Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)

Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

Automatic Power Factor Detection And Correction using Aurdino

Pratik Chavhan, Anuraj Patil, Omkar Patil , Divyanshu Thakare

Prof. Sachin Datey

Department of Electrical Engineering of SKN SINHGAD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY &

SCIENCE KUSGAON(bk)

***
Abstarct:
This project is mainly proposed for reducing the power loss in industries by using
power factor compensation through a number of shunt capacitors. Power factor is defined as
the ratio of real power to apparent power. So, the increase in reactive power (real power)
increases the apparent power , so the power factor also decreases. By having low power factor
the industry needs more energy to meet its demand, so the efficiency decreases. In this system
we proposed the time lag between zero voltage pulse and zero current pulse delay generated
by suitable op-amp circuits in comparator mode and fed into two interrupt pins in
microcontroller. Microcontroller displays the power loss due to inductive load on the LCD.
This process is continuously actuate until the power loss would be zero by using relays which
is used to bring the shunt capacitors into load circuit. 8-bit microcontroller is used in this
project which belongs to AVR family.

INTRODUCTION:
In the present technological revolution, power is very precious and the power system isbecoming
more and more complex with each passing day. As such it becomes necessary to transmit each
unit of power generated over increasing distances with minimum loss of power.However, with
increasing number of inductive loads, large variation in load etc. the losses havealso increased
manifold. Hence, it has become prudent to find out the causes of power loss andimprove the power
system. Due to increasing use of inductive loads, the load power factor decreases considerably
which increases the losses in the system and hence power system lossesits efficiency.
An Automatic power factor correction device reads power factor from line voltage and
line current by determining the delay in the arrival of the current signal with respect to voltage
signal from the source with high accuracy. It determines the phase angle lag(ø) between the
voltage and current signals and then determines the corresponding power factor(cos ø). Then
the ARDUINO calculates the compensation requirement and accordingly switches ON the
relay and the switch bank capacitor until the power factor is normalized to about unity. If Power
Factor which is -1 >PF< +1 (ie. Greater than -1 or Lesser than +1) is detected, then Correction
Capacitor automatically connects with parallel to Inductive load by using Relay.

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022
Automatic power factor correction techniques can be applied to industrial units, powersystems
and also households to make them stable. As a result the system becomes stable and efficiency
of the system as well as of the apparatus increases. Therefore, the use of Arduino based power
factor corrector kit results in reduced overall costs for both the consumers and thesuppliers of
electrical energy.
Power factor correction kit reduces reactive power consumption which will lead to minimization
of losses and at the same time increases the electrical system‘s efficiency.

LITERATURE SURVEY:
ABB technical application investigated in electrical plants the loads draw from the network electric
power (active) as power supply source or convert it into another form of energy or into mechanical
output To get this, it is often necessary that the load exchanges withthe network the reactive energy,
mainly of inductive type. To smooth such negative effect, thepower factor correction of the electrical
plants is carried out.
K. Anitha, Riya Chatterjee et al. designed and developed an electronic device which detects current
drawn by power electronic interfaces from the line is distorted resultingin a high total Harmonic
Distortion and low p.f. this creates adverse effects on the power systeminclude increased magnitudes of
neutral currents in three phase systems, overheating intransformers and induction motors. That
device aims to develop a circuit for PFC by usingbank of capacitors, for improving circuit quality and
switching loss.

John Ware publishes, POWER FACTOR is the ratio between the useful (true) power (kW) to the total
(apparent) power (kVA) consumed by an item of a.c. electrical equipment ora complete electrical
installation. It is a measure of how efficiently electrical power is convertedinto useful work output. The
ideal power factor is unity, or one. Anything less than one meansthat extra power is required to achieve
the actual task at hand
Wang Su , He Ming designed a model which analyses and studies the APFC based onthe average
current control single-phase Boost type APFC circuit. In addition, the simulation model is built on the
MATLAB and the results were shown in their kit. The results show the average current control single-
phase Boost type APFC circuit, complete can achieve rectifier, high input power factor, Boost, voltage,
low ripple goals. In some way, the power factor is improved.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND:

Power factor is an energy concept that is related to power flow in electrical systems. To
understand power factor, it is helpful to understand three different types of power in electrical
systems.

