Power Factor Correction (Part 1): Why We Need It And How It Evolved

Focus:

The application of power factor correction (PFC) in switched-mode power supplies is well established and the circuits used to implement active PFC are widely known. Along with knowledge of PFC circuits and components, many engineers likely have an awareness of the PFC standards that govern product compliance. But when it comes to why these PFC requirements are in place and what were the industry or market conditions that drove their adoption, the record is not so clear. Part 1 of this two-part series reviews the history of PFC and the technical requirements it produced. This discussion includes a review of the IEC 61000-3-2 power factor standard and the limits it imposes on harmonics generated by non-resistive loads, and where PFC is currently required.

What you’ll learn:

• How to understand the origins of power factor correction requirements and PFC solutions
• How to understand the basics of PFC requirements set by IEC 61000-3-2 edition 2

View the Source

Author & Publication:

Kevin Parmenter, Chair, and James Spangler, Co-chair, PSMA Safety and Compliance Committee , How2Power Today, Feb 14 2020

This article summary appears
in the HOW2POWER Design Guide.

The Design Guide offers
organized access to
hundreds of articles
on dozens of power conversion
and power management topics.

The Design Guide search results
include exclusive summaries
and accurate "how to" analysis
to help you make faster,
more informed decisions.

Search
for more articles