Reactive Power
Reduction of reactive power leads to:
More options for extensions, without switching to a larger transformer or higher connection value.
Reduced chance of malfunction or failure of cables and components due to overheating.
The consequences of reactive power can have a fatal impact on your installation, safety and business processes.
The cause of reactive power can be determined by an expert
Curious about the solutions to reactive power?
Reactive power
Reactive power can have a negative effect on electrical installations. An excess of reactive power puts efficiency, continuity and safety at risk, with a variety of related (financial) consequences. An additional disadvantage is the fact that too high reactive power often also entails direct costs, in the form of a fine from the energy supplier.
Companies benefit from gaining insight into the amount of reactive current in their installation and the potential risks that exist. The reactive power can be mapped using specialized measurements and analysis. The most suitable solution can then be selected and dimensioned.
With reactive current compensation overly high reactive power can be reduced (to zero).
With reactive current compensation overly high reactive power can be reduced (to zero).
A selection of cases and descriptions of situations
Many challenges in the field of reactive power are related. We often come across these challenges in companies that use a significant number of motors in the production process. Below are some common examples.
Improving operational lifetime and safety
A company is affected by the overheating of cables as well as distributors. By reducing reactive power, the heat in the cables, distributors and components decreases. This makes a vital contribution to improving operational lifetime and safety.
✔ Reduction improves the service life of the parts of an installation supplying power
✔ Reduction leads to increased safety
Increased efficiency and capacity
Another regularly recurring challenge is related to capacity. This happens when a company has insufficient capacity left in the transformer to extend an electrical installation or replace equipment. By reducing reactive power, available installation capacity is used more efficiently, creating additional capacity in the existing setting.
✔ Reduction leads to increased efficiency within electrical installations.
✔ Reduction leads to better use of available installation capacity.
Sustainability and lower fuel consumption
An additional advantage of reducing reactive power through reactive current compensation is the fact that the power factor (efficiency) of the installation is improved and, in the case of generator operation, less fuel is required to supply to the electrical installation. Of course, improving the power factor, and therefore also the Power Quality, contributes to reducing the environmental pollution
✔ Reduction leads to lower fuel consumption.
✔ Reduction contributes to sustainability.
Direct and indirect cost reduction
For many firms, reducing reactive power also has a purely financial reason: if the reactive power in the electrical installation decreases, fines from the network operator also decrease. This allows immediate savings on the energy invoice.
✔ Reduction leads to direct cost savings.
Inferior Power Quality
Reactive power is one of the characteristics that influence the overall quality of voltage and current, or Power Quality. The higher the reactive power compared to the actual power, the greater the effect on the Power Quality. For more information about Power Quality visit the HyTEPS website.