Could someone explain this to me?

nuckythompson

Member
Location
Nova Scotia
Occupation
Electrical
Leading power factor current produces a magnetizing effect, which means that less field current is required to produce rated voltage. Lagging power factor produces a demagnetizing effect, requiring additional field current to maintain the magnetic field level and thus rated voltage. (This is why lagging power factor load results in increased rotor heating.)

How does inductive and capacitive load have magnetization effects on a generator? I am thinking of inductor circuits building magnetic fields but cant put this together.

Thanks :)
 

David Castor

Senior Member
Location
Washington, USA
Occupation
Electrical Engineer
The only thing that the generator knows about the loads is the voltage, current and relative phase angle between them *at the generator*. The equivalent impedance of the loads determines the generator power factor. The generator always has a magnetic field in the air gap inducing voltage in the stator.
 
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