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Automatic Power Factor Correction Unit

Enhance your site’s efficiency with Power Factor Correction. This vital equipment ensures optimal energy delivery, helping lower network and demand costs.

We offer comprehensive services, including design, installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance throughout the equipment’s lifecycle.

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Product Details

The following Standards are used in the Powerhouse Systems equipment:

  • IEC 831 – Part 1 & 2 – Manufacturing Standard for Power Factor Correction Capacitors
  • AS 1013 – 1971 – Shunt Capacitors – Where applicable
  • AS 3000 – 2007 – Wiring rules
  • AS 3008 – 1.1.1998 – Selection of Cables
  • AS 2005 – Fuses
  • AS 1028 – Reactors and Transformers
  • ISO 9000 – Quality standards
  • Local Supply Authority – Service and Installation Rules

The basis of our Power Factor Correction equipment is safety, reliability and efficiency.

Modular Concept – The design utilizes a Modular concept with 100kVAr withdrawable modules containing all required parts. The modules can be removed and replaced within 30 minutes.

  • All equipment is front-accessible and modular in construction
  • A freestanding 2mm sheet steel, powder-coated cubicle is supplied to house all equipment.
  • Forced ventilation, designed to extract air from the top of the cubicle via base-screened vents is included.
  • Two(2) High-reliability ball-bearing cooling fans, thermostat controlled, are mounted in the roof and provide a minimum air flow rate of 710m3/h each.
  • Highest quality capacitors are mounted in a separate enclosure, attached to the standard enclosure. This cubicle is separately ventilated.

The following is a general description of the standard Automatic Power Factor Correction system and the components used.

The kVAr rating of the Power factor correction equipment are based on:

  • Volts – 415 Volts (+10%)
  • Phase – 3 Phase plus Earth + Neutral
  • Frequency – 50 Hz
  • Temperature – 45ºC Continuous Maximum Ambient

Features

Standard – IEC 831-1/2 – “As capacitors are the major component of a Power Factor Correction System, we invested many hours of testing and evaluation in selecting and physically mounting them within the cubicle.”

Capacitors are the highest quality German Manufacture mineral oil impregnated (or Dry Type) in cylindrical Aluminum cans complete with overpressure disconnection device and discharge resistors (to meet AS3000). Capacitors are self-healing polypropylene film with a maximum 65 Deg C case temperature rating. Rated current is 1.5 times maximum in the presence of 10% Overvoltage and harmonics.

Standards – IEC 947-4-1 – AS3947-3 Contactors designed especially for switching low inductive capacitive loads are used. These contactors are used for switching capacitors mentioned above and are protected against contact welding for a prospective current of 200 x I e . i.e. 200*72 Amps. Contactors have magnetically switched early make contacts and damping resistors. These reduce the inrush current to

Contactor IE rating = 100 Amps

Standards – IEC947-3 Fully shrouded fused isolators are used to isolate and protect either the Power Factor Correction system and/or the individual steps. These are busbar mounted and contain DIN fuses suitably rated for protection of each capacitor step and connecting cables (125 Amp for 50kVAr and 63 Amp for 25kVAr steps).

Switching ratings –

  • Step Switch-Fuse – 160 Amp
  • Making Capacity – 40kA
  • Impulse Voltage – 8kV

Main Isolator –

  • 400 Amp , 630 Amp, 800, 1250 Amp
  • Making capacity – 100kA
  • Impulse Voltage – 12kV
  • Fuses – DIN – To IEC 269-2-1 Breaking Capacity 120kA (size 00-2)

The reactive control relay is mounted on the front door of the cubicle and monitors the incoming voltage and current from the main switchboard. Based on target power factor and actual switchboard power factor, it switches capacitor steps in or out of circuit ensuring that connection and reconnection times are met.

Reactive Controller Features

  • Microprocessor Based
  • Digital Display of Power Factor, step Number operating and all setup information.
  • Circular switching i.e. all capacitor steps are equal duty shared.
  • Zero Voltage Tripping i.e. On mains failure, all steps are switched out and , upon mains restoration capacitors are switched in again only after the correct blocking delay
  • High resistance to faults due to mains harmonics i.e. input circuits have a band pass filter fitted
  • Alarm output and indication of:
    • (a) Failure to achieve target power factor.
    • (b) Mains failure
    • (c) Temperature
    • (d) Harmonic levels (voltage and Current)
    • (e) Voltage and Current levels
    • (f) Display of Volts, Amps, Kw, KVA, KVAr, Harmonics, temperature, Contactor switchings and duration of contactor operation
    • (g) All maximums data logged for future reference
  • Options – serial output RS485, RS232 (profiBus and ModBus )
  • Front Panel protection – IP 54

Harmonic tuning Reactors

(Where fitted, Tunes Capacitor Bank below Harmonics)
Standard – AS 1028 Harmonic detuning reactors are placed in circuit prior to capacitors to “detune” the capacitor bank to below harmonic frequencies e.g. 5th (250Hz) 7th (350Hz) 11th (550Hz) etc. which are usually caused by power switching devices e.g. Variable speed drives, UPS Systems, Arc Furnaces etc.

  • Type – Dry Type, Air Cooled
  • Tuned Frequency – 189 Hz (7%) detuning
  • Current Rating (Min) – 70 Amps I1, 51 Amps I5, 86 Amps I total, 100A
  • Flux Density – < 0.80Tesla
  • Winding Temp rise – Not more than 40ºC
  • Q factor – 38
  • Insulation Class – Class H – 180°C
  • Dielectric Strength – 3kV for 1 Minute to IEC 76/3
  • Core Type – High Permeability silicon Grain Oriented Laminated Core.
  • Losses – 86Watts/50kVAr Step
  • Conductor and Termination – Copper and busbar connection

Mounting

Wiring to reactors is via single flexible lugged cables. Reactors are mounted on non-magnetic brackets (Aluminium) to Eliminate eddy currents and reduce noise and heat loss.

Standard – AS3439.1 – IP31 standard, IP54 Optional. Cubicle construction is sheet steel minimum thickness 2mm, powder coated X15 orange to AS2700 (any other colour to AS2700 powder coat available).

Features

  • 100mm (or 75mm) heavy duty Galvanized Plinth
  • Door mounted screened vents on all doors
  • Three(3) point locking on doors above 1200mm
  • Gland plate, 3mm thick, non-magnetic fitted to roof of cubicle, positioned over incoming connections. Bottom cable entry available
  • Dust proof seals are mounted on all doors

Testing & Commissioning

  • Before dispatch, all power factor correction systems are tested as follows
  • Insulation check – 2,000 Volt for 15 Seconds ph-ph and Earth
  • All connections and joints checked
  • Capacitance and wiring check of each step
  • Reactive relay setup and test
  • Full load current check of each step including harmonic checks
  • Completion of test/commissioning report.