A study on the optimum selection of the power factor compensation condenser according to the improved efficiency of induction motor

Induction motor requires a rotating magnetic field for rotation. Current required to generate the rotating magnetic field is immediately magnetizing current. This magnetizing current is associated with the reactive power. Induction motor is always required reactive power. If reactive power is supplied only to the power supply side, the power factor is low. Therefore, it is to compensate the power factor by connecting capacitors in parallel to the motor terminal. If the capacitor current is greater than the magnetizing current of the motor, there is a possibility that the self-excitation occurs. High voltage generated by the self-excitation leads to insulation failure on the motor. So it is necessary to calculate the power factor correction capacitor capacity the most suitable to the extent that the magnetizing current does not exceed the capacitor current. In this study, we first computed the magnetization current and the reactive power of the induction motor and then calculates a limit of the maximum power factor by comparing the magnetizing current and the capacitor current installed in order to achieve the target power factor. Copyright © The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers.