Power Factor Correction

[vicw]

Hi,

I've got a power supply with a power factor correction that &quot;the power supply shall meet the IEC-1000-3-2 Standard&quot;? Does anyone know what that means? I looked under the IEC website and found this: &quot;Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 3-2: Limits - Limits for harmonic current emissions (equipment input current <= 16 A per phase)&quot; All I want to know is the power factor.

Thanks,
Vic

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Nowadays with the higher harmonic content due to nonlinear loads, the power factor also changed. The traditional power factor dealing with pure sinusoidal waveform and with cos(fi)= Watts/VAs or something similar is considered challenged by harmonic distortion factor in relationship with displacement power factor (normal traditional power factor). This where harmonic standards get involved since to determine the harmonic distortion factor, one must know harmonic limits set by those standards. Therefore, to compensate the power factor involves harmonics or the harmonic content in the voltage waveform and current waveform.