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Electrician Red Seal · Question

A facility is considering installing a synchronous motor to drive a large compressor. The motor's capability curve indicates it can operate at a leading power factor. If the existing plant power factor is 0.85 lagging, how would operating this synchronous motor potentially at a leading power factor benefit the overall plant electrical system?

Synchronous motors can be over-excited to operate at a leading power factor, meaning they supply reactive power to the system. This leading reactive power can d

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Question: A facility is considering installing a synchronous motor to drive a large compressor. The motor's capability curve indicates it can operate at a leading power factor. If the existing plant power factor is 0.85 lagging, how would operating this synchronous motor potentially at a leading power factor benefit the overall plant electrical system?

Answer options:

  • It would decrease the mechanical complexity of the compressor drive. ✅ It could reduce the need for external power factor correction capacitors.
  • It would increase the plant's overall energy consumption.
  • It makes the plant's distribution system immune to voltage fluctuations.

Correct answer: It could reduce the need for external power factor correction capacitors.

Explanation: Synchronous motors can be over-excited to operate at a leading power factor, meaning they supply reactive power to the system. This leading reactive power can directly offset the lagging reactive power drawn by other inductive loads in the plant, thereby improving the overall plant power factor without requiring additional capacitor banks.

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