Power factor

The power factor of an AC electrical power system is defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to the load to the apparent power in the circuit,[1][2] and is a dimensionless number between 0 and 1. Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and voltage of the circuit. Due to energy stored in the load and returned to the source, or due to a non-linear load that distorts the wave shape of the current drawn from the source, the apparent power will be greater than the real power. In an electric power system, a load with a low power factor draws more current than a load with a high power factor for the same amount of useful power transferred. The higher currents increase the energy lost in the distribution system, and require larger wires and other equipment. Because of the costs of larger equipment and wasted energy, electrical utilities will usually charge a higher cost to industrial or commercial customers where there is a low power factor. Linear loads with low power factor (such as induction motors) can be corrected with a passive network of capacitors or inductors. Non-linear loads, such as rectifiers, distort the current drawn from the system. In such cases, active or passive power factor correction may be used to counteract the distortion and raise the power factor. The devices for correction of the power factor may be at a central substation, spread out over a distribution system, or built into power-consuming equipment In a purely resistive AC circuit, voltage and current waveforms are in step (or in phase), changing polarity at the same instant in each cycle. All the power entering the load is consumed. Where reactive loads are present, such as with capacitors or inductors, energy storage in the loads results in a time difference between the current and voltage waveforms. During each cycle of the AC voltage, extra energy, in addition to any energy consumed in the load, is temporarily stored in the load in electric or magnetic fields, and then returned to the power grid a fraction of a second later in the cycle. The "ebb and flow" of this nonproductive power increases the current in the line. Thus, a circuit with a low power factor will use higher currents to transfer a given quantity of real power than a circuit with a high power factor. A linear load does not change the shape of the waveform of the current, but may change the relative timing (phase) between voltage and current. Circuits containing purely resistive heating elements (filament lamps, cooking stoves, etc.) have a power factor of 1.0. Circuits containing inductive or capacitive elements (electric motors, solenoid valves, lamp ballasts, and others ) often have a power factor below 1.0.

Why 50 hz
The utility frequency, (power) line frequency (American English) or mains frequency (British English) is the frequency of the oscillations of alternating current (AC) in an electric power grid transmitted from a power plant to the end-user. In most parts of the world this is 50 Hz, although in the Americas it is typically 60 Hz. Current usage by country or region is given in the list of mains power around the world.

During the development of commercial electric power systems in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many different frequencies (and voltages) had been used. Large investment in equipment at one frequency made standardization a slow process. However, as of the turn of the 21st century, places that now use the 50 Hz frequency tend to use 220-240 V, and those that now use 60 Hz tend to use 100-120 V. Both frequencies coexist today (Japan uses both) with no great technical reason to prefer one over the other [1] and no apparent desire for complete worldwide standardization. Unless specified by the manufacturer to operate on both 50 and 60 Hz, appliances may not operate efficiently or even safely if used on anything A lot of points are factored when a utility decides to choose 50 or 60 hertz, sometimes it may even been a political rather than a technical one. We have seen various types of wars on measurements types of units used or have been an interested but an innocent invitee in format wars in electronics like 8 track v/s cassette, v2000 (an excellent system) V/s the betamax (also with some notable features) and the vhs. Now we are also extended into the video disc formats. However if we were to look closely many of us will agree that 60hz is a good choice. All inductors and motors could be smaller, and the benefits will encompass a wide array of electrical and electronic goods to which the changes will almost be transparent. But it should be noted that most critical and large capital intensive plants and machinery, including certain medical equipment, will not take too kindly to such a change, which, besides straying from the critical specs, or worse still may give up altogether, unless expensive time consuming replacement or an equally complicated and efficient cycle converter is installed before the system is connected to the mains. As a historical note, 60Hz was originally chosen in the US to help market AC power systems to customers. The ploy was that a clock could run using a synchronous AC motor and at 60Hz, the gear mechanism would be greatly simplified. Then the job of keeping accurate time fell to the electricity company by maintaining a constant frequency. Prior to this, many different frequencies had been tried. As regards 50 Hz in India it is descendant of the British Imperial system. Technically speaking operating 50 Hz versus 60 Hz would not make much difference but, to achieve it, either the prime movers - for example steam turbines, gas turbines and diesel engines - would need to be able to tolerate a 20% increase in speed or the alternators they drive - which produce the electricity - would need to be completely rebuilt with extra poles and windings so that they could continue to run at the same rotational speed. The costs of doing such reengineering would be enormous and could not be justified as "economically worthwhile" from the point of view of actual necessity, quite apart from the severe problems which would be caused to assuring operational continuity of service whilst such changes were made.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_the_frequency_of_current_50Hz_in_India_against_60Hz _in_the_USA_What_should_be_done_to_make_it_60Hz_in_India#ixzz23z9b5pemother than the intended frequency.