Simple Explanation

Power factor correction improves the alignment between the current and voltage in an electrical system, making the system more efficient by reducing phase errors and improving the wave shape.

Concise Technical Definition

Power-factor correction (PFC) reduces phase errors and improves the wave shape in electrical sources and power supplies. It makes the load appear more resistive, ensuring that the current waveform is in phase with the voltage waveform. Power factor ranges from 0 to 1, with a value of 1 (unity) indicating that the current and voltage waveforms are perfectly aligned, as in a purely resistive load. PFC improves the phase relationship and/or harmonic content of the current to match the input voltage.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Think of it like a car engine running smoothly: PFC ensures that the power (current) is flowing in sync with the voltage, just like the engine running without misfires. When the current and voltage are in sync, everything works efficiently.

Industry Usage Summary

Power factor correction is crucial in power supplies and electrical systems, especially for devices with motors, amplifiers, and other inductive loads. PFC ensures that the system operates more efficiently by improving the alignment of the voltage and current waveforms, reducing energy loss and improving overall performance. PFC is widely used in industries to reduce the energy consumed by electrical equipment and to prevent excessive heat generation, particularly in AC power systems where the input voltage is sinusoidal.

Engineering Shortcut

A system or device that improves the phase relationship between voltage and current, typically using passive or active components to make the load appear more resistive.

Full Technical Explanation

Power-factor correction (PFC) is the process of improving the phase relationship and/or harmonic content of the current so that it aligns more closely with the input voltage, reducing power losses and improving system efficiency. PFC circuits reduce phase errors and make the load appear more resistive, which is particularly important in systems with reactive loads like motors or amplifiers. Power factor ranges from 0 to 1, with a value of 1 indicating perfect alignment of the voltage and current waveforms (unity). For AC systems, where the mains voltage is typically sinusoidal, a power factor of unity requires the current waveform to be in-phase with the voltage waveform. PFC can be achieved through passive or active methods, with active correction generally providing more precise control over the phase relationship and harmonic content.