eestVõimsusteguri

eestVõimsusteguri, also known as the power factor, is a measure of how effectively electrical power is being used in an alternating current (AC) circuit. It is defined as the ratio of real power (measured in watts, W) to apparent power (measured in volt-amperes, VA). Real power is the power that actually does work, such as heating, lighting, or mechanical motion. Apparent power is the total power delivered to the circuit, including both real power and reactive power. Reactive power is the power that oscillates back and forth between the source and the load, and does not perform any useful work.

The power factor can range from 0 to 1, or 0% to 100%. A power factor of 1 indicates that all the power delivered to the circuit is being used to do work, meaning the circuit is operating at maximum efficiency. A power factor less than 1 indicates that some of the power is being wasted as reactive power. This can lead to several problems, including increased energy costs, reduced system capacity, and voltage drops.

In AC circuits, the power factor is influenced by the presence of inductive and capacitive loads. Inductive loads, such as motors and transformers, tend to lag the voltage, while capacitive loads, such as capacitors, tend to lead the voltage. The combination of these loads determines the overall power factor of the circuit.

To improve the power factor, especially in industrial settings with many inductive loads, power factor correction techniques are employed. These typically involve installing capacitor banks to counteract the inductive reactance and bring the power factor closer to unity. Improving the power factor is important for efficient operation of electrical systems and can lead to significant cost savings.