Power Conditioner Also Provides
Power Factor Correction

The PowerWorx Clean Power Systems (CPS) unit manufactured by Continental Power Corporation, is a power-conditioning device that provides power factor correction, noise filtration, and surge and spike protection to inductive AC power systems. The units are produced for applications ranging from 600-volt three-phase units to 120-volt single-phase residential units.

The Technology

PowerWorx representative Elliott McCoy explains how the technology works: "There are three major electrical efforts taking place inside the Powerworx CPS unit. One is noise filtration and harmonics dampening through capacitors, inductors, and filter circuits. The second is surge protection via metal oxide varistors and capacitors, and last is power factor correction through the use of proven technologies integrated into a single device."

PowerWorx CPS provides both power conditioning and power factor correction. Power conditioning provides cleaner power, while power factor correction makes power utilization more effective. As a power conditioning device, the CPS is designed to eliminate unwanted bumps and spikes and protect against voltage "transients," generally smoothing out the power, while also adjusting the phase of power to help inductive load machinery run more efficiently.

Performance Test Results

The PowerWorx CPS unit was tested on a 100-hp motor by the Motor Systems Resource Facility, a designated ERPI/Bonneville Power Administration Center at Oregon State University. Power system measurements were obtained from lab tests for a range of typical load conditions, with and without the CPS in operation. Dr. Alan K. Wallace, OSU, led the testing effort.

The tests performed by the Motor Systems Resource Facility on the PowerWorx PCS applied to a 100-horsepower motor provided the following results:

• power factor was improved from 88% to 96% at full load and from 62% to 97% at 25% partial load

• electric currents were reduced from 115.2 amps to 105.0 amps at full load and from 41.5 amps to 26.6 amps at 25% partial load

• power supplied (kW) was reduced from 80.77 kW to 80.54 kW at full load and was increased from 20.57 kW to 20.62 kW at 25% partial load.

According to the Motor Systems Resource Facility test, correct use of the PowerWorx CPS units should yield the following benefits to industrial power users and utilities:

• reduction of power factor penalties in the utility bill

• improved power distribution equipment life

• improved voltage stability to other equipment

• improved electrical capacity of the facility.

For more information

For more information about PowerWorx Clean Power Systems products, contact

Corrected Information

For Further Information

FEMP Help Desk

General Contact

Technical Contact

Produced for the U.S. Department of Energy by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

September 1998

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The Technology Focuses are sponsored by the United States Department of Energy, Office of Federal Energy Management Programs. Neither the United States Government nor any agency or contractor thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, mark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency or contractor thereof. The view and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency or contractor thereof.