A STUDY OF POWER FACTOR IMPACT ON ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS IN AJAOKUTA STEEL COMPANY LIMITED, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Power factor is related to power flow in electrical systems and measures how effective an electrical power system is used. In order to efficiently use a power system, the power factor should be as close to unity as possible. This implies that the flow of reactive power should be kept to a minimal. Maintaining a high power factor is crucial to obtaining the best possible economic advantage for both Utilities and Industrial users. Operating a power system at a low power factor is a concern for both electrical utility and industry since it increases the magnitude of current in the system which may damage or shorten the life span of the equipment and also increase copper loss which is capable of lowering the system efficiency due to increase in reactive power. Industrial loads are mostly inductive and hence operate at low power factor. Several methods can be used for improving power factor in order to reduce the reactive power (kVA) demands of the load and power loss from the power supply system. Therefore the study of the power factor impact on the electrical installations of Ajaokuta power system is to analyze the effect of improving power factor of its electrical installation network beyond 0.8 being the power factor of various induction motors as investigated using the recirculating system No. 3 (Pump House No 3). The research approach used to implement this study is through simulation and calculations considering the use of bank of capacitors because it is the most common method of power factor correction. The result of the three investigations carried out shows that when power factor is improved there will be a reduction in the energy charges to the Ajaokuta steel plant. The plant was able to save 2 million one hundred and seventy-five thousand five hundred and fifty-eight naira (2,175,558) only. This amount was just for one substation out of 400 substations in the plant.