Concept of best energy transfer scenario and a true expression for power factor

The best energy transfer scenario (BETS) is a situation under which the optimum transfer of power (or energy) from the electric utility to an electric power consumer is achieved. Such a scenario is important because it is used as a reference point to evaluate how efficient the load operates. The index of power factor (PF) is used to quantify such an efficiency. The closer the PF to unity corresponds to more efficient performance of the load. This paper is to show that the conventional definition of the BETS is inadequate and results in an unfair value for the PF unless the transmission line is perfect and lossless (which is an unrealistic condition). The paper also investigates an alternative definition for the BETS which exists in the literature. The paper concludes that the second definition of BETS is also inadequately used and the line losses are overlooked in the existing formulations. However, the paper shows that the second BETS can be modified and properly used to calculate a fair value for the PF in realistic conditions without overlooking the impact of transmission line losses.