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Power Factor and Harmonics
voltage rise during periods of light load, and some may have tariffs
that discriminate against leading power factors, too. The same kVA
capacity is required for a given leading load power factor as for a lag-
ging one.
Some plant engineers have a pathological fear of a leading power
factor for reasons the author could never fathom. In point of fact, no
load has any idea what the power factor is and couldn’t care less. It
has been scientifically proven that leading power factors do not cause
illness to machines or humans. The only possible concern for a lead-
ing power factor is overvoltage at light load if the power factor goes
too far leading.
In a large plant, power factor correction can be applied at the inter ...