Alternating Current Power Factor Monitoring and Correction: Final Project Report

Power factor is the value of a system that reflects how much power is being borrowed from the power company for the system. Quantitatively, power factor ranges from zero to one and is the cosine of the difference in the angle between the current and voltage. Many power companies regulate residential and industrial power factors to ensure they do not fall below a certain level and charge customers more on their utility bills when this occurs. Power factor correction aims to address low power factors by reducing the phase difference between the current and voltage at the distribution point for companies or residences. The most common method for correcting power factor involves switching capacitor banks at the source to generate 'negative' reactive power. The primary objective of this project is to develop a system that automatically switches capacitor banks in and out of the circuit when the power factor drops below a specific threshold, thereby avoiding additional charges from power companies. This system, by actively managing power factor levels, can provide both cost savings and improved efficiency within electrical systems.