| In recent years, we've seen a push to improve | | | | energy we are given and the energy we are |
| how efficiently we use our energy. But, is | | | | using for something useful becomes larger, we |
| this proliferation of energy saving programs | | | | increase the amount of wasted energy. |
| and incentives really helping to alleviate | | | | |
| the energy crisis we're facing. If it is, is | | | | This is where the term efficiency comes in. |
| it enough? Is buying energy saving lights and | | | | If efficiency is defined by the utilization |
| appliances really going help us decrease the | | | | of a commodity in the best possible manner |
| number of generating facilities we require to | | | | while providing the least amount of waste, |
| provide us with the energy we need now and in | | | | then we need to consider bringing these two |
| the future? Should we be confident that our | | | | values (KVA and KW closer together). A simple |
| politicians really understand how to fix our | | | | decrease in productive energy (KW) does not |
| current and future energy situation? | | | | necessarily improve the efficiency of the |
| | | | electrical system. |
| I suppose we could take the position that | | | | |
| every little bit helps. I can't deny that no | | | | Consider the following: |
| matter how much or how little we save, it is | | | | |
| better than doing nothing! But we have to | | | | A facility requires 800KW of productive power |
| question if the organizations and authorities | | | | to operate. In order to get this productive |
| providing these incentives are taking the | | | | power the generator is required to provide |
| best approach to solving our energy problems. | | | | 1000KVA of total power. This means that the |
| | | | facility is only 80% efficient, or we can say |
| How is it that we can expect someone without | | | | it has a power factor of 80%. |
| experience or understanding in technical | | | | |
| arena of electricity to make competent | | | | Out of this 1000KVA of total power, 20% is |
| decisions about the future of energy in North | | | | being wasted by producing no work at all. If |
| America? This is where the root of our | | | | we improve the level of efficiency (power |
| problem begins. Hopefully someone, somewhere | | | | factor) to 95%, the generator is only |
| with the ability to influence policy will | | | | required to provide 842KVA of total power to |
| stumble across this article and begin to | | | | get the same amount of productive work (KW). |
| think about the effectiveness of our current | | | | The result of this is an additional 158KW of |
| position towards reducing energy demand. | | | | potential power to distribute elsewhere. |
| | | | |
| In power distribution there are two key terms | | | | It is the understanding of this very concept |
| used to measure our demand for energy. The | | | | that we need to understand in order to |
| first is KVA (kilovolt-amperes), which is | | | | improve our energy situation and to answer |
| used to express the total amount of power | | | | our question about the effectiveness of these |
| being generated and provided to the consumer. | | | | programs. Power Factor will provide us with a |
| The second is KW (kilowatts), which is used | | | | real measure of how efficiently we are using |
| to express the amount of power the consumer | | | | our energy right now and will allow us to |
| converts in to work. The ratio between these | | | | compare how well these incentives are working |
| two terms is known as Power Factor and is | | | | to improve our efficiency. |
| directly related to the amount of KVAR or | | | | |
| reactive power in the electrical system. This | | | | Although brief and only meant as an |
| Reactive power (KVAR) produces no work and is | | | | introduction, I sincerely hope that this |
| only used to provide the magnetic field used | | | | article will bring new light to how we view |
| to power many types of equipment. Since it | | | | and manage this serious energy problem we |
| produces no work, it can be considered as | | | | face not only for today, but for our future. |
| wasted energy. As the difference between the | | | | |