Disadvantage of Low Power Factor | Causes 10 Points |

Disadvantage of Low Power 

Disadvantage of Low Power and Causes of low power factor , In this post you will know about what is causes and disadvantages of low power factor in electrical engineering .

Power Factor 

The power factor of a circuit can be defined as one of the following way

Disadvantage of Low Power Factor

1. The cosine of angle between Voltage (V)and current (I) is known as power factor

2. it is the ratio of Resistance and Impedance

              Power factor=R/Z= Resistance\Impedance

3.It is the ratio of true power and Apparent power

             Power Factor = True Power/Apparent Power 

For example , in a resistor , the current and voltage are in phase . Therefore, power factor of a pure resistive circuit is cos 0=1. Similarly , phase difference between voltage and current in a pure inductive or capacitive circuit is 90 degree.Hence power factor of pure L or c circuit is zero. This is the reason that power consumed by pure L or c is zero. 

Cause of low power factor

The following are the main causes of low power factor

1. Transformers , generator and chocks are inductive loads which causes the current to lag behind the voltage. i.e., they operate at a lagging power factor . However , at normal loads , the magnetising current does not effect and lowers the power factor.
2. The motors which are used in industries are mostly induction motors having inductive loads, which have low power factor . Normally the power factor of induction motors varies from 0.8 to 0.85
3. Arc laps , heating furnaces ( Induction and are furnaces also operate at low power factor (lagging)

What are the disadvantage of low power Factor 

The higher current result in the following disadvantages 

1. Large conductor size : To transmit or distribute a fix amount of power at a fixed voltage at low power factor , the conductor will have to carry larger current which will necessitate a large conductor size.
2. Large Copper Losses : Due  to more current carried by the conductor , large copper losses 
3. Poor Voltage Regulation : Due to power factor and increased currents, the voltage drop in transformers , alternators and transmission/ distribution lines is higher which results in poor voltage regulation
4. Large KVA rating of the equipment :  the output power of electrical machines e.g. alternators and transformers is always rated in apparent power 
5. Poor Efficiency : Due to the low power factor efficiency of all our system is decreased . 

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