SMART POWER

FACTOR CORRECTOR

Egdardo Q. Digal Jr.

Carl Michael C. Jaudian
John Louie A. Medillo
Background of the Study
• In modern most loads electrical distribution
systems are inductive. Inductive loads need a
magnetic field to operate.

• It measures how effectively electrical power is

being used. A high power factor signals efficient
utilization of electrical power, while a low power
factor indicates poor utilization of electrical
power.
• Power factor correction may be applied by an
electric power transmission utility to improve the
stability and efficiency of the transmission network.
Individual electrical customers who are charged by
their utility for low power factor may install
correction equipment to reduce those costs.

• This study in order to reduce losses in the distribution

system, and to reduce the electricity bill, power
factor correction, usually in the form of capacitors, is
added to neutralize as much of the magnetizing
current as possible.
 Statement of the Problem
• Most of the common electrical loads or electronic
equipment used in by the consumers specifically
the Air Conditioning Unit, refrigerator are
inductive in nature causing dramatically increase
the required current being consumed by an
appliances to work properly that results to lagging
power factor which gives wastage of energy every
day and hence electric bill increase for same
amount of work done.
• Some of the traditional method used in power
factor correction which is the static capacitor bank
and its configuration, the value of capacitor was
fixed and cannot to control.

• Every household used commonly inductive loads

that generate reactive power and most of the
time, and due to increasing of use of inductive
loads the load power factor decreases considerably
which increases of the losses of the system and
hence power losses its efficiency.
 Objectives of the Study
• To design and develop a prototype of Smart
Power Factor Corrector that compensate the
amount of reactive power generate in
household appliances and fixing the low power
factor drawn by the selected loads and be able
to send it data wirelessly.

• Identify one method of power factor correction

with the low cost and practical; and,
• Test the functionality system of the Smart
Power Factor Corrector in terms of its sensing
power factor efficiency in order to switch on
enough capacitor to compensate reactive
power that will bring the power factor
above the limit set value of 0.8 to as near to
unity as practical (typically 0.9).
 Significance of the Study

• The energy consumption is part of the day by

day house economy. Lots of ideas have
emerged with the aim of saving money
utilities’ bill. The Smart Power Factor
corrector can help the consumer by saving
them money in household energy cost.
 Novelty of Work
• The main objective of this paper is to make a
Prototype Power Factor Correction that can
provide also an improve efficiency of the power
system. Even though many researchers were
worked on this study, very few researchers were
reported about the efficiency of the said
prototype. The rate of energy absorption is the
main criteria for designing a Prototype Power
Factor Correction.
• It will control the amount of inductive power
consumption of the load. This device is very useful
in minimizing the system losses results in reduction
power charges by the consumer.

• Many researchers compared the efficiency rating

of it when working. Though there are similar
works, but in the present work the researchers
aim is to correct and minimize the losses in the
system and their performance is studied.
 Scope and Limitation
• This project is design for the use on household
devices, mainly focusing on the appliances that
have low power factors (0.6 -0.8) such as
appliances that contains motors. The
researchers select 6 household inductive loads
(Air Conditioning Unit, Refrigerator,
Fluorescent with ballast, washing machine,
Cathode tube TV, electric fan) which is best for
the power factor correction.
 Definition of Terms
• Capacitor bank- is a grouping of several identical or
non-identical capacitors interconnected in parallel or in
series with one another.
• Microcontroller or the processing module- is an
interfacing and controlling module, that interface the
various peripherals and other modules used in the circuit.
• Arduino Uno- is a microcontroller board based on the
Atmega328. It has 14 digital inputs/output pins (of which
can be used as PWM outputs, 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz
ceramic resonator , a USB connection , a power jack, an
ICSP header and reset button.
• Zero Crossing- is a point where the sign of mathematical
function changes (e.g. from positive to negative
represented by crossing of the axis (zero value) in the
graph of the function.
• Potential transformer- is the most common type of
transformer widely used in electrical power transmission
and appliances to convert mains voltage to low voltage in
order to power low power electronic devices.
• Current transformer- is an instrument transformer used
to step-down the current in the circuit to measurable
values and thus used for measuring alternating currents.
• Voltage regulator – is design to automatically
maintain a constant voltage level.
• Ceramic capacitor- Is a fixed value capacitor in which
ceramic acts as dielectric.
• Wi-Fi Shield - The Arduino Wi-Fi shield allows an
Arduino board to connect to the internet using the Wi-Fi
library and to read and write an SD card using the SD
library.
Review of Related Literature
2.1 Electrical Energy Conservation in
Automatic Power Factor Correction by
Embedded System.
Power factor control is a major role in the
improvement of power system stability. Many of
the existing systems are expensive and difficult to
manufacturer. Nowadays many of the converters
have no input power factor correction circuits. The
effect of power factor correction circuit is used to
eliminate the harmonics present in the system [4].
2.2 High-performance line conditioner with
output voltage regulation and power factor
correction.
A high-performance line conditioner with excellent efficiency and
power factor is proposed. In addition the three-leg bridge can reduce
the number of switching devices and system loss, while maintaining
the capabilities of power factor correction and good output voltage
regulation. The power factor controller for the single-phase pulse-
width modulated (PWM) rectifier is derived using the feedback
linearization concept. The inverter side acts as a voltage regulator
with current-limiting capability for impulsive loads. The disturbance
of input voltage is detected using a fast-sensing technique [3].
2.3 Impact of Power Factor Correction on the
Electrical Distribution Network of Kuwait –
A Case Study.
The electrical distribution network in Kuwait has undergone several
improvements over the years to ensure a higher capacity and
efficient electricity service to all consumers. Power factor correction
(PFC) is one of the techniques recently applied to the electrical
distribution network in Kuwait. Applying proper PFC methods
compensates the effect of reactive loads of the system and hence
improves the system’s overall efficiency. Such improvement permits a
reduction in the size of switchgear, transformers and cables which
imply lower cost [6].
Research Design and Methodology

