Improvement of Power Factor with Automated Strategic Power Factor Correction at Institutional Buildings

Power factor is a critical parameter in determining the efficiency of an electrical system, as it directly influences energy consumption, operational costs, and overall system stability. A low power factor, typically below 0.85, leads to increased energy losses, higher electricity bills, and financial penalties imposed by utility providers. At Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), various inductive and motor-driven electrical loads contribute significantly to power factor degradation. This research investigates the underlying causes of low power factor in UTeM’s buildings and evaluates the effectiveness of three power factor correction (PFC) methods named passive correction using automatic capacitor banks, synchronous condensers, and shunt active power filters. Real load data from selected campus buildings is processed using Microsoft Excel and imported into MATLAB Simulink to proceed with the simulation process. The model includes an automatic controller, designed to monitor real-time power factor values and switch capacitor banks accordingly to achieve optimal correction. The simulation results demonstrated that the automated capacitor bank method significantly improves the power factor performance, especially during light-load or off-peak conditions. By addressing suitable reactive power demand and minimizing power losses, the proposed approach contributed to more efficient energy usage.