Wiki article · Collection 04

Power Factor Correction

Engineering reference on Power Factor Correction for wireless power system design, integration, and deployment.

6 minArticle 17/50Power Electronics

Power Factor Correction — educational diagram — Fig.: Educational diagram for “Power Factor Correction”.

Power factor correction shapes AC input current to follow voltage, improving real power delivery and meeting harmonic regulations. Fixed docks without PFC draw peaky current that heats neutral conductors and can disturb other factory loads.

The PFC output bus feeds the WPT inverter. Bus voltage ripple and control bandwidth must support fast load steps when vehicles connect and demand power.

01Topologies

Boost PFC for single-phase dock feeds — common and mature.
Interleaved or bridgeless variants for efficiency at higher power.
Three-phase Vienna or similar for high-power charging lanes.

Power Factor Correction — supporting diagram — Fig.: Supporting illustration for “Power Factor Correction”.

02Interaction with WPT

PFC control loops are slower than inverter loops. Bulk capacitor energy buffers fast WPT load pulses. Size bulk cap for ripple at twice line frequency and for hold-up — undervoltage lockout on the inverter should not nuisance-trip during normal PFC regulation.

03Site planning

Aggregate harmonic contribution when many docks share one transformer.
Monitor PF and THD during commissioning.
Coordinate inrush and PFC soft-start with upstream breakers.