing the solution, but not enough about what may cause it in the first place.
The Attractions Industry is a catch-all term for several very distinct types of venues: Theme Parks, Zoos, Water Parks, and Family Entertainment Centers. Each uses a significant level of energy to run in very similar… and very different ways. In some similar ways, most utilize fans/cooling/heating in their operations as well as lights (flashing, intermittent, LED, florescent, and other), motors of ALL types, etc. Needless to say, there are any number of causes that would lead to a low Power Factor and uneccessary high utility bills as the effect.
There are several factors that can contribute to a low power factor in an electrical system:
- Inductive Loads: A big culprit is inductive loads. These are motors, transformers, and fluorescent lights that use magnetic fields to operate. The magnetic field requires a current draw that’s out of phase with the voltage, resulting in a lagging current and low power factor.
- Light Load on the System: Even without inductive loads, a low power load on the system can cause a low power factor. When the system isn’t under heavy use, the voltage can rise. This rise in voltage leads to an increase in magnetizing current for any inductive loads that are still operating, which worsens the power factor.
- Harmonic Currents: Non-linear loads like variable speed drives and certain types of computers can introduce harmonic currents into the system. These distortions can decrease the overall power factor.
- Three-Phase Imbalance: In three-phase power systems, uneven distribution of loads across the phases can lead to a low power factor. This can be caused by problems with the wiring or unequal power demands on different branches of the circuit.
Without some PFC unit (or units) installed in your system, the chances of having a Power Factor of 99%+ are very remote; there are too many moving parts for an “out-of-the-box” installation to accomplish this. The questions to ask beyond the causes are:
- How far below 99% (or 0.9) is our facility Power Factor?
- Are we being assessed a PF Penalty by our electric utility company?
- Do we have motors, fans, etc. that seem to be burning out sooner than they should?
- Are there other obvious (or even subtle) symptoms?
Chances are your Energy Bills are higher than they need to be (EFFECT) because of a correctable condition (CAUSE).
Energy Efficiency Group is pleased to offer a complimentary initial assessment; contact them to begin the conversation at [email protected]
