A power factor compensator using a force-commutated cycloconverter

A power-factor compensator using a force-commutated cycloconverter (FCC) is proposed that keeps the displacement factor of the AC system at unity regardless of the load power factor. No energy storage elements or feedback controls are required. An FCC with half of the load capacity can provide fast and complete compensation of the reactive power in the load. An extension of the basic concept results in a power-factor compensator with output-voltage control that retains most of the merits of the original system and extends the areas of application.<>