Automatic Power Factor Correction System Using IoT in University Building

Energy efficiency becomes more than a cost issue today. Using energy efficiently leads to a greater savings in resources and saving the environment for future. Increasing efficiency has significant impact on energy savings. A small saving at load level can create a major savings of resources at the power plant. The inductive loads like motors, welding, furnaces, ballasts and compressors needs reactive power(KVAR) to operate. The consumption of reactive power from the grid is possible by the increased consumption of apparent power(KVA) and increase in load current which in turn increase the losses. The power factor is an indication of how well the electricity is efficiently used. The utilities are charging for the inefficient usage and adding incentives for the efficient usage. So, there comes the need for the Power factor correction devices to improve overall electrical efficiency of the power system. As the load variations are unpredictable the Power factor correction has to be automated based on the load level. This project proposes an APFC (Automatic Power Factor Correction) at the load end embedded with the communication devices and sensors for the assurance of better power quality and reduced electricity consumption and ultimately, reduction in electricity bills. The objective of the project is to design a zero human intervention of energy surveillance in order to achieve the unity power factor strategy using the IoT (Internet of Things) technology.