International Journal of Applied Power Engineering (IJAPE)

Vol. 12, No. 4, December 2023, pp. 367~372

ISSN: 2252-8792, DOI: 10.11591/ijape.v12.i4.pp367-372  367

Power factor improvement using silicon based switching devices

for changing load parameters

Popuri Rajani Kumari1, Kasula Rajasri2, Tadi Diwakara Subba Reddy2, Ambarapu Sudhakar2,
Bodapati Venkata Rajanna2
1
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, DVR & Dr. HS MIC College of Technology, Kanchikacherla, India
2
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, MLR Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, India

Article Info ABSTRACT

Article history: Systems power factor provides information on how effectively it uses the
electrical power being provided to hold out real work. Losses rise as a
Received Feb 23, 2023 results of poor power factor, and therefore the utility is penalized. In general,
Revised Jun 24, 2023 inductive loads, which are reactive in nature, make up AC loads. As a result,
Accepted Jun 26, 2023 loads require and consume reactive power from the supply source which
leads to excessive voltage drop in the line if they draw a lot of lagging
current from the source, which could potentially result in the line's voltage
Keywords: collapsing if the drop is too high. When inductors cause a phase difference
between voltage and current, the information is sent to the micro-controller,
Capacitor banks where the program takes control and activates the right number of opto-
Current transformer isolators interfaced to the triac silicon-based semiconductor device at its
Microcontroller output to bring shunt capacitors into the load circuit to improve power factor
Opto-isolators to the desired range Semiconductors such as silicon or germanium are
PZEM-004T generally used for making triac. The most commonly used is silicon, due to
Triac its high abundance and the fact that it can operate at a higher temperature
than germanium.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license.

Corresponding Author:
Popuri Rajani Kumari
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, DVR & Dr. HS MIC College of Technology
Kanchikacherla, Andhra Pradesh 521180, India
Email: [email protected]

1. INTRODUCTION
In general, AC loads are inductive loads that are reactive in nature. Inductance and capacitance are
other circuit factors that control current flow [1]. The majority of industrial loads are inductive, which
unnecessarily burdens the system by pulling lagging current. An electric network must maintain a constant
voltage profile and create lossless power systems [2]. The traditional way to balance reactive power is to use a
capacitor bank. When there is simply a resistive load in a circuit, the power factor is one, but when there is also
an inductive or capacitive load, it is less than one. Due to higher power at the utility grid end, the generation and
transmission costs rise when the power-factor is less than unity. As the load changes continuously, real-time
reactive power adjustment is necessary. When this occurs, a fixed capacitor may overcompensate, causing an
over voltage at the load end [3]. Therefore, a quick-acting device that can improve power factor and manage
reactive power is required; this is where flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices come
into play [4]. The FACTS device sometimes referred to as the flexible AC transmission system device, utilized
external circuits, including semiconductor devices, to produce regulated output. The STATCOM, static
synchronous series compensator (SSSC), and static VAR compensator (SVC) devices are the most well-known
ones. In this project, controlled output for power factor enhancement is achieved by using a SVC device [5].

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368  ISSN: 2252-8792

Shunt compensation circuits, or SVCs, are employed for regulated compensation. The SVC devices
use semiconductors like thyristors and triacs for controlled switching action and a reactor or capacitor to
compensate for reactive power. The following SVC configurations are possible: thyristor-controlled
reactor (TCR) and fixed capacitor combination; thyristor switched capacitor (TSC) and TSC combination;
TCR and TSC combination. Reactive power is produced, when necessary, by thyristor-controlled capacitors
or fixed capacitors, while surplus reactive power is absorbed by TCR’s [6].
A shunt-connected capacitor with a bidirectional thyristor valve to offer binary switching operation of
the capacitor in either entire or zero conduction of the shunted capacitor with the line is known as a thyristor
switched capacitor [7]. The thyristor valve and capacitor make up the TSC as shown in Figure 1. The capacitor
is connected in series with the thyristor circuit for controlled compensation. Typically, a small reactor serves as
a surge current limiter during abnormal conditions. These reactors can aid in preventing resonance by adjusting
the system impedance. The capacitor switches when the voltage across the thyristor is zero (minimum), and
under these circumstances, the capacitor is analogous to a capacitor that is either connected to or disconnected
from the line [8]. Thus, a number of parallel TSC branches (banks) are used to handle the current variation.

