Wednesday 28 August 2019

Smart Consumer - Understanding Power Factor


Understand the ‘Power Factor’ of your AC Load

Are you facing problems like a generator tripping due to Over Current Alarm or excessive black smoke?
Have you been advised to reduce the electrical load to suit the capacity of your generator?

If you are using a generator in a Factory, at a construction site or for any other commercial purpose, you may have faced such a situation. Most likely, you did not hire any electrical consultant to evaluate your electrical load before buying the generator.

A poor Power Factor (PF) might be the reason for these kind of problems. Keep reading for a fundamental understanding of what is a power factor.

The Beer analogy is the most popular and easy way to understand the Power Factor.

In a glass of beer there will be beer and also few inches of foam. You are paying for per glass of beer, therefore more beer and less foam is better value for money.




Let us compare this glass of beer with electrical power.

Glass of Beer                      = Beer + Foam
Apparent Power               = True Power + Reactive Power




True Power (Beer) is the power which we actually use, but Apparent Power (Beer + Foam) is the power we pay for.



Power Factor (PF)                            = True Power (kW) / Apparent Power (kVA)

Apparent Power (kVA) x PF          = True Power (kW)

The value of Power Factor will be between 0 - 1.

A Power Factor of 1 is best, but practically very difficult to achieve. A higher Power Factor value is always better.

There are various types of electrical loads. Broadly electrical loads can be divided into following three types.

1.       Resistive Load
2.       Inductive Load
3.       Capacitive Load

Pure Resistive, Inductive or Capacitive loads are never present in practical application, it is always a combination of different types of loads. Each type of load has different impact on the PF. 


Bad Power Factor


Bad Power Factor means more Reactive Power (foam of Beer) which is useless. Bad Power Factor reduces the capacity of Electricity Board supply lines. There is a provision of Penalty fees by the Electricity Board for having bad (very low) PF in your Loads. For domestic use there is no such penalty.

Commonly there will be more Inductive Loads which negatively affects the Power Factor.

Inductive Load causes Lagging Power Factor

Inductive Loads tend to hold back the current and results in a Phase shift between the Voltage and the Current. 






Capacitive Loads causes Leading Power Factor

This is opposite to the Inductive Load. Capacitive load tends to hold back the voltage, causing a phase shift.






Rectifying Leading Power Factor :- 

If you have a leading power factor caused by high capacitive loads ,

- Add Inductive Load to the circuit.


Pure Resistive Load causes Unity Power Factor – THE BEST

Pure resistive loads have a PF value of 1. There will be no phase shift between the Voltage and Current.

It means the Voltage and Current (in AC circuits) will cross the 0 value together at the same time.





Benefits after improving Power Factor

1.       Increase in efficiency of system and devices
2.       Low Voltage Drop
3.       Can use optimized size of Power Cable which will give a cost benefit.
4.       An Increase in available power
5.       Appropriate Size of Generators.
6.       Eliminate the penalty of low power factor from the Electric Supply Company
7.       Saving in the power bill
8.       Better usage of power system, lines and generators etc.



For further guidance or information on diesel/gas gensets visit our website at www.mahindrapowerol.com/ or call us at 1-800-419-1999




















Wednesday 14 August 2019

Mahindra Powerol - Redefining the future of gensets.


Mahindra Powerol has been in the gensets category from a very long time. We manufacture robust and fuel efficient gensets for various segments. Some of the advantages of our gensets are:


ADVANTAGES OF POWEROL GENERATORS

1. Best in class fuel efficiency.
2. Compact design (minimum foot print).
3. Low noise level.
3. Compact engine design (good weight to power ratio).
4. Compliant with latest environmental norms.


Our gensets have various features that will help us redefine the future of the genset industry. Let us look at them below: -


A)     SMARTPHONE CONTROLLED GENSET

In an era when our home appliances like AC, TV and Refrigerators are becoming smart, why not your genset? Mahindra Powerol gensets are truly future ready, smart and controlled by ‘DiGi-Sense’ technology. Our smart gensets can be remotely monitored via your smartphone or laptop.

Various tasks like checking fuel consumption, running hours, checking the coolant temperature, oil level etc. can be carried out from the comfort of your home or office without going near the genset.



B)     COMMITMENT FOR A GREENER FUTURE – GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Air pollution is everywhere. It is a global concern. There can’t be any excuse for inaction.

Our sincere commitment towards a greener future is articulated by the launch of India’s first CPCB 2 approved CNG Genset.

Zero particulate matter emission and very low operating cost makes these gensets truly economical and environment friendly.





C)      FUEL-EFFICIENT HEAVY-DUTY ENGINES - ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED

The bigger engines of our portfolio are all technologically advanced modern day engines, engineered for superior performance. These rugged heavy duty engines are low maintenance and perfectly suited for difficult working conditions.

These are electronically controlled CRDE (Common Rail Diesel Engine) engines. An Electronic Control Unit acts as the brain of the engine. This highly sophisticated brain primarily optimizes the fuel injection system and controls the emission and much more.




D)     FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGY FOR TELECOM

For the first time in Telecom industry , Mahindra Powerol presented a patented innovative technology – Electronic Fuel Saving System (eFSS). The technology enables variable speed governing on diesel gensets. An intelligent engine governing by varying the engine speed for optimum diesel efficiency based on power demand.

With this technology, the Diesel Generator consumes 18 - 20% less diesel. It also reduces carbon dioxide emission approximately by 5.5 Ton per year per site. A truly green technology.




E)      SOLARISATION OF TELECOM SITES

Mahindra Powerol offers complete Energy Management Solution (EMS) to Telecom towers with solarising the existing diesel generator backed towers.

Solar power is generated using Photo Voltaic (PV) cells. The output is suitably attached to an intelligent Controller which charges the Batteries or directly powers the Tower based on the load and time of the day.


To know more about Mahindra Powerol, visit www.mahindrapowerol.com or call 1-800-419-1999