Power Factor Correction by PFC Boost Topology
Using Average Current Control Method
Khizir Mahmud
Department of Electrical Engineering
Northwestern Polytechnical University
Xi’an – 710072, P.R. China
khizirbd@gmail.com
Abstract—Different power converters like ac-dc or dc-dc are
widely used for their flexible output voltage and high conversion
efficiency. Mostly these converters are used in various electronic
devices and they are designed to regulate the output voltage even
in the variation of load current and input voltage. Presently,
there is increasing demands of high power factor and low total
harmonic distortion in the current drawn from the utility. There
is a requirement of good power quality; significant efforts have
been made for the developments of the PFC converters. The
boost topology is widely used as PFC converter for its simplicity
and efficiency. Conventional boost PFC converters are composed
of a full bridge AC to DC diode rectifier followed by a boost
converter. The bridge rectifier offers high conduction losses
which lowers the system efficiency. A rectifier with the boost pfc
topology has been analyzed in this paper to improve the power
factor and power quality. Here, the open loop uncontrolled
rectifier has been analyzed using Microsim Pspice software and
later the controlled rectifier with pfc boost topology has been
analyzed by using Matlab.
Keywords—boost; harmonics; power factor; Matlab; Pspice
I. INTRODUCTION
The power processors usually consist of some power
conversion stages where the operation of these stages is
decoupled on an instantaneous basis by means of energy
storage elements such as capacitors and inductors. Therefore
the instantaneous power input does not have the equal
instantaneous power output. Thus a converter is a basic module
of power electronic systems. It utilizes power semiconductors
devices controlled by signal electronics (integrated circuits)
and possibly energy storage elements such as inductors and
capacitors. Most electronic equipments are supplied by 50 or
60Hz utility power supplies. Almost all power systems of the
equipments are processed through some kinds of power
converters such as ac to dc or dc to dc or dc to ac. AC to DC
power conversion of Electric power is commonly used in
adjustable-speed drives (ASDs), switch-mode power supplies
(SMPSs), uninterrupted power supplies (UPSs), power supplies
for communication system equipments, test equipments etc.
Most of the power supplies have input bridge rectifier with
filter capacitor. Most of the devices take current pulses from
the main ac network. But the output current have fundamental
Lei Tao
Electrical Engineering and Automation School
Northwestern polytechnical University
Xi’an – 710072, P. R. China
lttiger@nwpu.edu.cn
and odd harmonics [1]. But this harmonic is bad and make
problem in power systems. Moreover, this harmonic content in
the pulsating current causes losses. It creates dielectric stresses
in capacitors and power distribution cables. For the power
factor deteriorate the distribution current become higher. If
there is no power factor correction circuit in the devices then
the capacitive filter draws pulsating currents from the ac mains.
So the power quality deteriorates and the higher harmonic
contents in the power creates bad affect to other users fed from
same line. Higher harmonics in the line affect the utility grid
and other users appliances as well. A commonly used method
to correct the poor power factor of electronic power supplies by
using active approach method. In this method active filters,
shunt and passive filters are used to minimize the power factor.
If the inductor value is chosen as big then it stores much energy
which keep the rectifier on throughout the half cycle. As a
result it minimizes the harmonic distortion mainly caused by
discontinuous conduction of rectifiers. In passive correctors the
inductor size is big because of the frequency of the ac mains.
An effective passive filter eliminates harmonics in the current
and improves power quality and the power factor. But it can’t
solve the problem fully. So the active power factor correction
method has been developed. It is familiar that the best way to
correct the bad power factor and power quality of electronic
power supplies is to use active approach topology. The method
has both active filters like shunt, series and hybrid active filters
and PFC circuits like boost, buck, fly back converters. An
active filter improves the power quality by eliminating current
harmonics [2]. It can identify the nonlinear load current and
voltage wave forms so that easily regulates the input supply
current. Active filters are generally used in high power three
phase power systems because they are much expensive and
also need some complicated control circuit. A Power factor
correction circuit used in between line and nonlinear load can
give both stable output dc voltage and input side high power
factor. This smart feature makes the PFC circuit more attractive
and smart option for power supplies of different power
conversion or in different appliance power supplies. So
different kind of topology and control process has been
developed and evaluated to make the power quality better and
improved power factor. In this paper, PFC boost topology has
