Monitoring and Improvement of Power Factor by using Micro Controller
Proficient generation of power in existing is essential as wastage of electricity is a worldwide interest. Power factor evaluates a system's power productivity and is a significant viewpoint in improving the quality of supply. In most power frameworks, a poor power factor outcome because of an expan
2025-06-28 16:34:10 - Adil Khan
Monitoring and Improvement of Power Factor by using Micro Controller
Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject SummaryProficient generation of power in existing is essential as wastage of electricity is a worldwide interest. Power factor evaluates a system's power productivity and is a significant viewpoint in improving the quality of supply. In most power frameworks, a poor power factor outcome because of an expanding utilization of inductive loads. A power factor amendment unit would permit the framework to reestablish its power factor near unity for economical functioning. The benefits of making better power factor incorporate diminished power system losses, expanded load conveying capacities, improved voltages and substantially more. The objective of this project is to assemble an Automatic Power Factor Correction (APFC) Unit, which can screen the energy utilization of a framework and automatically improve its power factor. An open source energy checking library was actualized in this scheme for real power computation. The APFC unit measures the reactive power utilized by a system's inductive load and balance the lagging power factor by utilizing capacitance from a capacitor bank. The results of the power factor are displayed on the LCD and the power factor is corrected if it falls below the required value. The effectiveness of the proposed technique could assist the monitoring unit in order to maintain the power factor at the value set by the utility.
Project ObjectivesThe main objective of this project is to improve the power factor by continuously monitoring the load power factor, when the load power factor falls below a certain value it results in the increase of line current, resulting in more line loss and greater voltage drop. Thus, the aim is to inject capacitances of required values when the power factor falls below the specified level.
The project is based on the power factor correction by improving the power factor near to unity.
- Improvement of power factor increases current carrying capacity of system.
- Reduction in power losses, making system more efficient.
- Reduction in electric bills.
- As the reduced power factor causes the voltage drop. By improving power factor voltage can be maintained within the limits and so the quality of power is also maintained.
The suggested framework considers 230V, 50Hz mains supply as a primary source and low the voltage level to 12V through a Potential Transformer. The primary supply unit, at that point changes over this 12V AC into two diverse DC sources comprising of 9V and 5V. The selected voltage signal is acquired from this 12V AC signal and handled through the voltage detector circuit for microcontroller input. A current signal is additionally acquired from the primary supply by a current transformer and undertake by a current detector circuit for another input of microcontroller. The microcontroller shows power factor computations and changeover capacitors from the bank. The outcomes are shown on a 20x4 LCD array. The entire APFC unit comprises of eight subsystems. They all things considered work together to increase a power factor revision.
The determined power parameters current power factor, mains voltage, mains current, real and apparent power are ceaselessly shown on a 20x4 Liquid Crystal screen.
Capacitor bank is the group of capacitors of various values. Arrangement of parallel and series mix capacitors give a scope of capacitance required to recompense poor power factor. The measuring of capacitors is resolved dependent on the required KVAR request by the load system.
The microcontroller by own takes the choice of required KVAR request and self-activate switches the capacitors of required value from the capacitor bank. Multiple channel relay module is utilized to carry out this exchanging activity.
Benefits of the Project
In commercial benefits, the penalties imposed on the industries can be avoided by maintaining the power factor up to the required value and controlling the power factor under all load conditions. The following commercial benefits can be achieved.
- Excessive reactive power charges are avoided which occur when the power factor is low.
- The overall demand on the supply is reduced which ultimately reduces the tariff
- By controlling the power factor system losses are reduces, hence cost is reduced.
The AC channel can contribute an AC power of 230V at 50Hz recurrence. In any case, it requires DC source to work the subsystems. A potential transformer is utilized to step down the 230V source to 12V. This AC signal is then changed over to DC through a bridge rectifier pursued by filtering capacitors. The last stable DC yields are accomplished utilizing voltage controller ICs.
The mains 230V AC is step down to 12V AC. A voltage divider circuit split this 12V in 1:10 proportion, which gives around 1.2V sinusoid signal. A DC offset of 2.5V is applied to the sinusoidal signal. Thus, the entire sinusoid can be seen in the positive limit (0-5V) and the microcontroller can peruse the entire sinusoidal signal through its analog receiving point.
The current signal streaming through the mains is recovered through a current transformer. A high resistor changes the current signal into a voltage signal that symbolize to the properties of the current sinusoid. A DC offset voltage of 2.5V is applied to the sinusoidal signal with the goal that the reference point is lifted and the entire sinusoid can be perused in analog mode inside its working span (0-5V).
A microcontroller is a compact PC on an exclusive integrated circuit containing processor center, memory, and programmable input /output peripherals. An Arduino UNO microcontroller (build on ATmega328p) is utilized in this project, which has plenty of libraries created and accessible online without any cost. A program was produced for estimation and programmed activities of the project and burned on the microcontroller utilizing Arduino IDE. Mains voltage, mains current, active power, apparent power and power factor of the system are determined through the created program.
The inductive load arrange is an integration of loads having inductive attributes and absorbing gigantic electrical power because of lagging power factor. The system as a group considered replicate inductive load working at an extremely poor power factor.
The loads and capacitors are associated with a high voltage circuit. To consolidate these high voltage parts with microcontroller, relay is utilized for turning activity on capacitors in high voltage circuit through the control signal from microcontroller keeping the microcontroller safe and electrically disengaged from high voltage.
apparent power are ceaselessly shown on a 20x4 Liquid Crystal screen.
Capacitor bank is the group of capacitors of various values. Arrangement of parallel and series mix capacitors give a scope of capacitance required to recompense poor power factor. The measuring of capacitors is resolved dependent on the required KVAR request by the load system.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry Energy Other IndustriesCore Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Responsible Consumption and ProductionRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 13500 | |||
| CT | Equipment | 2 | 600 | 1200 |
| PT | Equipment | 2 | 600 | 1200 |
| Arduino UNO(AT mega 328p) | Equipment | 1 | 1100 | 1100 |
| Resistors | Equipment | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Diodes | Equipment | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| IC | Equipment | 100 | 2 | 200 |
| Capacitor | Equipment | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| Relay | Equipment | 2 | 600 | 1200 |
| LCD | Equipment | 2 | 300 | 600 |
| Inductive load | Equipment | 6 | 150 | 900 |
| Transformer | Equipment | 4 | 200 | 800 |
| Wires | Equipment | 100 | 10 | 1000 |
| Other | Miscellaneous | 5000 | 1 | 5000 |