On 12/6/2024 11:12 AM, Jim VE7RF via groups.io wrote:
the Power factor is just
The classic definition of Power Factor I learned as a boy applies to Linear components (L R C) and continuous currents (no rectifiers). Same for "lead/lag": does not cover the case of rectifiers.
The usual reason to think Power Factor is because a classic Electric Utility Power Meter can measure both Real and Imaginary power. When a customer sucks huge gulps of Imaginary energy (induction motors at light load) the line losses are real and significant, and the company bills for that energy. Traditional Residential customers had only resistance loads (lamps, heaters, stoves) or mild inductance (sub-HP motors), and didn't understand the concept, so were only charged for Real power (but at a higher rate to cover the multitude of little losses in residential service). (I hear some new 'smart' meters do count imaginary energy in residential service, progress!?)
Your 16KW max load would cost $4/hour here. OK, if it is 24 hours a day (I was in a discussion about the closing of a broadcast radio system) that's $100/day, $3,100/month, or the salary of an asst manager. OTOH if it is a RadarRange which runs 15 minutes a day to cook large meals that's a dollar, and probably insignificant. Any way they meter it. (But taking 15KW peaks on a 150W average billing will get into a Demand Charge.)
Yes, as you move from the raw-rectified AC along to the smooth DC your cap values should increase. I don't have a Law for that, but it seems to work that way.
Paul Reid