Microcontroller based power factor controller

The power factor controller (PFC) prototype will incorporate the following features: a. Switching capacitors sized in binary ratio to compensate power of varying loads. b. Zero crossing detection circuit to prevent transient circuit effects. c. A circuit that quickly measures the load current and load voltage to be able to determine the power factor of the load. d. A display of switch and capacitor failure and provision of best compensation at these conditions. e. Capacitors sized in binary ratio to compensate power of varying loads. We also include a comparative assessment of the four methods of compensation used. This project is a model of a microcontroller based power factor correction device that allows reduction of electric current required by the load. The design primarily consists of the following: microcontroller used for implementation of all control strategy, capacitors sized in binary ratio to provide capacitive current, solid-state relays as switch for each individual capacitor and opto-isolators as current sensing element to determine the capacitor and/or Solid-State Relay SSR failure