ABSTRACT
Power factor stems from the fact that alternating current (AC) current lags behind or leads the AC voltage in AC circuits or systems that are predominantly inductive. AC current leads the AC voltage in AC circuits or systems that are predominantly capacitive. This chapter explores the physical aspects of power factor, and illustrates the difference between lagging power factor and leading power factor. It explains and demonstrates potential economic benefits that can be derived from the improvement of power factor in AC systems. The chapter also explain the consequence of low power factor on the energy productivity, energy cost, and the life of electrical equipment. There are multiple methods for correcting a power factor. Some of the more common approaches for correcting power factors are as follows: addition of power factor correcting capacitors, addition of power factor correcting inductors, and frequency manipulation.
