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POWER FACTOR CORRECTION ON SINGLE INDUCTION MOTORS
INTRODUCTION TABLE 2
3-PHASE STANDARD
Occasionally we get asked to size power factor correction capacitors to improve the CAPACITOR RATINGS
power factor of a single motor. Usually the requested improved power factor level is KVAR (Kilovolt
90 or 95%. The necessary calculations to get the proper capacitor KVAR (Kilovolt Amperes Reactive)
Ampere Reactive) value are straightforward, but since we don’t do it often it is nice 1.0 20.0 70.0
to have the method in writing. 1.5 22.5 75.0
2.0 25.0 80.0
PROCEDURE 2.5 27.5 85.0
3.0 30.0 90.0
The first thing needed is the full load power factor and efficiency information for the 4.0 32.5 100.0
motor. On Baldor motors this can be found in either the 502 data section or the 5.0 35.0 120.0
Baldor CD-ROM. Next, since most power factor tables are worked in terms of 6.0 37.5 140.0
Kilowatts, it is necessary to convert the motor output rating into Kilowatts. The
7.5 40.0 150.0
procedure for doing this is to take the motor HP multiplied by the constant for KW
per HP (0.746). This will give Output KW. Then it is necessary to divide this by the 8.0 42.5 160.0
efficiency of the motor (as a decimal) to get the Input KW at full load. Next, refer to 9.0 45.0 180.0
power factor correction Table I going in from the left with the existing power factor 10.0 50.0 200.0
and coming down from the top with the desired power factor. Where they intersect 11.0 52.5 225.0
find the multiplier needed. 12.5 55.0 250.0
15.0 60.0 300.0
Next, multiply the motor Input Kilowatts by the appropriate multiplier from Table 1 to 17.5 65.0 350.0
get the required KVAR of power factor correction. This value would be rounded out
to match commercially available power factor correction capacitor ratings shown in
Table 2. EXAMPLE:
To illustrate the procedure an
example is worked as
follows:
What is the KVAR of power
factor correction capacitors
needed to improve the power
factor of a catalog number
M2555T, 100 HP motor, to
95% at full load?
Step 1: Look up the existing
power factor and efficiency
Efficiency = 94.1%
TABLE 1 Power Factor = 85%
ORIGINAL DESIRED POWER FACTOR %
FACTOR % 85 90 95 Step 2: Convert the HP to
60 0.713 0.849 1.004 Kilowatts output. 100 HP x
62 0.646 0.782 0.937 0.746 = 74.6 KW
64 0.581 0.717 0.872
66 0.518 0.654 0.809 Step 3: Convert Kilowatts
68 0.458 0.594 0.749 output to Kilowatts input by
dividing by the full load
70 0.400 0.536 0.691
efficiency.
72 0.344 0.480 0.635 (74.6)/(.941) = 79.3 KW Input
74 0.289 0.425 0.580
76 0.235 0.371 0.526 Step 4: Look in Table 1 to
77 0.209 0.345 0.500 find the multiplier to achieve
78 0.182 0.318 0.473 the desired 95% corrected
79 0.156 0.292 0.447 power factor.
80 0.130 0.266 0.421 The multiplier is 0.291.
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81 0.104 0.240 0.395 Step 5: Multiply Input KW by
82 0.078 0.214 0.369 this multiplier.
79.3 x 0.291 = 23.1 KVAR
83 0.052 0.188 0.343
This gives the required
84 0.026 0.162 0.317 Capacitor KVAR.
85 0.000 0.136 0.291
86 0.109 0.264 Step 6: Select closest value
87 0.083 0.238 from Table 2.
88 0.056 0.211 22.5 KVAR
89 0.028 0.183
90 0.000 0.155 The voltage of the capacitor
91 0.127 would also have to be
92 0.097 specified. In this case it
93 0.066 would be 480 volts.
94 0.034
95 0.000 CURRENT CORRECTION
In many cases when a single
motor is being corrected, the
capacitors are connected
between the motor starter
and the motor at the motor
terminals as shown in Figure
1. With this being the case,
the effect of the correction is
to reduce the current flowing
through the starter and
overload relay. Since the
overload heaters are
selected (or adjusted) on the
basis of the motor full load
current, this means that the
overloads will not correctly
protect the motor unless the
ampacity is reduced to reflect
the reduced current now
flowing as a result of the
power factor improvement.
The motor itself will draw the
same number of amps at full
load as it would without the
Power Factor Correction.
However, the power factor
correction capacitors will be
supplying a portion of the
current and the balance will
be coming through the starter
from the power line.
The new value of current
passing through the
overloads is given by the
following formula:
Currentnew = Motor Full Load
(Nameplate) Amps X (Power
Factor Original/Power Factor
Corrected)
For example, in the case of
the 100HP motor in the
example, the heater size,
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which would normally be
selected from the motor
nameplate current at 118
amps would have to be
adjusted as follows:
Currentnew = 118 X (.85/.95)
= 118 X .895 = 105.6 or
approximately 106 amps
SUMMARY
A few words of caution might
be appropriate. Usually it is
desirable to “under correct”
rather than “over correct”. If
the capacitors chosen are too
large there can be a number
of problems, including high
transient torques and
overvoltage. Thus it is usually
desirable not to attempt to
improve power factor beyond
95%. It also usually becomes
uneconomical to attempt
improvements beyond 95%.
Please note: This type of
power factor improvement
should not be used in any
situation where the motor is
being controlled by a solid
state device such as a soft
start control or a variable
frequency drive.
For more information on
power factor improvement
request Bulletin PF-2000F
“Power Factor Correction —
A Guide for the Plant
Engineer” available from
Commonwealth
Sprague
Capacitor Inc.
Brown Street
North Adams,
MA 01247
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