Switched Capacitor-Boost PFC Converter Fed Sensorless BLDC Motor Drive For Air Conditioner

The incorporation of power factor correction (PFC) is a crucial element in the design of home appliances. Power Factor Correction (PFC) is a technique employed to enhance the efficiency of power utilization from the grid to the appliance. This is achieved by reducing the harmonic content of reactive power and improving the power factor. PFC rectifiers featuring current inputs have gained popularity due to their boost topology. Nonetheless, two-stage topologies exhibit reduced output voltages, increased component count, and substantial losses. In this study, a PFC boost rectifier incorporating a hybrid switched capacitor is employed to ensure power quality at the forefront of the brushless DC motor (BLDCM) based air conditioner (AC) compressor drive. The BLDCM is powered by the grid to the DC link via PFC frontend converter, enabling an uninterrupted power supply to the motor. The front-end converter is functioning at continuous conduction mode (CCM) while ensuring a power factor of unity at the AC mains grid side. The speed of a BLDC motor is controlled through the DC link voltage regulation. The estimation of the rotor position is achieved through the utilization of the motor’s terminal voltages. A fully functional power factor corrected BLDC motor drive without the use of position sensors is developed specifically for AC compressor drive applications. The system under consideration is subjected to simulation and thorough analysis.