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

Real Power is the power that is actually converted into useful work for creating heat,
light and motion. Real power is measured in kilowatts (kW) and is totalized by the electric
billing meter in kilowatt-hours (kWh). An example of real power is the useful work that directly
turns the shaft of a motor.
Reactive Power is the power used to sustain the electromagnetic field in inductive and
capacitive equipment. It is the non- working power component. Reactive power is measured in
kilovolt-amperes reactive (kVAR). Reactive power does not appear on the customer billing
statement.
Total Power or Apparent power is the combination of real power and reactive power.
Total power is measured in kilovolt-amperes (kVA) and is totalized by the electric billing meter
in kilovolt-ampere-hours (kVAh). Power factor (PF) is defined as the ratio of real power to
total power, and is expressed as a percentage (%) as shown in fig.1.1
Power factor cos φ is defined as the ratio between the Active component IR and the total
value of the current I; φ is the phase angle between the voltage and the current.

For phase angle calculation, ɸ = Δt x f x 360˚

Where Δt = Time difference (s)F
=Frequency (50 hz)

Power factor = cos ɸ

Power factor correction is the process of compensating for the lagging current by
creating a leading current by connecting capacitor to the supply. A sufficient capacitance can
be connected so that the power factor is adjusted to be as close to unity as possible. Power
factor correction (PFC) is a system of counteracting the undesirable effects of electric loads
that create a power factor that is less than one (1)
In Power factor correction, System scans the current and voltage waveforms of Load
connected to Supply OUT at every 10 Seconds. If load having PF less than 0.95 or greater
than -0.95, then it considered as Inductive load. As soon as Inductive load detected,

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

Correction Capacitor get added in parallel to Inductive load. (At ideal condition, PF
value -1or +1 considered as Resistive load.)

The reactive power increases the current flowing between the power source and the
load, which increases the power losses through transmission and distribution lines. This
results in operational and financial losses for power companies. Therefore, power companies
require their customers, especially those with large loads, to maintain their power factors
above a specified amount especially around ally 0.92 or higher, or be subject to additional
charges.

BLOCK DIGRAM:

The above given circuit for Automatic Power Factor detection and correction operateson the
principal of constantly monitoring the power factor of the system and to initiate the required
correction in case the power factor is less than the set value of power factor. As shownin figure 3.1,
This is our system, which contains Supply IN, Contrast Adjuster, LCD Display, reset switch, and
Supply OUT. The inner block of system are Potential Transformer, Current Transformer, Step down
transformer, Power Supply section, Main Control Unit, and Arduino UNO board.16x2 LCD c

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

display 16 characters per line.

Each character is displayed in 5x7 pixel matrix. This LCD has two registers, instruction
register and data register. The principal element in the circuit is PIC microcontroller. The
current and voltage signal are acquired fromthe main AC line by using Current Transformer
and Potential Transformer. These acquired

signals are then pass on the Zero crossing detectors. Bridge Rectifier for both current and
voltage signals transposes the analog signals to the digital signal.Microcontroller read the RMS
value for voltage and current used in its algorithm to select the value of in demand capacitor
for the load to correct the power factor and monitors the behaviour of the enduring load on the
basis of current depleted by the load.

CIRCUITE DIGRAM:

The voltage signal obtained is converted into the digital by comparator circuit since
micro controller accepts the digitized format only. This is given to the microcontroller as one

input. Similarly, for current signal, from the current transformer is converted into voltage signal
by rectification. As previously digitized the voltage signal, this current signal in the form of
voltage is also digitized by the comparator circuit.
These two digitized signals i.e. voltage and currents are sent to the microcontroller as
the inputs. According to the program written microcontroller calculates the time difference
between the zero crossings of these two signals. This time difference is indirectly proportional
to the system power factor. The information about this power factor and the power loss is

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

displayed on the LCD display. And according to the range calculated by the
microcontroller
program; this drives the relays which switches the shunt capacitors across the load.
While increasing of the inductive load by connecting the other loads like motors to this circuit
resultsin
reduced power factor. This will make the microcontroller to drive the more number of
relaysresulting in more shunt capacitors to be connected.

Zero Crossing Detector

A zero crossing is a point where the sign of a mathematical function changes (e.g.
from positive to negative), represented by the crossing of the axis (zero value) in the graph of
the function. It is a commonly used term in electronics, mathematics, sound and image
processing. In alternating current, the zero-crossing is the instantaneous point at which there
is no voltage present. In sine wave this condition normally occurs twice in a cycle.
A zero crossing detector is an important application of op-amp comparator circuit. It
can also be referred to as a sine to square wave converter. Anyone of the inverting or the non-
inverting comparators can be used as a zero crossing detector. The reference voltage in this
case is set to zero. The output voltage waveform shows when and in what direction some
input signal crosses zero volts. If input voltage is a low frequency signal, then output voltage
will be less quick to switch from one saturation point to another. And if there is noise in
between the two input nodes, the output may fluctuate between positive and negative
saturation voltage ‗Vsat‘. .Here IC LM358 is used as a zero crossing detector.
Summer/Adder (X-OR) gate:

They provide the system designer with a means for implementation of the
EXCLUSIVE OR function. Logic gates utilize silicon gate CMOS technology to achieve
operating speeds similar to LSTTL gates with the low power consumption of standard CMOS
integrated circuits. All devices have the ability to drive STTL loads. The HCT logic family is
functionally pin compatible with the standard LS logic family.

