Energy saving specialist Marshall-Tufflex has launched a range of Power Factor Correction systems which will reduce your power bills and carbon emissions by improving the operating efficiency of electrical systems.

The units utilise high quality, reliable capacitors to improve the efficiency of your electrical supply at industrial locations through restoring power factor to as near unity as is possible by reducing the effects of reactive power on a site’s supply. This lowers bills because energy suppliers charge for reactive power. It also reduces carbon emissions and improves the quality of power, prolonging the lifespan of equipment, helping avoid voltage drops over long cable runs and increasing the capacity of a local electricity network.

In short our Power Factor Correction units make your power supply more efficient, lowering bills and delivering a number of additional benefits,” said Jeremy Dodge, Marshall-Tufflex Head of Marketing & Technical Services. “It is an established and proven technology that works on the principle that power (kVA) is made up of two components, useful power (kW) and reactive power (kVAR). Useful power is required to complete a task whilst reactive power does not contribute to achieving the task but costs the customer in additional kWh charges and, potentially, penalty charges.”

Why install a system?

By installing a Power Factor Correction unit, you will reduce electricity costs, improve the quality of power supplied to electrical equipment, and increase the supply capacity.

Poor power factor correction adds costs in three main ways:

  • Additional ‘reactive power charge’ from utility company
  • Unnecessary current drawn from the network
  • Reduction in electrical equipment life expectancy

Benefits of Power Factor Correction

  • Reduced power consumption 
  • Lower electricity bills
  • Extra kVA from existing supply
  • Reduced transformer and distribution equipment losses
  • Voltage drop reductions in long cables
  • Increased supply capacity
  • Manufactured in the UK
  • Increased life expectancy of electrical equipment

Will Power Factor Correction save my company money?

If your power factor is less than unity (1) then Power Factor Correction will always save you money. The amount saved depends on how much your energy supplier is charging you in reactive power, kVA, Maximum Demand (MD) or availability, kWh units and climate change levy and so savings are site specific. These charges can easily run into thousands of £’s per year, indeed large electricity consumers can save thousands of £’s each month.

From looking at a recent electricity bill with kVA, PF and kW detailed we can calculate the size of the unit your site would require, the savings that can be achieved and the payback period.

How much will Power Factor Correction cost for my site?

Power Factor Correction is site specific and thereby we need to look at your recent electricity bills to determine the type of unit most suitable for your site. To find out more please contact us or send us a recent electricity bill and we can provide a quotation which will detail the unit we recommend, the unit price and the achievable savings.

Will Power Factor Correction provide any other benefits?

Power Factor Correction reduces the load on your mains transformer so it will run cooler which will increase its service life. You will also see a reduction in your electrical load, so if you are charged for availability or your supply transformer is fully loaded it will free up power and allow you to increase production. If your transformer is already fully loaded and the site power factor is low, improving it can avoid the cost of a new transformer which can save you thousands of £’s and expensive shut downs to make the change of transformer.

How do you calculate the “payback period”?

The payback period is the time, in months, required for the monthly savings to cover the capital cost of the Power Factor Correction (PFC) unit.

For example:  The PFC costs £3,000 and saves £500 per month in reactive power charges.

         Payback is 3000 / 500 = 6

         Therefore the PFC unit payback period would be 6 months.

What are the running costs?

Power factor correction equipment doesn’t have emissions, fumes or waste products. Other than annual service costs, standard equipment doesn’t cost anything to run. Detuned equipment has low electrical losses and costs a few pence per hour to operate.

Marshall-Tufflex’s Power Factor Correction units range from 50 to 400kVAR.

For more details, visit www.marshalltufflexenergy.com

Or call, 01424 856610