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Top 12 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

IAQ Indoor Air Quality

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June 10, 2022

Top 12 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

With the amount of time spent indoors, it makes sense to find ways to increase the quality of your indoor air for yourself or your customers. Indoor air quality is often worse than the outdoor air unless you live near a factory or refinery.

We are in the business of providing quality indoor environments so we thought we would share some of the best ideas to help you make yours or your customers home safer and the quality of the air better. These top 12 are not our opinions, but facts derived from research which we’ll include links to if you want to research further.

Checkout these Air Quality Meters here

We’re not being alarmist, but wise stewards of responsible clean living, especially if you have young children in the home, as we’ll show you ways that they are being poisoned that you may not have heard about. See the link to our website where you can download a PDF for yourself or a customer.

To watch our FREE YouTube Video of this presentation, please scroll to the bottom.

Reduce Toxins in Your Life by Following these top 12 Ways to Increase Indoor Air Quality

#1 Properly Vent Fireplaces and Stoves

Ensure that all combustion appliances such as fireplaces and wood stoves are vented properly. According to the EPA Smoke forms when wood or other organic matter burns. The smoke from wood burning is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles. In addition to particle pollution, wood smoke contains several toxic air pollutants including benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Properly Vent all Combustion Processes. Avoid inhaling smoke and Particle Matter PM

You may like the smell of burning wood, but it’s definitely not good for you, especially the fine particles that are emitted. These microscopic particles can cause havoc to your eyes and your respiratory system, with the possibility of burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses like bronchitis, the triggering of asthma, heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms and heart failure. This isn’t our opinion these are the words of the EPA, which you can check out in the link below.

EPA – Health and Environmental Effects from Particulate Matter

EPA – Wood, Smoke and Your Health

#2 Avoid Unvented Combustion

Avoid or minimize the use of any unvented combustion by-products such as the burning of candles, tobacco products, un-vented heaters, indoor barbecues. The majority of candles are made of paraffin wax, which is made from petroleum waste, and when burning give off highly toxic benzene and toluene, both are known carcinogens, basically they cause cancer. If the candle is scented then there are additional concerns from the harmful effects of the chemicals in the fragrance.

Avoid Candles made from Paraffin Wax (aka Petroleum)

Use alternative candles such as those made from beeswax, coconut or 100% soy. Use candles scented with essential oils instead of toxic chemicals. Checkout the website in this link for more information. MadeSafe.org

#3 Plants per NASA and Biophilia

Fill your home with plants that provide air scrubbing abilities or by adopting the calming effects from biophilia. Biophilia is defined as the innate human instinct to connect with nature and other living things. This is done by bringing the outdoors, indoors.

Biophilia - Bring the Outdoors, Indoors & Indoor Plants for better Indoor Air Quality — Biophilia – Bring the Outdoors, Indoors & Indoor Plants for better Indoor Air Quality

According to NASA there are certain indoor plants that can absorb toxins from the indoor air. They list the top 12 indoor plants for increased indoor air quality. See the link to NASA report in the description below.

See more information on Biophilia in the link below, and how you can increase indoor well-being by bringing the outdoors, indoors.

Learn more about Biophilia

Dust can contain harmful Toxins especially for small children

#4 Clean on a Regular Schedule

Clean on a regular schedule using a quality vacuum cleaner, microfiber cloths and non-toxic alternative cleaners and methods. Toxins stick to house dust and soil that is brought into the house. These toxins can be inhaled when dust is kicked up, while some could also be unknowingly absorbed through the skin or swallowed by hand-to-mouth contact. If you have small children, remember they spend a lot of time on the floors where some of these toxins can gather.

