9. AUTOMATIC POWER FACTOR COMPENSATION (APFC) FOR INDUSTRIAL POWER USE TO MINIMIZE PENALTY

Two zero crossing detectors are employed in this suggested system to identify voltage and current zero crossi ngs.By adopting an autonomous power factor correction unit, the initiative aims to reduce penalties for indust rial units. This project's controller is a member of the Arduino family.The time lag between the zero-voltage pulse and zero-current pulse is duly generated by suitable operational amplifier circuits in comparator mode is fed to two interrupt pins of a microcontroller. The program takes over to actuate appropriate number of relays from its output to bring shunt capacitors into load circuit to get the power factor till it reaches near unity. The capacitor bank and relays are inter faced to the microcontroller using a relay driver. It displays time lag between the current and voltage on an LCD. Furthermore, the project can be enhanced by using thyristor control switches instead of relay control to avoid contact pitting often encounte red by switching of capacitors due to high in rush current..