Power Factor Correction (Part 1): Why We Need It And How It Evolved
by Kevin Parmenter, Chair, and James Spangler, Co-chair, PSMA Safety and Compliance Committee , How2Power Today, Feb 14 2020
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
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