Figure 1. Thyristor switched capacitor (TSC)

2. METHODOLOGY
The Figure 2 shows the block diagram of power factor improvement using silicon-based switching
device for changing load parameters. The block diagram mainly consists of 2 components which are
monitoring component and TSC circuit. The system displays the power factor according to changes in the
load parameters. Arduino pins 10, 11, 12, 13 connect to the triac and opt isolator combo circuit. Through this
pin, a pulse signal is sent to the triac port to enable its operation. Pins 9 and 10 of the Arduino are connected
to the PZEM module to obtain data such as voltage, current and power factor [9]. The resistive load is
connected in parallel and the induction coil is connected in series with the resistance circuit. The TSC circuit
is connected in parallel with the load component to compensate for the shunt. The input voltage is connected
to the PZEM module and the load current is connected to the current transformer of the module which is used
to measure the power factor of the system [10]. The module works like this. When the circuit is powered, the
indicator lights up and display the power factor. When an inductive load is connected, the load parameters
change [11]. System settings can be viewed in the PZEM module [12]. An inductive load causes the current
to lag behind the voltage, lowering the power factor. This change is detected by the microcontroller.
Depending on the value of the power factor, apply the logic of the program and activate the required number
of triacs to break the capacitors in the circuits [13]. The capacitor discharges and brings the current in phase
with the voltage waveform to improve the overall power factor of the system [14].

Figure 2. Block diagram of power factor improvement using silicon-based switching

Int J Appl Power Eng, Vol. 12, No. 4, December 2023: 367-372
Int J Appl Power Eng ISSN: 2252-8792  369

3. WORKING MODEL OF TSC SYSTEM

The Figure 3 shows the working model of power factor improvement using silicon based switching
device for changing load parameters (TSC system). When the system is turned on the power factor of the
resistive load is displayed on the liquid crystal display (LCD). The change in load parameters is achieved by
switching the inductive loads. When the power factor decreases the information is sent to the Arduino by the
PZEM module [15]. When the power factor decreases to a certain level the microcontroller triggers the triac
circuit to bring the capacitor in shunt with the load [16]. The capacitor decreases the phase difference caused by
the inductive loads which improve the power factor of the system [17]. The power factor improvement is
controlled with the help of a microcontroller to avoid overcompensation. The change in power factor is
displayed in the LCD as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 3. Hardware model of TSC system Figure 4. Hardware model output

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As a result, the experiment carried out for changing load parameters in a single-phase ac system.
Table 1 shows the power factor of the circuit with and without TSC system for different load combination. The
Figure 5 shows graphical represents of power factor with and without TSC. The power factor without TSC is
less than 0.85, which is due to the presence of inductive loads [18]. The inductance opposes the change in
current that causes the current to lag with respect to the voltage, causing a lagging power factor [19]. If the
power factor is below the required range, the system efficiency will decrease. The power factor should be in the
range of 0.85 to 0.95 to maintain system stability [20]. The TSC system maintains the power factor in required
range therefore achieving improved and stable power factor.

Table 1. Performance of power factor improvement using silicon-based switching device

S. no Loads Vin (volts) Iout (amp) Power factor
(Before correction) (After correction)
1 R1 249 V 0.92 A 0.93 NIL
2 R1+L1 250 V 0.64 A 0.76 0.93
3 R1+L1+L2 251 V 0.62 A 0.59 0.95
4 (R1||R2) 250 V 1.22 A 0.95 NIL
5 (R1||R2)+L1 251 V 0.49 A 0.66 0.96
6 (R1||R2)+L1+L2 252 V 0.56 A 0.36 0.89

Figure 5. Graphical representation of power factor with and without TSC

Power factor improvement using silicon based switching devices for changing … (Popuri Rajani Kumari)
370  ISSN: 2252-8792

Table 2 shows the reactive power of the system with and without TSC. When TSC is not used then the
voltage drop across the load is equal to the supplied voltage [21]. The reactive power is calculated by (1).

𝑄 (𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒) = 𝑉 × 𝐼 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 (1)

Where, ‘𝑄’ is the reactive power in VAR, ‘𝑉’ is the voltage in volts, ‘𝐼’ is the current in amperes, and ‘𝜃’ is the
phase angle in degrees.

