Power Factor Correction System with Dynamic Frequency Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power factor correction (PFC) systems in electric motor control systems face challenges in efficiently managing power factor and voltage stability, particularly in HVAC systems, where they struggle to optimize energy usage and reduce reactive power return to the source.

Innovation Solution

The proposed PFC system incorporates a modular architecture with a PFC control module, a motor control module, and a supervisor control module, utilizing pulse-width modulation (PWM) and duty cycle conversion to dynamically adjust switching frequencies and voltages, ensuring optimal power factor correction and voltage regulation across the AC line.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing PFC systems intervene on the switching frequency of semiconductor switches to achieve desired power factor, then power factor correction is achieved, but voltage stability and energy utilization optimization are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower factor correctionVSAvoidenergy utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the switching frequency of semiconductor switches based on real-time power factor measurements. By changing the frequency parameter adaptively rather than using a fixed frequency, the system optimizes both power factor correction and energy utilization simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between achieving reliable PFC and maximizing energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The PFC control module continuously monitors the power factor and uses this feedback to adjust the switching frequency of the semiconductor switches. This closed-loop control ensures that the system maintains optimal power factor correction while adapting to changing load conditions, thereby improving energy utilization without compromising reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If PFC systems increase circuit's power factor toward one to increase real power usage, then real power utilization improves, but system complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal power utilizationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PFC system is divided into distinct functional modules: a PFC control module for managing power factor correction, a motor control module for motor operation, and a supervisor control module for overall coordination. This segmentation allows each module to handle specific tasks independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining improved real power utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supervisor control module performs multiple functions including coordinating between the PFC control module and motor control module, monitoring system status, and making high-level control decisions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated control circuits, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining effective power factor correction and real power utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If PFC systems dynamically adjust switching frequencies and voltages to optimize power factor correction, then power factor efficiency improves, but voltage stability challenges arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower factor correction efficiencyVSAvoidvoltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The PFC control module continuously monitors both power factor and voltage levels, using this feedback to dynamically adjust switching frequencies and voltages. This closed-loop control ensures that power factor correction efficiency is optimized while voltage stability is maintained within acceptable ranges, resolving the contradiction between improved productivity and voltage stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2465189B1System and method for power factor correction frequency tracking and reference generation
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP2465189B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2465189B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2465189B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A power factor correction (PFC) system includes a period determination module, a frequency generation module, an angle generation module, a signal generation module, and an angle correction module. The period determination module determines a period of an input alternating current (AC) line signal based on a time between rising edges of the input AC line signal. The frequency generation module generates a frequency based on the period. The angle generation module generates an angle based on the frequency. The signal generation module generates a sinusoidal reference signal based on the frequency and an adjusted angle. The angle correction module generates the adjusted angle based on the angle and based on a comparison of a falling edge of the sinusoidal reference signal, the period, and a rising edge of the input AC line signal.