Working Principle of Power Factor Controller
Apr 15, 2026| Power factor controller, also known as reactive power compensation controller, is the core component of the reactive power compensation cabinet. It not only controls the entire reactive power compensation cabinet but also measures power factor. Common measurement methods include the following:
1.Direct sampling of voltage and current waveforms to measure power factor. This method is simple but has poor adaptability and large errors in the presence of harmonics.
2.Measurement of reactive current, which is converted to power factor. This method is relatively simple but has low accuracy and cannot mitigate harmonics.
3.Measurement of active power and reactive power, which are converted to power factor. This is the most popular method at present, featuring high accuracy and excellent adaptability to harmonics. It depends not only on hardware design but also involves complex technology and high requirements for software programming. Improper technology can easily lead to measurement errors. Many enterprises lack in-house programming and testing personnel, so few manufacturers can truly implement this measurement method.
The reactive power compensation controller adopts an advanced MCU as its core and uses three-phase AC synchronous sampling to monitor and process various power grid parameters in real time. After measuring the load power factor, it controls the switching (switching on/off) of capacitor banks. It supports not only conventional three-phase balanced compensation but also per-phase unbalanced compensation, achieving more refined compensation performance.
In terms of operational safety protection, besides basic protections against overvoltage, undervoltage, harmonic voltage and harmonic current, it also applies switching time control and protection time control - a dual time-control protection scheme - for capacitors, the core components of reactive power compensation.
Jinneng electric JKW5C Low voltage power factor controller has the features:
✔ Dual Control Modes – Power factor control & reactive power control.
✔ Anti-Oscillation Function – Prevents frequent switching in power factor mode.
✔ Automatic Current Polarity Detection – High accuracy and reliability.
✔ User-Friendly Interface – Easy operation and parameter adjustment.
✔ Harmonic Monitoring & Protection – Ensures safe operation under distorted waveforms.
✔ Fully Digital Settings – Adjustable parameters with non-volatile memory (retains settings after power loss).
✔ Manual/Auto Mode – Supports flexible installation and testing.
✔ Overvoltage Protection – Safeguards against voltage surges