What component needs to be added in parallel for correcting the power factor of three-phase loads?

To correct the power factor of three-phase loads, capacitance must be added in parallel with the load. When electrical loads, particularly inductive loads such as motors and transformers, are supplied, they often have a lagging power factor due to the reactive power associated with inductance. This lagging power factor means that the current lags behind the voltage, creating inefficiencies in the power system.

By adding capacitors in parallel, you introduce a leading power factor, which helps to counteract the lagging effects of the inductive loads. The capacitors provide reactive power that can offset the inductive reactance, bringing the overall power factor closer to unity (1.0). This correction not only improves the efficiency of the power system but also helps in reducing losses and optimizing the capacity of the electrical infrastructure.

Other options do not provide the same corrective function. Resistance, for instance, doesn’t introduce any reactive power component and thus cannot improve the power factor. Inductance would exacerbate the lagging condition instead, making it even more inefficient. Reactance, while related, is a more general term that could refer to both inductive and capacitive reactance but does not specify the necessary correction method for achieving an improved power factor. Therefore,