Capacitance power factor question

AI Thread Summary
A 50 KW load operating at a 60% lagging power factor from a 10KV line requires additional capacitance to achieve a 90% lagging power factor. The calculations show that the reactive power for the initial power factor is 66.667 kVAR, while for the desired power factor, it is 24.22 kVAR, resulting in a required capacitor reactive power of -42.45 kVAR. The capacitive reactance calculated is -2356 Ω, leading to a capacitance of 1.126 μF. The discussion clarifies the use of signed reactance and the importance of understanding the magnitude in the final calculations.
oxon88
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Homework Statement



A 50 KW load operates from a 60 Hz 10KV rms line with a power factor of 60% lagging. Determine the capacitance that must be placed in parallel with the load to achieve a 90% lagging power factor.

The Attempt at a Solution


for 60% p.f:-

θ1 = Cos-1(0.6) = 53.13 degrees

Q1 = 50,000*tan(53.13) = 66.667 kVAR

for 90% p.f:-

θ2 = Cos-1(0.9) = 25.84 degrees

Q2 = 50,000*tan(25.84) = 24.22 kVAR
Qcapacitor = Q2 - Q1 = -42.45 kVAR
Xc = VRMS /Qc = (104)2 / -42450 = -2356 Ωω = 2.∏.f = 2.∏.60 = 377

C = 1 / ω.Xc = 1 / 377*2356 = 1.126 μF
can anyone check if I'm on the right path here please?
 
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anyone?
 
I posted a response to this about 6 hours ago, saying that's the answer I got.

Not sure where my reply went. https://www.physicsforums.com/images/icons/icon9.gif
 
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Ok that's good. thank you
 
Was this answer correct as i am getting a different value..?
 
yes it is correct.
 
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oxon88 said:

Homework Statement



A 50 KW load operates from a 60 Hz 10KV rms line with a power factor of 60% lagging. Determine the capacitance that must be placed in parallel with the load to achieve a 90% lagging power factor.

The Attempt at a Solution


for 60% p.f:-

θ1 = Cos-1(0.6) = 53.13 degrees

Q1 = 50,000*tan(53.13) = 66.667 kVAR

for 90% p.f:-

θ2 = Cos-1(0.9) = 25.84 degrees

Q2 = 50,000*tan(25.84) = 24.22 kVAR
Qcapacitor = Q2 - Q1 = -42.45 kVAR
Xc = VRMS /Qc = (104)2 / -42450 = -2356 Ωω = 2.∏.f = 2.∏.60 = 377

C = 1 / ω.Xc = 1 / 377*2356 = 1.126 μF
can anyone check if I'm on the right path here please?
why isn't it - 2356 in the final formula ?
 
grinder76 said:
why isn't it - 2356 in the final formula ?
oxon88 calculated the signed reactance of the capacitor to be -2356 Ω. The minus sign reflects the fact that it is capacitive reactance. He then used the formula for the magnitude of the reactance, which is unsigned, to find the value of the capacitor.

An alternative approach might have been to use complex impedance which retains the sign throughout, but that would achieve the same end result.
 
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Thanks for the reply i now understand
 

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