Compensation of Power Factor in Rectifier Systems Utilized in Oil Drilling Rigs

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the power factor in 3-phase rectifier systems utilized in oil drilling rigs and proposes the use of the thyris tor controlled reactor (TCR)/fixed capacitor as a solution to improve power factor in these systems. The input/output mathematical models for the conventional full-bridge, and modified converter (as proposed by Stefanovic) are presented, for all fining angles and various types of load. The advantages of utilizing the power factor compensation in oil drilling rigs like fuel and maintenance costs saving, possibility of turning off one or more prime movers, improvement in the diesel engine loading characteristics, are shown. This study was firstly developed for power factor correction in oil drilling rigs but it can be used in most industrial 3-phase controlled rectifier systems.