Checkout these Air Quality Meters here

#5 Vent Smells

Make sure that all the rooms where smells are generated are properly vented to the outside. This would include bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens. The quality of the air is improved when smells are exhausted outdoors. If you have a fan powered kitchen or range hood be sure to put the fan on high speed when cooking to force any products of combustion or smells out of the home.

open Windows for Fresh Air when the weather allows — Open Windows for Fresh Air when the weather allows

#6 Toxins, Smells Generated Indoors – Open Windows

When cleaning or using products with strong odors be sure to open as many windows as possible to move the vapors and smell outdoors. This would include odors from nail polish as research has shown that women who work in poorly vented nail salons have higher rates of birth defects among their newborns. Even if you’re not a salon worker its best to do your nails in the backyard or a well vented area. See research paper below.

Safer Nail Products

Research Paper

Avoid breathing in Toxins from Nail Polish and other hazardous chemicals

Also if using a spray bottle to spray your cleaner, realize that some of that cleaner will be aerated into the breathable air. Spray close to the surface or spray into your cleaning cloth. It’s even better to use a cleaner that is safe for you and the environment. Use green products, and visit the EPA website which provides plenty of healthier alternatives, see the link below.

EPA: Safer Choice

#7 Don’t Store Toxins Indoors

Never store toxic, volatile, or hazardous compounds within the home. This might include pesticides, herbicides, paints, glue, cleaners, and similar items. These items could leak into the air stream at levels unnoticeable to you. And when using make sure to read the label and ventilate the space, and avoid having children around if possible. See the link in the description below for the report on Pesticides and Asthma. It’s always best to use safer, green alternatives. Checkout the Safer Choice website below for safer alternatives.

Asthma and Pesticides Report

#8 Indoor Ventilation per ASHRAE 62.2

The industry standard for indoor air quality is from ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. ASHRAE standard 62.2, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings provides guidance on this topic.

Make sure to provide the ASHRAE minimum ventilation per standard 62.2. This can be done using a whole house fan. The ventilation rate is based on the size of the home and the number of bedrooms. If you have a 3 bedroom, 2,000 Ft2 (185 m2) home then you need 90 CFM or 43 L/s of ventilation air.

Whole House Fan - Indoor Ventilation — Whole House Fan – Indoor Ventilation

Of course this can only be done with the proper weather conditions existing outdoors, and is usually a summer application. In summer, opening the windows during early morning or evening hours when the air is cooler can bring the temperature down and freshen the air inside. See ASHRAE standard 62.2 for more information.

ASHRAE 62.2 Standard

#9 Location of Heating and AC Equipment

Don’t locate heating and air conditioning equipment in the garage or an area where the system or ductwork could inadvertently suck in toxins from car exhaust or toxic substances stored in the garage. Also be sure to have your furnace inspected to ensure there aren’t any leaks which is a silent killer. Gas and oil burning furnaces produce carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, poison gas that kills hundreds every year and makes thousands more sick. Install battery backed up carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom. See link below in the video description to the CDC’s website for more information.

Furnace Safety Fact Sheet

#10 Use Quality Air Filters – MERV 13

Use a good quality filter or high-efficiency portable air cleaner in your HVAC system, one that filters out the dust and particles circulating in the air. The use of a MERV 13 filter or higher is best if your system can accommodate them. If you choose a portable air cleaner make sure that it doesn’t emit ozone. Make sure to replace your filters after frequent use and according to the manufactures recommendation.

Checkout these Air Filters here

#11 Avoid Products with Toxic Flame Retardants

Avoid purchasing products for your home sprayed with flame retardants that are considered toxic. These flame retardants can be in furniture, carpet padding, baby products and pajamas. These flame retardants can become airborne, settle on dust and items in your home. Small children often have higher levels of flame retardants in their bodies because they put their hands and household items in their mouths, causing them to swallow these toxins.

Checkout these Air Quality Meters here

Fire Retardants in Furniture and elsewhere

See the EWG’s website on where these flame retardants can be found in your home and what you can do about it.

EWG – Where flame Retardants can be found in your home

Also, see Duke University’s study on flame retardants, see their website info below here.

