Thrre phase active power factor correction

[bayya]

Hello Tahmid, goldsmith and others,

I am coming back after a long time. I am looking up for ways to implement active power factor correction for 3 phase input at KW level. One way is to go for power factor correction of each of the 3 phases separately (which is well understood) and combine the outputs after the DC-DC conversion stages.

Is there any simpler way?

Thanks

 

[FvM]

One way is to go for power factor correction of each of the 3 phases separately (which is well understood) and combine the outputs after the DC-DC conversion stages.

If you are referring to a usual PFC with bridge rectifier, "combine" won't work without DC/DC isolation. The industry standard solution is an "active front end" (AFE), essentially a three phase IGBT bridge with input series inductors and a respective controller. Because it's working over four quadrants, it can also recover energy to the grid.

 

[bayya]

Hello FvM,

If you are referring to a usual PFC with bridge rectifier, "combine" won't work without DC/DC isolation. The industry standard solution is an "active front end" (AFE), essentially a three phase IGBT bridge with input series inductors and a respective controller. Because it's working over four quadrants, it can also recover energy to the grid.

Which means I need to use a DSP. If my customer is looking for a total solution of a DC output with certain power rating, what I do inside is not his concern (except the cost and size). He will get high power factor at the input and rated voltage and power for his load.

 

[FvM]

Which means I need to use a DSP.

I'm not aware of ready-made three-phase PFC- respectively AFE-controllers. At first sight, the required functionality is similar to a three phase motor inverter, except for the frequency and power control source. A decent 16- or 32-bit microcontroller with full-featured PWM unit should basically do.