The importance of the power factor to LED high bay luminaire

Time：2015-10-05　Views：4531　Compile：SUNPER

The power factor of the LED high bay luminaire have got so many benefits. However, in order to understand the benefits of the power you first need to know what some terms mean as they are mostly used in the LED lamp power factor. They include the following.

The power factor

This is the ability of the output active power of the lamp. Power is the measure of the rate at which the energy transfers and it is usually in the DC circuit voltage V and current A and also the product. The AC system has a complicated part as it does not transmit electricity. This is due to the harmonic current or reactance current that makes the apparent power to be greater than the normal power. The apparent unequal power and the real power lead to the power factor. Thus, the power factor is usually equal to the real power as well as the apparent power ratio.

Therefore, the AC system power is usually equal to the product of the actual apparent power by the power factor. It is only the power factor heaters and light bulbs which have a linear load 1. Most of the actual power of many devices usually has a very small difference which is negligible. Capacitive devices such as lamps have big difference. A recent US study showed that the apparent power of the lamp power factor of 0.65 typical is 50 percent.

Apparent power

This is the product of the AC current and the AC voltage and it is usually expressed by the formula S=UI. S represents the rated output power and its units are VA (Volt-ampere), U represents the rated output voltage and its unit is V such as 220V while I represents the rated output current and its unit is A. The apparent power comprises of two parts that include the active power P as well as the reactive power Q. 

The active power means the power that has become acting after heat and can be felt by people directly. It is usually represented by the formula P=Scos-UIcos=UI F where P is the active power and its units are W(W); F=cos known as the power factor. It is actually the phase difference of the phase voltage npn-linear load current. The reactive power is usually stored in the circuit and does not act directly by the part represented by the formula Q=Ssin=UIsin where Q is the reactive power and its units are var (VARs).

The reactive power

Most of the users believe that the LED high bay luminaire only require active power without necessarily requiring the reactive power. They tend to think that the power factor is the best lighting since it gives the maximum output power while actually this is not the case. The truth is that if there is a LED high bay lluminaire when the AC mains input is rectified, a pulsating DC voltage is obtained. To ensure proper working of the LED high bay luminaire, there must be a smoothed DC voltage. The smooth work should be connected to the back of the lamp rectifier capacitor to act as a reservoir capacitor which should store enough charges to ensure a normal level is well maintained. 

Therefore, you should ensure proper use of the active circuit in order to achieve the normal use. Generally, the lamp not only needs the active power but also the reactive power since both of them are indispensable.

Tags: LED high bay lluminaire, power factor, led lamp

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