Duke University Research on Flame Retardants

#12 Avoid Toxic Air Fresheners

Avoid using plug-in air fresheners and other air fresheners unless you know their ingredients, as a lot of the products on the shelves today could be carrying toxic chemicals. The manufactures often refuse to disclose the ingredients claiming they are a trade secret. What’s not a secret is that these air fresheners can be toxic, including negative health effects like cancer, endocrine disruptions and neurotoxicity.

NJ Health: Air Fresheners and Toxins

12 Ways to Increase Indoor Air Quality

3 Phase Electricity – How it Works

Electrical

MEP Academy Instructor

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June 4, 2022

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3 Phase Electricity – How it Works. We’ll be demonstrating how 3 phase electricity works by first explaining how its generated, and how it differs from single phase electricity. We’ll also cover where 3 phase power is used in industrial and commercial buildings.

To watch the FREE YouTube version of this presentation, scroll to the bottom.

How is 3 Phase Electricity Generated?

If starting at the source of 3 phase power generation, we would begin at the power generation plant, whether that was nuclear, fossil fuel or another source. AC Generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, while the AC motor does the opposite, it converts the electrical energy into mechanical energy like turning the motor shaft of a pump or fan.

3 Phase AC Generator Converts Mechanical Energy into Electrical Energy

The AC generator could be a steam powered turbine fed by a boiler burning coal, gas, oil or another source, such as nuclear power or a hydroelectric dam. The steam or potential energy turns the generator that produces the 3 phases we’ll be discussing now. We’ll show you a coal burning plant convert coal into electricity later.

First we must pay tribute to Michael Faraday, an English Scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and the principles underlying electromagnetic induction. AC Generators and Motors use electromagnetic induction as we’ll now explain.

Electromagnetic Induction

A magnetic field can be created in a conductor by passing electricity through it, or an electrical current can be induced in a conductor by passing a magnetic field past the conductor. We can accomplish this with three items, a conductor, electromagnets and movement between them.

There are many version of the AC Generator, one such version uses a rotating electromagnet to create a magnet field that conductors pass through, thereby creating electromotive force and inducing current to flow in the conductors. Another version would have the conductors moving and the electromagnets are stationary. The commonality is a electromagnet which creates a magnetic field and a conductor that is brought within this magnetic field.

When the north pole of the Electromagnet passes the electrical conductor windings it induces current to flow in the wire.

When the magnet is 90 degrees past the conductor windings than no current flows in the wire.

3 Phase Electricity Magnetic Induction - No current Flow — 3 Phase Electricity Magnetic Induction – No current Flow

As the South pole of the electromagnet passes the conductor windings it causes the current to travel in the opposite direction as that caused by the North pole of the magnet. This causes the current to be alternating in direction as represented by the wave form.

3 Phase Electricity generated by Electromagnetism

There are three coils in 3 phase electricity, with an angle of 120 degrees between them.

3 Phase Electricity - Frequency in Hertz — 3 Phase Electricity – Frequency in Hertz

What is 3 Phase Electricity

Using what we learned previously we can now assemble a basic 3 phase generator by adding three sets of windings, one for each phase. The previous single winding can be considered a single phase generator. Will need to put these windings in a housing to hold everything together.

Here is what a simple single phase generator might look like.

Now as the electromagnet rotates within the stator, its magnetic field cuts through the conductors inducing current to flow in an alternating back and forth pattern. Using only one conductor we get a single phase system.

Adding two more conductors we now get three phase electricity. The magnetic field of the electromagnet now penetrates the three conductors inducing current to flow in all three conductors. We get three separate phases that are 120 degrees apart giving us the most effective arrangement for power use.

3 Phase Electricity using an Electromagnet

As the magnetic field of the North pole of the magnet reaches the nearest point of one of the conductors it will force electrons and current to flow in one direction. Then when the South Pole of the electromagnetic reaches that same conductor it will causes the electrons or current to flow backwards. This back and forth push and pull of the electrons or current in the three separate windings is how three phase power is created.

