Is Power Factor Correction Justified in the Home

by William Rynone, President, Rynone Engineering, Annapolis, Md. , Power Electronics Technology, May 01 2007

Focus:
Vendors of power factor correction (PFC) equipment claim that consumers can reduce their residential energy bills by using the PFC equipment to correct the power factor of home appliances. This article evaluates this claim by analyzing the energy savings that are accrued when PFC is applied to large inductive loads, which include motor-driven appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners . The analysis centers on the calculation of power losses in ac cabling in the home for various appliances, and how unity and non-unity power factors will affect those losses, and in turn, the homeowner's electric bill. The analysis strongly suggests that the homeowner's minimal cost savings do not justify the proposed purchase of PFC equipment. This discussion has implications for appliance designers considering the inclusion of PFC components in their products.

What you’ll learn:

• How to evaluate claims of energy savings by suppliers of PFC equipment for home use

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