Võimsusteguriga

Võimsusteguriga, often translated as power factor, is a dimensionless number that represents the ratio of real power to apparent power in an AC electrical system. It ranges from 0 to 1. Real power, measured in watts (W), is the power that performs useful work, such as lighting a bulb or running a motor. Apparent power, measured in volt-amperes (VA), is the product of the voltage and current in the circuit, representing the total power that the system must supply.

A power factor close to 1 indicates that most of the supplied power is being used to do work. A low power factor means that a significant portion of the apparent power is not being used for useful work but is instead consumed by reactive components like inductors and capacitors. This reactive power circulates between the source and the load, leading to increased current flow and greater losses in transmission lines.

Industries and utilities are often concerned with power factor because a low power factor can result in higher electricity bills due to penalties for reactive power. It also necessitates larger conductors and transformers to handle the increased current, leading to higher infrastructure costs. Power factor correction techniques, such as installing capacitors, are employed to improve the power factor and reduce these inefficiencies. The unit of measurement for reactive power is volt-ampere reactive (VAR).