While one conductor or winding is peaking in strength facing the North pole of the magnet, the others are 120 and 240 degrees away, awaiting their turn at the effects of the North pole of the magnet. This occurs 60 times in a second giving us 60 hertz, or if you’re in a country that uses 50 hertz, this will occur 50 times a second.

A complete rotation of all three phases equals one cycle, and in a 60 hertz system, that would mean 60 cycles or rotations of the rotor within the stator housing every second, for a 50 hertz system, 50 cycles per second. The cycles per second is called frequency, and is either 50 or 60 hertz. Remember motors with VFD’s can very their hertz, and if you aren’t familiar with this concept then see our video on VFD’s, Variable Frequency Drives.

Coal Burning Electricity Plant

The 3 phase electricity is generated here using dirty coal. Coal is sent to the boiler where it is burned to create steam that turns a turbine in the generator that produces the electricity. The electricity is transmitted over high voltage lines to location that will consume the electricity. The high voltage electricity will be converted to lower voltage by running it through a transformer.

These transformers can be located on an industrial or commercial property where the voltage will be reduced to something that is at a proper level for the equipment it will power.

Depending on the configuration of the transformer, it can be setup as a delta or Wye type transformer providing all the various voltages required in the building. From this 3 phase electricity everything in the building can be powered whether requiring single or 3 phase. The lights in your home will use 115 volts or something similar while a commercial building may use 277 volts, single phase for their light fixtures, as 277V is more efficiently distributed.

Your home will only require single phase electricity while commercial and industrial buildings can use the more efficient and powerful 3 phase power for their equipment, such as Pumps, Fans, Chillers, Elevators, hospital equipment, etc. The 3 phase power allows the industrial and commercial buildings to also use just a single hot wire to get single phase to run office equipment like computers, vending machines, calculators and other low voltage items.

How 3 Phase Electricity Works

Ohm’s Law

Electrical

MEP Academy Instructor

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May 28, 2022

0

Learn how OHM’s Law Works, and how to use it to solve problems.

To watch the FREE YouTube version of this presentation, scroll to the bottom.

What is Ohm’s Law

There is a relationship between Voltage, Current and Resistance that is easily explained using Ohm’s Law. The German physicist by the name of Georg Ohm develop the theory that we are going to explain here.

We can calculate any of the three factors that make up the OHM’s law, if we have any two of the factors. Here are the three versions of the formula.

Voltage (V) = Current (I) x Resistance (R).

Current (I) = Voltage (V) / Resistance (R).

Resistance (R) = Voltage (V) / Current (I).

OHMs LAW WHEEL

The formulas are easily remembered by using the Ohm’s Law Wheel. You may also see version of this using a Triangle.

Ohm's wheel is an easy way to determine how to calculate either Voltage, Current or Resistance. — Ohm’s Wheel

Each of the three formulas is represented by one of the three wheels, with the product were trying to solve colored red. All you have to do is cover the red letter or the letter that you’re trying to solve for. For example, if you cover the “V” for voltage, than you’ll only see the Current (I) and Resistance (R). When the letters are side by side you multiply, when the “V” voltage is over any letter, than you divide into the voltage.

Ohm's Wheel - Easy method for determining formula for Ohm's Law for Voltage, current and resistance — Ohm’s Wheel – Easy method for determining formula for Ohm’s Law

Just cover up the letter you want to solve for, and the formula will reveal itself.

Solving for Amps

Using a digital meter, we can determine how many amps are flowing through a circuit like this here.

Ohm's law for Solving how many Amps — Ohm’s Law for Solving for Amps

If we cover up the (I) of the Ohm’s wheel with an effort to solve for the amps or current flowing through the system, we can see that the two known values of 6 volts and 2 ohms of resistance work perfectly within the formula. This gives us 6 volts divided by 2 ohms = 3 amps.

Doubling the Voltage

By putting batteries in series, you add up the total of the voltage. As shown in the example here, the two 6-volt batteries in series equal 12 volts.

