Development and field testing of an adaptive power factor controller

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · IEEE Trans. Power Electronics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TEC.1987.4765887· OSTI ID:5156298

El-Sharkawi, M; Venkata, S S; Butler, N G; Yinger, R W

The Adaptive Power Factor Controller (APFC) is a device that switches capacitors electronically to achieve almost unity power factor at the point of installation. It was designed and developed at the University of Washington (UW), and is being tested at the R and D facility of the Southern California Edison Company (SCE). It is particularly intended for loads with dynamically varying reactive power demands such as induction generators in wind power stations, or cyclically changing loads such as induction motors in process industries. It is also ideally suited for improving the power factor profile of a distribution line. The purposes of this paper are two-fold: to explain the most recent design of the 50-kVAR APFC and to report the results of the field testing program on the device after it was installed at the terminals of a 50-kW three-phase induction generator located at the Dever Wind R and D site of SCE.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (US)
• OSTI ID: 5156298
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Power Electronics; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Power Electronics; (United States) Vol. EC-2:4; ISSN ITCNE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

200300* -- Electric Power Engineering-- Power Transmission & Distribution-- (-1989)
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
CALIFORNIA
CAPACITORS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
ELECTRIC CONTROLLERS
ELECTRIC MOTORS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION IX
FIELD TESTS
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
MOTORS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER CONDITIONING CIRCUITS
POWER FACTOR
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
TESTING
USA