Power factor

Power factor as the cosφ in the triangle

In electricity, the power factor (PF or cosφ) is the ratio between the power that can be used in electric circuit (real power, P) and the power from the result of multiplication between the current and voltage circuit (apparent power, S). The power factor is defined as:

${\frac {P}{S}}$

PF ranges from zero to one. The higher the PF, the more efficient the circuit is because more power can be used, and vice versa. Factors that can cause PF to be less than one is non-linear load, which are capacitive load and inductive load.

Practical applications of power factor

Power factor plays an important role in the performance, efficiency and cost of electrical systems across different sectors. In many applications, maintaining a high power factor reduces current draw, minimises transmission losses, and improves the utilisation of electrical infrastructure. The typical ranges and significance of power factor in common fields are shown below .

Field/Application	Typical Power Factor Range
Power Distribution	0.8-0.95
Industrial Motors	0.7-0.9
Data Centers	0.9-0.98
Healthcare Facilities	0.85-0.95
Transportation	0.8-0.95
Renewable Energy	0.95-1.0
Manufacturing Plants	0.7-0.9
Commercial Buildings	0.8-0.92