Ohm's Law for determine Amps when Voltage is doubled — Ohm’s Law for determine Amps when Voltage is doubled

By doubling the voltage and keeping the resistance the same, we have effectively doubled the amps. We now have 12 volts divided by the same 2 ohms of resistance to get twice as many amps as previously, 6 amps instead of 3.

Remember since voltage is always in the numerator position, anytime you increase the voltage there will be an increase in amps if the resistance stays the same.

Doubling the Resistance

By doubling the resistance and keeping the voltage the same, we have effectively cut the amps in half.

Doubling Resistance in an electrical circuit will cut the amps in half.

The current or amps are inversely related to resistance. As resistance goes up, the current goes down, and vice versa, as the resistance in Ohms decreases, amps will increase in the circuit.

Resistance versus Amps in an Electrical Circuit with fixed voltage

Solving for Resistance (Ohms)

To find the (R) resistance in a circuit, cover up the “R” in the Ohm’s wheel and enter the two known values of Voltage (V) and Amps (I).

Solving for Resistance using Ohm's Law — Solving for Resistance using Ohm’s Law

By knowing the voltage and measuring the amps flowing through the circuit we can determine the resistance. There are three 6-volt batteries that are equivalent to 18-volts, plus the digital meter reads 3 amps. With these two values we get 18-volts divided by 3 amps equals 6 Ohms.

Solving for Voltage

Solving for the voltage requires knowing the value of the resistance and the current. Using a digital meter, the amps can be determined. With this we enter the resistance and amps into the formula to discover the voltage.

Voltage is the force that pushes the amps through the circuit while ohm’s provide resistance to the current flow.

Other ways of Measuring

Remember there are other ways to determine the voltage, current and resistance in a circuit, but this presentation was meant to demonstrate the use of Ohm’s Law.

Voltage can be determined directly by connecting to the terminals of the batteries using a multi-meter.

Multi-meter for measuring voltage, amps and resistance

Measuring Resistance can be done with the same digital meter by setting the meter to read ohms and setting the two probes on each side of the resistor. The multi-meter has an internal battery that sends a current through the resistor.

Measuring Current or amps can be done as shown above or by using a clamp on type of amp meter that isolates a wire. Instead of being connected in series with the circuit the amp probe encompasses the wire. These clamp on meters can measure both AC and DC current.

Learn what Ohm’s Law is and How to calculate Voltage, Current and Resistance Easily

Power Factor

Electrical

MEP Academy Instructor

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May 19, 2022

0

How a Power Factor Works.

We’ll learn what a power factor is, and how to correct a bad power factor. How to calculate the power factor. What causes a poor power factor, and what can be used to make the power factor better.

To watch the FREE YouTube version of this presentation, scroll to the bottom.

First, we’ll introduce the characters that are involved in calculating the Power Factor. There are three terms in addition to Power Factor that you need to know.

Active Power – Reactive Power – Apparent Power

#1 We have the “Active Power” in (kw) which is the real electrical power required by motors, heaters, computers, ballast-based lights, transformers, etc. This active power is transformed into heat, light and mechanical energy. This is the work we want done in our buildings. Alias, Real power, True Power.

#2 We have “Reactive Power” in (kvar) which supplies the equipment in the building that uses magnetic circuits, like motors and transformers. This reactive power is what causes all the problems if not controlled, which will explain shortly.

#3 We have “Apparent Power” in (kVA) which is a result of the mix of the first two types of power. The larger the Reactive Power, the greater the Apparent Power. Will explain all these terms in greater detail. Alias, Total Power

#4 Is the “Power Factor” which is derived by dividing the “Active Power” into the “Apparent Power”. Kw/kVA

What is a Power Factor?

A power factor represents how efficiently a building uses the electrical power that the utility company provides. A power factor of 1 is the best factor, which represents 100% effective use of the power delivered. This is unlikely as there are factors that affect the quality of the power within a facility or building, such as induction motors.

