Power Factor Correction

	Power Factor Correction Improving your power factor can reduce utility charges and free up capacity on your transformers and circuits.
	The Challenge Poor power factor causes excess current to flow through power delivery equipment. Since equipment is specified based on its current rating and because losses are proportional to the square of the current, poor power factor can lead to increased operating and capital expense for you and the utility. Many utilities encourage their customers to improve their power factor by adding a surcharge to their bill to compensate them for the increase expense to provide service to a low power factor load. Adding capacitors will raise power factor and consequently eliminate the utility surcharge. It will also help you increase plant capacity if you have circuits or transformers that are at or near full capacity. The challenge is that capacitors can interact with the electrical system in a detrimental way and amplify existing distortion in the system to levels that are unacceptable to your equipment. The Service The people at Envision have been assisting customers improve their power factor for over 15 years. A variety of services are offered to meet your power factor needs. These services include: A complete analysis of the present situation and the design of power factor correction equipment. The deliverable would be a complete set of specifications that you could use to bid equipment.	(continued) We would survey the power factor history of the facility, monitor the harmonic content of the voltage and current in your facility, and provide complete analysis of the possible interaction of the proposed capacitors with the electrical system. The final design would be such that it would not negatively impact the system and may even improve the quality of the power. As an alternative, if you so choose, we would act as your agent and assume full responsibility for power factor correction, providing you with a turnkey installation. We would secure bids from up to three suppliers and arrange for the installation of the equipment that you choose to purchase. A third alternative would be for us to be one of several bidders on the job. We would perform all the analysis discussed above on a proprietary basis and would include it as part of our bid. The Benefit Decreased utility costs. Improved system efficiency and increased capacity. Better voltage regulation from reduced overall system current.

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