Power factor is the measure of how effectively your electrical equipment converts electric current (supplied by your power utility) into useful power output.
It is the ratio of active power to the apparent power of an electrical installation.
The active power consumed by an electrical device is used to perform a useful power output.
Inductive devices (such as electric motors, transformers, lighting ballasts, ...) also consume reactive power in order to create a magnetic field. This magnetic field does not perform any "useful" work, but is required in oerder for the device to work

Inductive devices need more power then they convert into active power. An induction motor convert only 80 to 90% of the power into active energy.
The remaining power (reactive power) is used to create a magnetic field in the motor.
The ratio of the active power to the reactive power is called "power factor".

Harmonics are mains failures caused by non linear loads such as pc's, direct current motors, rectifiers, thyristors, ...
These currents appear at frequencies multiple of 50Hz (150Hz, 250Hz, 350Hz, ...). Often we speak of the third (3 x 50Hz), fifth (5 x 50Hz), ... harmonic. These currents influence and disturb the final shape of the sine.
Due to these harmonics, the current source has to provide more energy than necessary; extra heating is produced and interferences occur in electrical equipment.

THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) is a number that represent the harmonic pollution.
It is the ratio of the sum of the square of all harmonic capacities to the square of the fundamental value.
It is expressed in %.
Harmonic pollution on the voltage = THD(U)%
Harmonic pollution on the current =THD(I)%
The lower the THD, the better !
 

Yes !
The power factor is mentioned on the electricity invoice of most electricity suppliers.If the power factor is less than 0.9, a surcharge for reactive consumption (penalty) is added. This amount can be quite important.

Pay-back period for investments in well designed power factor correction systems is usually between 1 and 2 years. Power factor correction equipment of good quality has a life expectancy of at least 10 - 12 years.

Power factor correction reduces the total current drawn from an electrical distribution network. Consequently, the heat or transmission losses incurred on these systems, are reduced. Power factor correction therefor has a minor impact on the CO₂ emission.

Based on an analysis of some electrical invoices and a measurement of some parameters in site, Comar Benelux can determine the good dimensioned capacitor bank. The best is to contact us.

Yes !
Each electricity supplier has to pay distribution costs to the grid operator. The surcharge for reactive consumption (or a bad power factor) is included in this distribution cost.

Comar Benelux tries, within a visit in site, to map the consumption of the electrical installation. We ask if there will be any extensions in the long run (PV installations, extra machinery, ...)
After the assembling of all tis information, a certain type of automatic capacitor bank will be proposed.
You, as client, have the absolute guarantee that you will have the most optimal correction of the power factor.
 

The function of a an anti-harmonic blocking reactor is to protect the capacitors against harmonics.
The reactor is adjusted to a frequency smaller than the first most important harmonic in rank 5 (= H5 (250 Hz)).
This results in a decrease of the current harmonics and the removal of the
anti-resonance to a less dangerous frequency so that the capacitors are protected.