Power Factor Improvement of Boost PFC Converter for Street Light Application

Krishna P.; Devendra Potnuru

Abstract

Street lighting is an integral part of urban infrastructure, ensuring public safety and urban development. The conventional street lighting systems often exhibit poor power factor characteristics, leading to inefficient energy usage and increased electricity costs. This paper presents a study focused on enhancing the power factor of a Boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter tailored specifically for street light applications. The Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights powered by AC sources exhibit non-linear characteristics. Consequently, such LEDs powered by AC power sources are prone to having a low power factor and high total harmonic distortion. This paper addresses the issues associated with low power factors, such as increased line losses and decreased system efficiency. In this paper, Power Factor Correction using Boost Converter is presented for LED street light application, which significantly enhances power factor, ultimately promoting energy conservation, cost savings, and environmental sustainability in street lighting applications. The validation of Power Factor Correction (PFC) feasibility is confirmed through MATLAB simulations. Comprehensive simulation results are provided, showcasing the substantial improvement achieved in the power factor. The results confirm that Boost PFC converters have the capacity to achieve near unity power factor and comply with the utility regulations. Harmonic analysis before and after power factor improvement confirms the effectiveness of the converter in mitigating harmonics.