Relay Driver:
The ULN2003A are high voltage, high current Darlington arrays each containing seven
open collector Darlington pairs with common emitters. Each channel rated at 500mA and can
withstand peak currents of 600mA. Suppression diodes are included for inductive load driving

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

and the inputs are pinned opposite the outputs to simplify board layout. The four
versions interface to all common logic families:

X OR GATE

3.3.5 Arduino Uno

4 The Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328. It has 14 digital
input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz
ceramicresonator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button.
It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a
computer with a USBcable or power it with a AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get
started.
5 The Uno differs from all preceding boards in that it does not use the FTDI USB-to-
serial driver chip. Instead, it features the Atmega16U2 (Atmega8U2 up to version R2)
programmed as a USB-to-serial converter. The Arduino Uno can be powered via the
USB connection or with an external power supply. The power source is selected

automatically.

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

The expected outcome of this project is to measuring the power factor value displaying
it in the LCD and to improve power factor using capacitor bank and reduce current draw by the
loadusing microcontroller and proper algorithm to turn on capacitor automatically, determine
and trigger sufficient switching of capacitor in order to compensate excessive reactive
components, thus bringing power factor near to unity ,there by improving the efficiency of the
system and reducing the electricity bill.
To verify the performance of the automatic power factor correction using
microcontroller a prototype is developed and tested. Figure shows the system setup for the
automatic power correction using microcontroller. The power supply is of 12-6V using step
down transformer. Andit contains a microcontroller, LCD module which is displaying correct
power factor and relays which help to include capacitor banks to the circuit as per the necessity.
Prototype is verified using,an inductive load. Which initially gives a lagging power factor,
which by than gives an improved power factor close to unity by the proper working of the

APFC unit.

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

The automotive power factor correction using capacitive load banks is very efficient as
it reduces the cost by decreasing the power drawn from the supply. As it operates automatically,
manpower is not required and this Automated Power Factor Correction using capacitive load
banks can be used for the industries purpose in the future

5.1 ADVERSE EFFECT OF OVER CORRECTION

1. Power system becomes unstable
2. Resonant frequency is below the line frequency

3. Current and voltage increases

5.2 ADVANTAGES OF CORRECTED POWER FACTOR

1. Reactive power decreases

2. Avoid poor voltage regulation

3. Overloading is avoided

4. Copper loss decreases

5. Transmission loss decreases
6. Improved voltage control

7. Efficiency of supply system and apparatus increases

CONCLUSION: The Automatic Power Factor Detection and Correction provides an

efficient techniqueto improve the power factor of a power system by an economical way. Static
capacitors are invariably used for power factor improvement in factories or distribution line.
However, this system makes use of capacitors only when power factor is low otherwise they
are cut off fromline. Thus, it not only improves the power factor but also increases the life time
of static capacitors. The power factor of any distribution line can also be improved easily by
low cost small rating capacitor.

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

REFERENCE:

power factor correction, IEEE Trans. Power Electron.vol.11, No. 2, Mar.2003.pp 311-317

[2] J.G. Cho, J.W. Won, H.S. Lee, ―Reduced conduction loss zero-voltage-transition power
factor correction converter with low cost, IEEE Trans. Industrial Electron. vol.45, no 3, Jun.
2000, pp395-400

[3] V.K Mehta and Rohit Mehta, ―Principles of power system‖, S. Chand & Company Ltd,

[4] International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 3, Issue
4, October 2013 272 Power Factor Correction Using PIC Microcontroller

www.arduino.cc

Design and Implementation of Microcontroller-Based Controlling of Power Factor Using

Capacitor Banks with Load Monitoring, Global Journal of Researches in Engineering
Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Volume 13, Issue 2, Version 1.0 Year 2013 Type:
Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc.
(USA) Online ISSN: 2249-4596 & Print ISSN: 0975-5861

[5] Electric power industry reconstructing in India, Present scenario and future prospects,
S.N. Singh, senior member, IEEE and S.C. Srivastava, Senior Member, IEEE.

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

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 Journal Publication of International Research for Engineering and Management (JOIREM)
Volume: 10 Issue: 04 | may-2022

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