• This chapter also talks about the step by step

process on how to achieve the goals and
objectives of the researchers that is to construct
a device that is capable of constantly correct
and monitor the power factor of the high power
usage of appliances in household under
combination of variable loads condition. In order
to accomplish such objectives and goals the
researchers must pursue the accompanying
steps.
1. Distinguishing the inductive loads to be sampled for
power factor correction– this section; the researchers will
identify inductive loads to be sampled.

2. Prototype design – this section talks about the design of

the actual prototype how it basically works and operate.

3. Selection of materials – this part discusses what the

materials are and components are expected to build the
prototype.
4. Prototyping – the researchers must build the real model
and test it out, in case its working then the researchers
will keep on data gathering, anyway in case not, the
researchers must head back toward the design.

5. Data Gathering – this section the researchers will

accumulate the data that is being produced by the real
model and contrast it with the data to the given project
requirement in case the system is functional and
accurate, the model is subjected to fabrication anyway in
case the model isn't functional and accurate then the
researchers must go back to the design section.
Step by step process on the implementation the prototype
Block Diagram of Smart Power Factor Corrector
Circuit Diagram

Power Supply Section

Sensing Section
 Gantt Chart
1-Apr 21-Apr 11-May 31-May 20-Jun 10-Jul 30-Jul 19-Aug

Paper Editing

Design

Canvass of Materials

Buying of the
Components

Construction

Development

Testing
Buying of the Canvass of
Testing Development Construction Design Paper Editing
Components Materials
Start Date 16-Aug 1-Aug 16-May 1-May 16-Apr 1-Apr 1-Apr
Days to Complete Mar-19 15 15 15 15 15 15
 References
• [1] John Ware (2006). POWER FACTOR CORRECTION (pfc). Retrieved from
https://www.2006_18_spring_wiring_matters_power_factor_correction_pfc.pdf
• [2] David Greenfield (2015). Power Factor and Its Impact on Energy Use.Retrieved
fromhttps://www.automationworld.com/article/technologies/power-
supplies/power-factor-and-its-impact-energy-use
• [3]Kim, T.W.; Choi, J.H.; Kwon, B.H. (2004) “High-Performance Line Conditioner
with Output Voltage Regulation and Power Factor Correction”, IEEE Proceedings
on Electric Power Applications, Volume: 151, Issue: 1, Pages: 91- 97.
• [4]Energy and Power (2012), 2(4): 51-54. Retrieved from
http://article.sapub.org/pdf/10.5923.j.ep.20120204.02.pdf
• [5] Rakosh Das Begamudre (2010). “Energy Conversion Systems”, Retrieved from
New Age International Publishers, New Delhi.
• [6]Osama A. Al-Naseem and Ahmad Kh. Adi, Impact of Power Factor Correction
onthe Electrical Distribution Network of Kuwait –A Case Study, OJPEE - Volume
(2),Number (1), Reference Number: W10-0030, Page 173-176, January 2011