Synchronous Condenser and PIC Microcontroller Based Smart Power Correction System

Project Title

Synchronous Condenser and PIC Microcontroller Based Smart Power Correction System

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

Power factor correction is a technique of counteracting the undesirable effects of electric loads that create a power factor that is less than one. Due to lower power factor we are waste few amount of energy. That’s why it is

a great concern of power Engineers to compensate this loss by the improvement of power factor. Power factor correction may be applied either by an electrical power transmission utility to improve the stability and efficiency

of the transmission network or correction may be installed by individual electrical customers to reduce the costs charged to them by their electricity supplier. In order to improve transmission efficiency, power factor correction

research has become a hot topic. There are various ways to improve this power factor but we provide a more efficient way of power factor improvement by synchronous condenser instead of capacitor bank because of long

life and low maintenance cost. It also suppresses harmonics which can’t be possible by using capacitor bank. This method involves continuous measurement and monitoring the power factor and generation of required control

signal from micro-controller for controlling the DC excitation of synchronous condenser so as to improve the power factor automatically.

Project Objectives

•Shift P.F towards unity on different Loads.

•Generation of required control signal from microcontroller for controlling the DC excitation of synchronous condenser.

•Continuous measurement and monitoring the power factor.

Project Implementation Method

Firstly, we will step down the voltage and current to a safe level i.e. 5V and 5mA by using potential and current transformers. Then will do zero cross detection of these current and voltage signals so that we can get them in 

square shape. Now we will use a DC power supply to give power to the micro-controller and feed these two signals to the input ports. Micro Controller will perform two important functions. Based on coding it will determine the

power factor by calculating the time diffence between two given signals. Based on calculated power factor it will make a decision that  if the synchronous condensor should run in over excited state or under excited state. It

will automatically improve to power factor which will be close to unity by using feedback system. All this function will be performed by the generated control signal through micro controller. We will display the power factor on

the LED screen.

Benefits of the Project

•Improved Power Factor

•Suppresses harmonics.

• Reliability is very high.

• Step-less adjustment of power factor.

• No generation of harmonics.

• Is not affected by harmonics.

• Expected life almost 25 years.

• Low maintenance.

•In high voltage systems it is necessary to use synchronous condenser instead of capacitor bank because of long life of condenser.

•Power factor of the line is continuously monitored through the microcontroller on Visual Interface.

•It is a time saving technique and required controlled signal is produced automatically for correction.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

We will provide the prototype of the system. We will try different loads which can be resistive, capacitive, and inductive in nature and according to that we will show the power factor on the screen. Also, it will be visible that 

how much power factor was using these loads before improvement and how much it is improved using synchronous condensor. 

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry Energy Other IndustriesCore Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean EnergyRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	34690
Synchronous Motor	Equipment	1	8000	8000
Microcontroller IC	Equipment	2	500	1000
Op-amp IC	Equipment	5	300	1500
Potential Transformer	Equipment	2	1000	2000
Current Transformer	Equipment	2	1000	2000
Resistor	Equipment	50	10	500
Capacitor	Equipment	20	100	2000
Inductor	Equipment	10	250	2500
Diode	Equipment	15	10	150
Regulator	Equipment	3	80	240
LCD	Equipment	2	1500	3000
Connecting Wires	Equipment	150	15	2250
Switch (BJT)	Equipment	15	20	300
Acid (For PCB Board)	Equipment	1	250	250
Button	Equipment	15	80	1200
Covering Box	Equipment	1	1500	1500
Screw	Equipment	200	12	2400
LED	Equipment	20	20	400
Report Printing	Miscellaneous	6	250	1500
Transport	Miscellaneous	20	100	2000