This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to select low voltage (LV) power factor correction equipment.

It includes preparing and selecting (sizing) power factor correction equipment for commercial and/or industrial installations and documenting the selection of the equipment.

The correction equipment is limited to the capacitive type, including control devices/systems, including contactors or solid-state types.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare to select power factor correction equipment

1.1

Scope of the electrical installation is determined from job specifications and/or appropriate person/s

1.2

Work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) electrical installation requirements and relevant industry standards are identified and applied

1.3

Cable routes, route lengths of cables and conditions of the wiring system for operation are determined from job specifications and/or appropriate person/s

2

Select power factor correction equipment

2.1

Wiring systems are selected for suitability of the environments

2.2

Cable conductor sizes are selected for current-carrying capacity requirements, voltage-drop and earth fault-loop impedance limitations

2.3

Circuit protective devices are selected to meet job specifications for coordination with conductor current-carrying capacity

2.4

Earthing system components are selected for the multiple earth neutral (MEN) system

2.5

Evidence of the electrical equipment selected is obtained in accordance with WHS/OHS safety requirements

3

Complete documentation

3.1

Evidence from manufacturer/supplier of the selected electrical equipment is obtained in accordance with WHS/OHS safety requirements

3.2

Selection justification and calculations are documented in accordance with workplace procedures

3.3

Electrical installation arrangement and manufacturer specifications for selected items are documented in accordance with workplace procedures and forwarded to appropriate person/s

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

determining the extent and nature of the installation from job specifications

obtaining and understanding the safety and other regulatory requirements to which the electrical installation shall comply

determining power factor correction equipment using graphical or mathematical methods

selecting wiring system suitable for the environment requirements

selecting cable conductor sizes in consideration to current-carrying capacity and voltage-drop/earth fault-loop limitation

ensuring coordination between circuit protective device and conductor current-carrying capacity

selecting compliant earthing system components

documenting equipment and systems requirements to be used, specification for items selected and reasons for the selections made

dealing with unplanned events

applying relevant industry standards

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, including using risk control measures

documenting power factor correction equipment installation details

following workplace procedures

performing relevant industry calculations

selecting power factor correction equipment, including:

obtaining and applying safety and relevant industry standards

selecting power factor correction equipment.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and include knowledge of:

power factor correction — equipment selection, including:

definitions, concept of power factor and reasons for improving power factor

situations leading to reduction of power factor

consequences of poor power factor encompassing:

demand tariff costs

non-compliance with national service provider (NSP) and system energy loss

design considerations encompassing:

special conditions existing and the suitability for power factor correction (PFC) such as existence of distortion due to electronic loads, uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems, and power generation facilities or complex electronic loads

load profile and the nature of the load in all operating modes and with all possible sources of supply using three phase power recorders

power supply quality issues in terms of voltage and frequency stability

calculation of corrective VARs

circuit protection issues and safety

nominal location and arrangement

types of capacitors to be used

use of synchronous motor for large installations

possibility of resonance

discharge measures

types of PFC controls

low voltage (LV) PFC, high voltage (HV) PFC and solid-state switched

compliance with Australian Standards (AS) encompassing:

AS 1013-1971 Shunt capacitors for connection to power frequency systems

AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)

AS/NZS 3947 Low voltage switchgear and control gear

testing and commissioning of power factor equipment, including controls

relevant industry calculations

relevant industry standards

relevant job safety assessments or risk mitigation processes

relevant manufacturer specifications and operating instructions

relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements

relevant workplace documentation

relevant workplace policies and procedures.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in suitable workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated suitable workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, facilities, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry

applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, equipment specifications, regulations, relevant industry standards, codes of practice and operation manuals.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Selecting power factor correction equipment must include at least two different power factor installations from the following:

LV installation using contactor switching

LV installation using solid-state switching

high voltage (HV) installation using contactor switching

HV installation using solid-state switching

Electrotechnology

Electrical