Power factor
Türkçe: Güç faktörü
The ratio of real power (kW) to apparent power (kVA); for sinusoidal waveforms it equals cos φ, and the closer to 1 the more efficiently the system runs.
// EXPLANATION
With a low power factor more current is drawn for the same work, needlessly loading cables, transformers and switchgear. Inductive loads create a lagging power factor and capacitors a leading one. The usual target is 0.95 or above.
// ALSO KNOWN AS
cos φcosφpower factor
// RELATED TERMS
Reactive powerThe power component, measured in VAr (kVAr), that is drawn from the source to build magnetic fields and returned, doing no useful work.
Reactive power compensationRaising the power factor by supplying the reactive power drawn by inductive loads locally with capacitors.
kVArKilovolt-ampere reactive; the unit of reactive power and the rating of compensation capacitors.
HarmonicsDisturbing current and voltage components at whole multiples of the grid frequency (50 Hz), created by non-linear loads.