been used to improve the power quality and an improved
control method has been shown to reduce power factor at lower
level and also the total harmonic distortion.
 II. RECTIFICATION FOR NONLINEAR LOAD
A circuit diagram of the rectifier for the nonlinear load has
been illustrated. Based on the nonlinear load the phase
difference between the voltage and current has been changed.
The power factor degraded and also the total harmonic
distortion has been degraded [3]. The input voltage has been
set for this rectifier as VRMS = 220v and VPeak to peak voltage =
311.1269 V. Others specification has been set as, DC = 0V,
AC = 220 V, Offset Voltage Voff = 0 V, Peak amplitude of the
source voltage VAMPL = 311.1269837, frequency f = 50 Hz,
TD is the time delay in seconds which set to zero for the
normal sinusoidal wave, DF is the damping factor which is
also set to zero for the normal sinusoidal, phase is the phase
advance in degrees which is set to 90 when need a cosine
wave form and if need the sin wave then it is set to o, here the
sin wave is used and the value is set to 0.
Fig. 1. Circuit diagram of the rectifier for the nonlinear load (drawn using
Pspice)
Fig. 2. Input and output voltage condition of rectifier for nonlinear load
III. SINGLE PHASE DIODE BRIDGE RECTIFIER
A single phase diode bridge rectifier has been depicted. It is
the most frequently used circuit used for the electronic dc
power supplies. It requires four diodes. During the positive half
cycle diode D5 is positive and forward bias and that’s why
current passes through it. In this time diode D5 and D8 become
positive bias and current pass through it and across the load as
well. But in this positive half cycle diode D6 and D7 become
reverse bias that’s why current can’t pass through that. For the
negative half cycle the opposite condition happen that means
the diode D5 and D8 opens and other two closes [4][9]. A
circuit diagram has been given in the following illustration.
Fig. 3. Circuit diagram of the single phase diode bridge rectifier
Here, the source specification has been given like this, DC =
0V, AC = 220 V, Offset Voltage Voff = 0 V, Peak amplitude of
the source voltage VAMPL = 311.1269837, frequency f = 50 Hz,
TD is the time delay in seconds which set to zero for the
normal sinusoidal wave, DF is the damping factor which is also
set to zero for the normal sinusoidal, phase is the phase
advance in degrees which is set to 90 when need a cosine wave
form and if need the sin wave then it is set to o, here the sin
wave is used and the value is set to 0 [5]. The value of the
inductance L1 = 3mH and L2 = 1 uH, the load has been used as
R3= 10K ohm. Now the input current and the voltage shape has
been shown in the following diagram.
Fig. 4. Input voltage and current waveform for the single phase diode bridge
rectifier (figure shows the voltage and current wave forms are in phase)
IV. PFC BOOST TOPOLOGY WITH CONTROLLED CIRCUIT
AC to DC power conversion with power factor correction
works to high frequency and it has the input current drained
from AC mains which is sinusoidal and in phase with AC
voltage. A power factor correction pre regulator is interposed
between AC main and DC load. In this way, nonlinear loads
appear to the AC line as a resistive loads. There are many
topologies that can be used for power converter. The most
popular topology for power factor correction pre regulator is
the boost converter. Any topologies can be used for PFC
pre-regulators, but the most common are fly back converter,
SEPJC converter, Cuk converter, etc. [6]. In this paper boost
converter has been taken into consideration.
A. Boost Converter
Boost converter is the most prominent topology for power
factor correction. The converter manufacturing process is also
very simple. The cardinal concept that drives the boost
converter is the resist of current by the inductor. The boost
converter output voltage is higher than input voltage. A
schematic diagram has been shown in the figure 5. When
switch become close then current flows from source to load
through inductor and energy is stored in inductor. The left side
polarity of inductor is positive. When switch become open then
current will decrease and this current reduction will be opposed
by the inductor [7][8]. As a result inductor polarity will be
opposite. So two voltage sources will act in series connection
and higher voltage will produce which will charge the
capacitor. If the switching frequency is very high then the
inductor will not get enough time to discharge fully and that’s
why in the load side there will always be higher voltage. when
the switch is opened then the capacitor become parallel with
the load and charged by the combined voltage. Again when the
switch become close then the right side become shorted and
capacitor gives the voltage to the load [6]. But at that time
diode blocks the capacitor from discharging. The switching
should be fast so that the capacitor doesn’t discharge. The basic
principle and switching mode of the boost converter has been
depicted in the figure 6. When on state then switch is closed
and inductor current increased. For the off state when switch is
open then the inductor current pass through the fly back diode,
capacitor and load. A boost converter circuit and operation
principle has been depicted graphically in the following figure.

