Microcontroller based Automatic Power Factor Correction System for Power Quality Improvement

Microcontroller Based Automatic Power Factor Correction for Single-Phase Lagging and Leading Loads

“…Power Factor (PF) is a critical performance indicator of the power quality in AC power systems [1,2]. The PF of an electrical load is defined as the ratio between the real and apparent power of the load [1][2][3]. The PF can have any value between 0 and 1.…”

“…It is a process that makes the PF of a load close to 1. With the PF correction, the load current is minimized without changing the real power consumed by the load [1,8]. So, the load continues to make the same work by the drawn electrical energy with a relatively smaller amount of current when compared with the uncompensated case.…”

“…Although there are some expensive solutions to handle the reactive power compensation function, the capacitors are still used globally due to their simplicity and low cost. When compared, the capacitors are much cheaper and easier to implement than static var compensators, static synchronous compensators, and active power filters [1][2][3]. On the other hand, many studies proposed the use of a microcontroller to improve the PF of only lagging loads by adding parallel connected capacitor banks to the load [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…When compared, the capacitors are much cheaper and easier to implement than static var compensators, static synchronous compensators, and active power filters [1][2][3]. On the other hand, many studies proposed the use of a microcontroller to improve the PF of only lagging loads by adding parallel connected capacitor banks to the load [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Arduino Uno has been used to improve only the lagging load by using capacitor connection in parallel with only the inductive load [1,6,7] and to improve the PF of different loads by using filter and capacitor bank [8].…”

“…On the other hand, many studies proposed the use of a microcontroller to improve the PF of only lagging loads by adding parallel connected capacitor banks to the load [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Arduino Uno has been used to improve only the lagging load by using capacitor connection in parallel with only the inductive load [1,6,7] and to improve the PF of different loads by using filter and capacitor bank [8]. PIC18F452 type microcontroller for the correction of the PF in constant level of load was proposed in [2].…”