The fundamental root mean square (rms) line current in non-power-factor-corrected equipment utilizing a rectifierkapacitor in- put filter

can be as much as two times that for equipment that is power-factor cor- rected. As a result, full utilization of the line cannot be achieved with non-power-factor- corrected equipment without increasing the rating of the line circuit breaker above that of the line current. It is for the above reasons that the regu- lating bodies (IEC in Europe and EEE in the USA) have been working since the early 1980s to develop a standard for limiting harmonic currents in off-line equipment. The German standardization bodies have been the key drivers in establishing IEC 555, the now famous and generally accepted standard limiting harmonic currents in off- line equipment. This standard, which became mandatory on January 1, 1996, imposes limits on the permissible harmonic currents drawn by off- line equipment used in the European Com- munity (EC) and extends to any imported products originating outside the EC. It is anticipated that this standard will eventually be accepted globally. In light of this new requirement, equip- ment manufacturers are faced with several problems: The task of developing a solution that will limit the harmonic currents below levels required by the IEC 555 standard. The associated costs of implementing this solution. The additional size and weight associated with this solution. The first difficulty has been addressed with several topologies that provide the re- quired harmonic current limitation. The most notable and widespread of these is the continuous-mode boost preregulator. How- ever, regardless of which topology is used, the remaining problems of additional cost, size, and weight of the equipment still exist. In a discipline where these factors have been the significant driving forces over the past two decades, this surely represents a disap- pointing step backwards. Common to all the topologies being used for harmonic current limitation is an induc- tive component, such as a C-core. When made of ferrite, MPP, or powder iron mate- rials, it represents a significant portion of the additional cost, size and weight of the over- all solution. However, amorphous alloy technology can help reduce cost, size, and weight. Utilizing the high saturation flux density and low frequency dependent losses of amorphous Alloy-SAl, the inductive component can be made smaller and lighter.

If we modify the dc-dc boost converter by including a bridge rectifier at the input, we obtain the circuit shown in Fig. 2. This is the typical power vain for a high power- factor boost pre-regulator. By suitably con- trolling the duty cycle of the switch, this converter will draw a sinusoidal current from an ac source that is in phase with the ac source voltage, thereby creating a con- verter with a unity power factor.

As mentioned earlier, the output voltage of the boost converter must be higher than the input voltage. If we choose an output voltage that is higher than the peak ac line voltage, the converter will operate

over the full input voltage range (from zero volts to the ac line peak, approximately 380 V). This enables universal input to the converter without the need for additional range- switching circuitry.

Voltage doubler rectifier Consequently, various harmonics generated within the power system become a serious problem. Various studies of this effect have been presented previously so far. However, most of these employ switching devices, such as FETs and the like. The absence of switching devices makes systems more tolerant to over-load, and brings low radio noise benefits. We propose a power factor correction scheme using a voltage doubler rectifier without switching devices.

current waveforms can be obtained according to the variation of the input capacitance, as shown in Fig. 1. For an output of lOOW, the capacitance of C=680 u F or so is often used. With this capacitor, since the input current waveform becomes nearly symmetrical about the peak value of the supply voltage waveform, this capacitance is referred to the reference capacitance. As the capacitance is gradually reduced from C=680 p F, the phase of the input current leads and the charging period is lengthened as shown. In the figure, the capacitance is varied in 50 p F steps. Using Fourier series expansion over one cycle of the input current, analytical results are shown in Fig.2(a). The harmonics are reduced as shown, as compared to case of the reference capacitance. For an example, when C=lOO p F, the fifth and seventh harmonics are reduced by about 28% and 43%, respectively.

In the conventional voltage doubler rectifier in above fig, let us consider how to achieve harmonic reduction in the input current waveform by means of leading the phase angle of the input current. To accomplish this idea, the input capacitance C, (=C,) is selected to be small, so that the conduction commencement angle of the input current is advanced. For the output capacitor, which must smooth the load voltage, the capacitance C3 is designed to be large. The fundamental principle of reducing the harmonics by using a small input capacitance had been already presented, using the conventional voltage doubler rectifier method [51. Moreover, another improved technique was presented incorporating a voltage doubler rectifier with additional ca acitors by Fujiwara, et a1 [61. According to reference p5,61, a fundamental characteristic of the cir,cuit shown in Fig.7 is presented. As the input capacitance C, (=C,> gradually decreases, the distortion factor D is also decreasing as shown in Fig.8. However, when C, is reduced beyond about 100 LL F, the distortion factor is increasing again. This happens due to reduction of C,, when the role of the inverse- paralleled diodes with C, or C2 becomes dominant, so the charging current to output capacitor C, becomes large and the distortion factor is also increased

The power factor of an AC electric power system is defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to [1][2] the load to the apparent power in the circuit, and is a dimensionless number between 0 and 1. Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and voltage of the circuit. Due to energy stored in the load and returned to the source, or due to a non-linear load that distorts the wave shape of the current drawn from the source, the apparent power will be greater than the real power. In an electric power system, a load with a low power factor draws more current than a load with a high power factor for the same amount of useful power transferred. The higher currents increase the energy lost in the distribution system, and require larger wires and other equipment. Because of the costs of larger equipment and wasted energy, electrical utilities will usually charge a higher cost to industrial or commercial customers where there is a low power factor. Linear loads with low power factor (such as induction motors) can be corrected with a passive network of capacitors or inductors. Non-linear loads, such as rectifiers, distort the current drawn from the system. In such cases, active or passive power factor correction may be used to counteract the distortion and raise the power factor