Syöttövirtatekijöihin

Syöttövirtatekijöihin, often translated as power factor, is a dimensionless quantity in alternating current (AC) circuits that represents the ratio of real power (measured in watts) to apparent power (measured in volt-amperes). It quantifies how effectively electrical power is being used in a circuit. A power factor of 1 indicates that all power is being used effectively, while a lower power factor suggests that a significant portion of the power is not doing useful work.

The power factor is determined by the phase difference between the voltage and current waveforms. In purely resistive circuits, voltage and current are in phase, resulting in a power factor of 1. In circuits with inductive loads (like motors and transformers) or capacitive loads (like capacitors), the current and voltage waveforms are out of phase. Inductive loads cause the current to lag behind the voltage, while capacitive loads cause the current to lead the voltage. This phase difference introduces reactive power, which oscillates between the source and the load without contributing to real work.

A low power factor can lead to increased energy losses in the transmission lines, lower system efficiency, and a need for larger electrical infrastructure. Utilities often penalize industrial customers with low power factors because it increases their costs. Power factor correction techniques, such as installing capacitors or synchronous condensers, are used to improve the power factor and reduce these inefficiencies. Improving the power factor ensures that electrical energy is utilized as efficiently as possible.