Fig. 5. Boost converter circuit diagram

Fig. 6. Switching mode of the boost converter

 Fig. 8. Control loop bode plot

V. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM AND SIMULATION RESULT

A complete circuit diagram for the power factor correction
by PFC Boost topology using average current control method
has been illustrated below-

The circuit diagram has the following specifications:

L=10mH, C=2.55mF, R=1250 ohms, Vo=400Vdc, IL=
30Amax, D=0.425. So plotting above transfer functions for
these values in Matlab the curve become.

Fig. 9. Circuit diagram of the PFC Boost topology

Fig. 7. Control to output transfer function

B. Control Loop Transfer Function

The bode plot has been depicted for the following control
loop transfer function

Fig. 10. Source voltage and current wave shape (higher amplitude violet
colored curve represents voltage and smaller amplitude yellow colored curve
represents current)
 VI. CONCLUSION
In the simulation process two software has been used.
Microsim Pspice has been used in the simulation of open loop
uncontrolled rectification. In that analysis it has seen that there
is a phase difference between the input voltage and current and
the total harmonic distortion is also very high. Later, Matlab
Simulink has been used to analyze the close loop controlled
rectification. Here the 230V input voltage has been used and
output become 400 VDC. The THD for the circuit is 8.89%.
THD is very less and around 2% when the capacitor value is
less and the controlled loop gain is higher but at the same time
in the output there is an overshoot come and also the rise time
increased so much. So by setting all value in the optimum level
the final THD has come as 8.89%.
Fig. 11. Output waveform
REFERENCES

[1] Nacigenc, I Resi Skender, “Teaching of Power Quality Phenomenon

Based on Modeling and Simulation of Boost Type PFC Converters”,
Computer Applications in Engineering Education, Volume 20, Issue 1,
March 2012
[2] Kunrong Wang, Fred C. Lee and Jason Lai, “Operation Principles Of Bi-
Directional Full-Bridge DC-DC Converter With Unified Soft-Switching
Scheme And Soft-Starting Capability”, IEEE Transaction, 2000
[3] Cristian Fkcat, Mihai Crasi, Niculaie Palaghita, “Design Tool for PFC
Converter Implemented in Matlab”, IEEE Transaction, 2013
[4] Junhong Zhang, “Bidirectional DC-DC Power Converter Design
Optimization, Modeling and Control”, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, USA, 2008
[5] Deepshikha Jaiswal, Mr. K.P. Singh, Dr. A. N. Tiwari, “Analysis of
Bridgeless PFC Boost Converter”, International Journal of Engineering
Research & Technology (IJERT), ISSN: 2278-0181, Vol. 1, Issue 5, July
Fig. 12. FFT analysis of the power factor correction circuit
– 2012
[6] Hamid R. Karshenas, Hamid Daneshpajooh, Alireza Safaee, Praveen
Jain and Alireza Bakhshai, “Bidirectional DC-DC Converters for Energy
Storage Systems”, Energy storage in the Emerging Era of Smart Grid,
ISBN-978-953-307-269-2, September 2011
[7] Jia-You Lee,Yu-Ming Chang, Fang-Yu Liu, “A New UPS Topology
Employing a PFC Boost Rectier Cascaded High-Frequency Tri-Port
Converter”, IEEE Transactions On Industrial Electronics, VOL.46,
NO.4, August 1999
[8] L. Rossetto, G. Spiazzi, P. Tenti, “Control techniques for power factor
correction converters", Proc. PEMC’94- 9, 1994
[9] Chongming Qiao, KeyueMaSmedley, "A topology survey of single-
stage power factor corrector with a boost type input-current-
shaper", Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on 16.3 (2001): 360-368,
2001

Fig. 13. PFC Boost topology circuit diagram with variable load condition