Think of a power factor as a Grade given to a building by the utility company, like your teacher would give you a grade for a math or English class. The grade indicates how well the building uses the electrical power that the utility company provides, and the scale is 0 to 1, with 1 being the best factor or grade. You can think of it also as 0% to 100%, with 1 equal to 100%.

The possible punishment for a building that gets a bad grade or poor power factor is an extra fee charged on their utility bill and loss of additional kw capacity. This fee can add up to a large amount of money for a customer with a lot of induction load.

Power factors that are below 1.0 causes the utility company to generate more power to meet the demand. This causes an increase in the generation and transmission cost, which is passed on to the customer in the form of a reactive power (kvarh) fee or a percentage surcharge on their utility bill.

We can represent these three terms using a power triangle and demonstrate how reactive power effects apparent power.

You can see using this power triangle that as the Reactive Power gets larger it requires more Apparent Power (kva) from the utility, but the Active/True Power remains the same. The true power (kw) is what the building needs to run its motors, and the reactive power is just making things more expensive for the utility company and the customer. The reactive power needs to be reduced or controlled as much as possible.

Power Factor (PF) = KW / KVA

The power factor is the True/Active power (kw) that the building requires to power its machinery divided by what the utility company provides in Apparent Power (kva). The power factor tells us how efficient the building is in using the power.

This means that the lower the reactive power the less the customer pays for apparent power (kva) to run their load (kw). Remember the utility must deliver the required apparent power (kva) even though the customer only needs the True/Active power (kw).

As an example, if a building required 1,000 KW of power and had a power factor of 100%, then it would only require 1,000 KVA of generating and distribution network capacity. If the power factor dropped to 80%, however, 1,250 KVA of capacity would be needed. The lower power factor has an adverse effect on generating and distribution capacity.

PF Example. What happens when your PF worsens. — Power Factor Example

The lower the power factor the greater the burden on generation, distribution, and networks, due to excess KVA.

What Causes Reactive Power

Reactive power is caused by something that is found in just about every building, and that’s induction motors. Induction motors are required in every industry to perform work, so we can’t get rid of them, so there will always be some reactive power.

AC Induction Motors

The cause of all the problems begins with the AC (Alternating Current) motors. Induction motors use magnets that cause power quality issues. We need magnets to get motors started. If you have a lot of motors in a facility, like industrial buildings, then you’ll have a poor power factor unless something is done to correct it.

How to Correct Poor Power Factors

How does a building owner go about correcting their power factor to reduce wasted energy and cost, while increasing distribution and transformer efficiencies?

By adding capacitors to the system where induction motors are the main cause of the problem, the building can improve its power factor and network efficiency. The effect of Capacitance is opposite that of inductance.

Capacitors can be in various places within the electrical system to improve the power factor.

As this single line electrical diagram shows, power factor correction equipment can be located centrally (CPC) to handle the complete building, or regionally (RPC) within the building, or at individual Local (LPC) loads, such as motors.

Power Factor Correction using Capacitors. Location varies as shown above.

Locating the capacitor at the motor corrects any interference coming from the motor. If you have a lot of motors, then you might consider locating the capacitor at the service entrance switch gear to avoid having capacitors all over the facility.

Wherever the capacitor is located it will improve the power factor between that point and the power source. Remember that this means the power factor between the capacitor and the load or motor will remain unchanged.

Capacitance causes voltage to lead current, while inductance causes current to lead voltage.

Why Correct the Power Factor?

As we previously showed, the building can free up additional electrical capacity (kw), while reducing system losses in cables and transformers. These system losses heat up the electrical power lines which causes a loss in their capacity, as the reactive power contributes to those loses and thermal overloading. Improving the power factor reduces power loses, saves energy, and lowers the buildings overall CO2 emissions.

A poor factor (PF) will cause the line current to increase, causing losses in the distribution system and transformers. Even though the building uses the same Real Power, the lower factor (PF) cost the utility company more to generate and distribute.

