Capacitor kVAR required to raise a load’s power factor from pf₁ to a target pf₂.
Formula
$$ Q_c = P \cdot (\tan\varphi_1 - \tan\varphi_2) $$
Symbol legend
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| $P$ | Real power of the load | kW | wattmeter |
| $\varphi_1, \varphi_2$ | Existing and target phase angles | ° | derived |
| $Q_c$ | Capacitor kVAR to install | kVAR | result |
Sources
- IEEE 18 - Shunt power capacitors.