Analyses of supply voltage quality, power consumption and losses affected by shunt capacitors for power factor correction

This paper is focused on active power consumption and losses in industrial and commercial facilities, depending upon supply voltage quality parameters. The shunt capacitors for power factor correction affect directly supply voltage level and harmonic distortions of supply voltage and current and hence affect power losses in industrial facilities, particularly in induction motors. In the paper practical measurement methods are described for estimating power losses when power factor correction capacitors are used. The impact of capacitors upon supply voltage level and harmonic distortions is discussed. Measurement results of voltage and current harmonics spectrum in industrial 0.4 kV power systems are shown.