Schnitzer Steel Industries
Schnitzer Steel Industries is in the business of recycling metal. Recently, Schnitzer Steel's average facility power factor was 85% lagging. This resulted in a large monthly power factor penalty charge. Contributing to the low power factor was a newly added 7,000HP shredder with a large number of smaller induction motors.
Schnitzer Steel hired PowerStudies, Inc to perform a power factor correction analysis to improve the facility power factor and eliminate the power factor penalty charge. There were three existing power factor correction capacitor banks. PowerStudies, Inc made two site visits and found that one of the banks (1,200kVAR) was not being used. PowerStudies, Inc recommended that this bank be brought on line. Subsequent to PowerStudies, Inc 's analysis, the power factor at Schnitzer Steel increased to 97-98%.