teljesítményszorzó

A "teljesítményszorzó" or power factor is a dimensionless quantity in an AC electrical system that represents the ratio of real power (used to do work) to apparent power (the product of voltage and current). It is a value between 0 and 1. A power factor of 1 indicates that all the power delivered by the source is being used to do work, while a power factor less than 1 means that some of the power is being lost or is not contributing to useful work.

The power factor is influenced by the presence of reactive components in the circuit, such as inductors and capacitors. Inductive loads, like motors and transformers, cause the current to lag behind the voltage, resulting in a lagging power factor. Capacitive loads, on the other hand, cause the current to lead the voltage, resulting in a leading power factor.

A low power factor can lead to several inefficiencies. It increases the current flowing through the wires, which can cause increased resistive losses (heat) and require larger, more expensive conductors. It also reduces the overall capacity of the electrical system, meaning that less real power can be delivered for a given apparent power. Many utility companies charge industrial and commercial customers for low power factor, encouraging them to implement power factor correction measures.

Power factor correction typically involves installing capacitors in parallel with inductive loads to counteract the reactive power. By improving the power factor, systems become more efficient, energy costs are reduced, and the capacity of the electrical infrastructure is better utilized.