Power Factor Correction Device: Reduces System Operating Losses

In traditional uncorrected power supply systems, the charging and discharging characteristics of the rectifier bridge and filter capacitors cause the input current to exhibit a pulsed pattern. This distorted waveform not only contains a large number of high-order harmonics but also forces the power distribution lines to carry current amplitudes far exceeding actual power requirements. The power factor correction device industrial uses active control technology, forcing the input current to track the voltage envelope through a boost converter topology. When the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the current drops below 5%, the I²R heat loss in the transmission path decreases significantly.

For switching converters, another advantage of the power factor device lies in the optimization of switching losses. The power factor improvement device, in critical conduction mode, only triggers the next switching cycle when the inductor current drops to zero, achieving zero-current switching (ZCS). This brings the reverse recovery loss of the boost diode close to its theoretical minimum, while the turn-on loss of the MOSFET is also significantly reduced due to its soft-switching characteristics. In 300W power supplies, the junction temperature of the switching devices can be reduced by 15-20°C after employing a power factor correction device.