• COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF A TWO-UNIT AUTOMATIC POWER FACTOR CONTROLLER SYSTEM WITH VARIATION IN POWER FACTOR AND OCCURRENCE OF NO OTHER EVENT DURING INSPECTION

Abstract

Failures and financial constraints of complex power systems need the use of probabilistic methods to calculate reliability indices of system effectiveness. The present paper deals with probabilistic analysis of Automatic Power Factor Controller (APFC) working in industrial companies. The power factor correction of electrical loads and energy losses due to poor power factor are the problems common to all industrial companies. To control poor power factor, Automatic Power Factor Controller (APFC) systems are installed in such companies. Here, a system comprising of two identical cold standby units have been analyzed using semi-Markov processes and regenerative point technique. Initially, the system is operative with controlled power factor. Then it may transit to a state with uncontrolled power factor or it may undergo inspection on failure. The inspection is carried out to detect the type of failure which can be due to fuse blown off, transformer burnt, programming problem, output relay faulty. Out of above mentioned failures, first two are irreparable while last two are repairable. It is also assumed that during inspection, no other event takes place. The various reliability indices of system effectiveness are obtained and economic analysis is done to increase the profit of users of such systems graphically.