What are the hazards of an excessively high or low power factor during generator operation

Generally, the power factor of a diesel generator is 0.8. If the diesel generator output is 50kw, its apparent power is 100kva. An excessively high or low power factor can damage the generator.

1. If the power factor is too high, that is, reactive power is too low, it will affect the generator's steady-state stability. This improves economy, but in the long run it does so at the cost of increasing the probability of accidents. Once a sudden incident occurs, the generator may be subjected to disturbance or oscillation, and may lose synchronism. Too little reactive power will cause the generator terminal voltage to drop. The current drawn by motors will increase, making the voltage even lower, leading to a vicious cycle that may cause the entire system to lose stable operating conditions and collapse.

2. If the power factor is too low, that is, reactive power is too high, the excitation current will increase, the rotor winding temperature will rise, and generator service life will be shortened. In addition, power loss during transmission increases. Generator losses also increase: generator terminal voltage rises, magnetic flux density in the iron core increases, losses also increase, the iron core temperature rises, generator output will be limited, and the generator's efficiency is greatly reduced.

It is recommended to operate the diesel generator set reasonably in accordance with the user manual, replace the three filters and other parts regularly and in a timely manner, and carry out maintenance promptly.

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