Pauwer Faktuh
Noun
A measure of how efficiently electrical power is being utilized
Example usage: The electrician checked the power factor of the circuit.
Most used in: Construction and electrical engineering projects.
Most used by: Electricians and engineers.
Popularity: 8/10
Comedy Value: 4/10
Also see: Power Factor Correction, Power Factor Improvement, Power Factor Correction Capacitors, Power Factor Correction Reactors,
What Is Power Factor In Electrical Construction?
Power Factor (PF) is a measure of the efficiency of electrical power systems used in construction. It is the ratio of the real power used in a system to the apparent power, or the total power. This ratio is expressed as a number between 0 and 1, with 1 being the most efficient.
In electrical construction, power factor plays an important role in determining the efficiency of a system. A higher power factor means that less current is needed to produce the same amount of power, thus saving energy and money. Conversely, a lower power factor means that more current is needed to produce the same amount of power, resulting in higher energy costs.
The ideal power factor is 1, meaning that all of the current is being used efficiently. In the United States, the average power factor for commercial and industrial systems is 0.85, meaning that 15% of the current is being wasted. Improving the power factor to 0.95 or higher can result in significant energy savings.
Power factor can be improved by using power factor correction capacitors or other devices. Power factor correction can also be achieved by using more efficient motors, lighting, and other equipment. By improving the power factor of a system, electricians can help reduce energy costs and improve the efficiency of the system.
.The Origin of the Term 'Power Factor'
The term 'Power Factor' was first used in electrical engineering in the late nineteenth century. At the time, it was used to refer to the ratio between the actual electric power consumed by an electric circuit and the apparent power supplied to it. This ratio was used to determine the efficiency of a system.
The concept of power factor was first developed by German physicist Ernst Werner von Siemens in 1889. He proposed the idea to measure the efficiency of an electric circuit by taking the ratio of the actual power consumed by the circuit and the apparent power supplied to it. This ratio became known as the Siemens Power Factor.
In the early twentieth century, the term 'Power Factor' was adopted by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE). It was used in their standards to describe the ratio of the actual power consumed by an electric circuit to the apparent power supplied to it. The AIEE also established the standard rating of the power factor, which is 0.9.
Today, the term 'Power Factor' is used in many different contexts in electrical engineering and construction. It is used to describe the efficiency of an electrical system and to calculate the total power consumption of a system. The power factor is an important factor in determining the energy efficiency of many electrical systems.
