Automatic Power Factor Controller for Commercial Power Saver

This project focuses on mitigating power loss in industrial settings by implementing power factor correction through the strategic use of shunt capacitors. Power factor, defined as the ratio of real power to apparent power, decreases when reactive power increases, leading to higher energy consumption and reduced efficiency. To address this, the proposed system utilizes operational amplifier (op-amp) circuits in comparator mode to measure the time delay between zero voltage and zero current pulses. This data is fed into a microcontroller, which calculates the power loss due to inductive loads and displays it on an LCD. The system dynamically activates relays to integrate shunt capacitors into the load circuit, continuously adjusting until power loss is minimized. Experimental results demonstrate the system's effectiveness in achieving near-unity power factor, significantly reducing energy waste and operational costs for industries.