Comparative study between passive PFC and active PFC based on Buck-Boost conversion

Abstract

Electric power quality has become an important part of power systems and electric machinery, so the research on harmonic reduction and enhancement of Power Factor (PF) has become intensified. In this paper, a comparison between passive Power Factor Corrector (PFC) traditionally used in the power systems and an active PFC type based on buck boost conversion is drawn according to harmonic distortion in source current and its effect on input source PF. The focus of this work is on single phase Buck-Boost PFC, modified Buck-Boost PFC and bridgeless Buck-Boost PFC out of many other types of Buck-Boost PFC. These types were modeled using POWER-SIM toolbox in Simulink and the input power factor (PF) and total harmonic distortion (THD) for each type are determined and analyzed.