Power factor correction using pic controlled capacitor groups

The uses of inductive loads in industry have been increased day by day. These loads draw reactive power from the line. The system providing reactive power required by inductive loads called as a compensation system. Compensation systems allow the power generation system to operate at full capacity and to produce cheap energy. Developing computer technologies provide compensation system to operate based on microcontroller. In this study, first of all, the current and the voltage belong to the system are measured and then loaded to the PIC16F877 to calculate the power factor of the system. After that, required leading reactive power to keep the power factor as close as to 1 is calculated. Finally, PIC16F877 produces necessary signals to provide required reactive power from the capacitor groups.