Table 2. Reactive power before and after compensation of the single-phase AC system
S.no Vin Vout Iout Phase angle in Phase angle in degrees Reactive power Reactive power
(volts) (volts) (amp) degrees (after correction), (before corrections), (after corrections),
(before correction) (degrees) (VAR) (VAR)
1 250 V 309 V 0.64 A 40.53 21.56 103.97 72.67
2 251 V 284 V 0.62 A 53.84 18.19 125.6 54.96
3 251 V 291 V 0.49 A 48.7 16.26 92.39 39.92
4 252 V 259 V 0.56 A 68.89 21.12 136.35 54.12

Power factor of the system is obtained from (2) which varies for changing load parameters:

𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 (2)

when TSC is used due to shunt capacitors the voltage is boosted and output voltage is more than supplied
voltage. Similar to the above case the reactive power can be calculated. When compared the reactive power with
TSC system is less than the system without TSC [22].
The Figure 6 shows graphical representation of reactive power with and without TSC. The reactive
power of the system with TSC is less than that of the system without TSC [23]. This shows that the system with
TSC has more efficiency as most of the power utilized in the system is real power and very less amount of
power is consumed by the reactive components during change in load parameters [24], [25]. Through this power
factor and reactive power control can be achieved.

Figure 6. Graphical representation of reactive power with and without TSC

5. CONCLUSION
Power factor improvement using TSC is required for maintaining the system stability by controlling
the power factor of the system. Use of capacitor banks makes it cost effective and triac switching provides us
controlled compensation. Compared to other compensation methods the TSC provides fast switching action
which can be used for continuous systems for maintaining constant power factor during change in load
parameters. The above provides us the power factor value of single-phase ac system with and without TSC,
demonstrating that the power factor improvement using silicon based switching device provides stable and
controlled power factor value at change in load parameters.

Int J Appl Power Eng, Vol. 12, No. 4, December 2023: 367-372
Int J Appl Power Eng ISSN: 2252-8792  371

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BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS

Dr. Popuri Rajani Kumari received M. Tech. from Acharya Nagarjuna

University, Guntur in 2010. She received Ph.D. from K.L. University in 2021. She is currently
working as Associate Professor in the Department of ECE at DVR and Dr. HS MIC College of
Technology, Kanchikacherla. She can be contacted at email: [email protected].

Kasula Rajasri currently working as an Assistant Professor in Department of

EEE, MLRIT, Dundigal, TS and obtained her B. Tech. in EEE, VJIT, Hyderabad, M. Tech.
from JNTUH University, Hyderabad. Her research area focusses on power electronics, power
semi-conductor drives, switch gear protection and basic electrical engineering. She has
published a paper titled "Performance Analysis of Hybrid HVDC Transmission DC Motor Fed
DC-DC Converter with High Step-Up Voltage Gain”. She can be contacted at email:
[email protected].

Tadi Diwakara Subba Reddy currently pursuing B. Tech. in Department of

Electrical and Electronics Engineering at MLR Institute of Technology, Dundigal, Hyderabad,
India. He demonstrated his active participation in numerous events hosted by his college, such
as critical thinking workshops, and hackathons. at MLRIT. He has undertaken diverse projects,
such as a microcontroller-based distance and area measuring device. His areas of expertise and
keen interests revolve around transmission systems and power electronics. He can be contacted
at email: [email protected].

Dr. Ambarapu Sudhakar since 2019 as Professor and Head of the Electrical and
Electronics Engineering Department at MLR Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana,
India. He taught engineering colleges for 17 years. He likes electric drives, and clever
controllers. He has several patents and research articles in indexed journals. Research earned
him the 2016 INDUS Research Excellence Award. He wrote a textbook and offered expert
webinars and conferences. He organized state and national conferences with Indian
government subsidies. He can be contacted at email: [email protected].

Dr. Bodapati Venkata Rajanna received B. Tech. degree in Electrical and

Electronics Engineering from Chirala Engineering College, JNTU, Kakinada, India, in 2010,
M. Tech. degree in Power Electronics and Drives from Koneru Lakshmaiah Education
Foundation, Guntur, India, in 2015 and Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at
Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Guntur, India, in 2021. Currently, he is working as
an Associate Professor at MLR Institute of Technology, Hyderabad. His current research
includes, dynamic modeling of batteries for renewable energy storage, electric vehicles and
portable electronics applications, renewable energy sources integration with battery energy
storage systems (BESS), smart metering and smart grids, micro-grids, automatic meter reading
(AMR) devices, GSM/GPRS, and PLC (power line carrier) communication and various
modulation techniques such as QPSK, BPSK, ASK, FSK, OOK and GMSK. He can be
contacted at email: [email protected].

Int J Appl Power Eng, Vol. 12, No. 4, December 2023: 367-372