Three-Phase Boost Active Power Factor Correction for Diode Rectifiers.

This report documents an investigation and implementation of a 3 kW active power factor correction pfc design used to enable a diode rectifier to draw sinusoidal line currents with nearly unity power factor from a three-phase utility grid. The design utilizes a boost converter operating in discontinuous conduction mode to perform the pfc and dc regulation. The converter operates at a single frequency using pulse width modulation for dc voltage regulation. This active pfc design is compared to an equivalent conventional diode bridge rectifier supplying identical load without power factor correction to demonstrate the pfc function and benefits while highlighting issues that must be addressed when implementing pfc designs. The comparison of the two topologies is accomplished with resistive and constant power loading. The practical issues which render the proposed topology unfeasible for current commercial utilization are identified.