Improved Power Factor and Increased Power (kw) Capacity

Having higher current requirements due to lots of Reactive Power could result in the overload of transformers, less available active power (kw), increased temperatures of electrical supply cables, higher voltage drops, increased energy consumption and cost. The building would require larger wiring, transformers, switches, etc., because of higher current and KVA.

Therefore, it’s important to correct Reactive Power by adding capacitors. The capacitors will produce reactive energy in opposition to the energy absorbed by induction loads such as those produced by magnets in motors. This is how Power Factor Correction is achieved. Basically, the capacitor is providing the reactive power required by the motor, so the utility doesn’t have to.

This will result in lower apparent power, improved power factor, increased capacity available, reduced power losses, and reduced cost to the building.

Increased Available Power (kw)

By increasing the power factor, you increase the available power (kw) for the facility. This is very useful if a building has reached its limit in the available power and needs to add additional power consuming devices.

Increased Power Capacity with Reduction in Reactive Power

Increasing the power factor (PF) by reducing reactive power (kvar) and maintaining the same apparent power (kva), a building can increase its (kw) usage capacity. Improving the factor free’s up additional capacity being wasted by reactive power. If you don’t choose to use the added capacity (kw), then your Apparent Power will be reduced along with the energy cost.

As the chart shows if a building has a power factor of 0.7 and increases it to 0.9 it increases the available power by 28%.

Savings on Electric Utility Bills

Utilities usually start charging a facility when their power factor drops below 0.90 to 0.95. The utility can charge based on the apparent power (kva) instead of the True/Active power (kw).

Buildings are charged for the circulation of Active Power over a period of time as indicated by kwh (kilowatt hours), while some utilities also charge for Reactive Energy over a period of time as indicated by kvarh (kilovolts-ampere-reactive hours). By improving the power factor, this charge will also be reduced or eliminated. The savings from the reduced charges can help pay for the added expense of making the improvements to the power factor.

Reduction in Cable Sizing

By improving the power factor, less current is required, which means smaller conductors. A factor of 0.5 could require cross-sectional cable sizing twice that of a power factor of 1.0. As the table shows the increase in cabling size due to a worsening factor.

Reduction in Voltage Drop

The voltage drop will be improved upstream of where the capacitors are installed and avoids overloading the utility network.

Sizing of Capacitors for Correcting Power Factor

To determine the size of a capacitor or the total kvar needed for a single load or entire power system we’ll need to determine the kw factor by gathering the following data: Actual Power (kw), existing and desired power factor.

Sizing Capacitors for PF Correction — Sizing Capacitors for Power Factor Correction

With this information you can use an online calculator or manufactures chart to discover the required KVAR. The KVAR rating of a capacitor shows how much reactive power the capacitor will supply.

The formula is KVAR = kW x kW Factor

How a Power Factor Works

#1 Properly Vent Fireplaces and Stoves

#2 Avoid Unvented Combustion

#3 Plants per NASA and Biophilia

#4 Clean on a Regular Schedule

#5 Vent Smells

#6 Toxins, Smells Generated Indoors – Open Windows

#7 Don’t Store Toxins Indoors

#8 Indoor Ventilation per ASHRAE 62.2

#9 Location of Heating and AC Equipment

#10 Use Quality Air Filters – MERV 13

#11 Avoid Products with Toxic Flame Retardants

#12 Avoid Toxic Air Fresheners

How is 3 Phase Electricity Generated?

Electromagnetic Induction

What is 3 Phase Electricity

Coal Burning Electricity Plant

What is Ohm’s Law

OHMs LAW WHEEL

Solving for Amps

Doubling the Voltage

Doubling the Resistance

Solving for Resistance (Ohms)

Solving for Voltage

Other ways of Measuring

How a Power Factor Works.

What is a Power Factor?

What Causes Reactive Power

AC Induction Motors

How to Correct Poor Power Factors

Why Correct the Power Factor?

Increased Available Power (kw)

Savings on Electric Utility Bills

Reduction in Cable Sizing

Reduction in Voltage Drop

Sizing of Capacitors for Correcting Power Factor

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