Microchip Technology MCP3901EV-MCU16 Data Sheet
Installation and Operation
2010 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS51915A-page 13
2.1.3
Power Factor Compensation
One of the major tasks in energy meter design is to minimize the effect of the power
factor variations on measurement accuracy. In order to have accurate measurements
over a wide range of power factors, it is necessary to have the same delays on both
current and voltage channels. Any difference in values between the two delays will
cause undesirable variations in the measurement of power and energy, as shown on
the display, according to the power factor. The external passive components can
induce a phase shift because of the part’s value tolerances.
The MCP3901 device contains a phase delay compensation block that adds extra
delays on one channel relative to the other, compensating for the power factor
variations.
The extra delays added are controlled by the user through an internal Phase Delay reg-
ister (kk) on the MCP3901 device. Figure 2-3 illustrates the measurement accuracy at
different power factors and for different Phase Delay register values. It shows how a
small delay was necessary on one of the channels to achieve minimum errors on a
wider range of angles.
factor variations on measurement accuracy. In order to have accurate measurements
over a wide range of power factors, it is necessary to have the same delays on both
current and voltage channels. Any difference in values between the two delays will
cause undesirable variations in the measurement of power and energy, as shown on
the display, according to the power factor. The external passive components can
induce a phase shift because of the part’s value tolerances.
The MCP3901 device contains a phase delay compensation block that adds extra
delays on one channel relative to the other, compensating for the power factor
variations.
The extra delays added are controlled by the user through an internal Phase Delay reg-
ister (kk) on the MCP3901 device. Figure 2-3 illustrates the measurement accuracy at
different power factors and for different Phase Delay register values. It shows how a
small delay was necessary on one of the channels to achieve minimum errors on a
wider range of angles.
FIGURE 2-3:
Error vs. Phase Angle vs. Phase Delay Register.
The value of the Phase Delay register is automatically computed during the meter cal-
ibration routine. Power meter calibration and all of the processes that are performed
are described in Section 2.2 “Calibration Procedure”.
Once written into the MCP3901 ADC Phase Delay register, the Phase Delay block
inside the MCP3901 ADC compensates for power-factor-related errors. This method
decreases the computation requirement on the PIC18F25K20 MCU.
ibration routine. Power meter calibration and all of the processes that are performed
are described in Section 2.2 “Calibration Procedure”.
Once written into the MCP3901 ADC Phase Delay register, the Phase Delay block
inside the MCP3901 ADC compensates for power-factor-related errors. This method
decreases the computation requirement on the PIC18F25K20 MCU.
Error VS Angle VS Phase Delay Register (kk)
-0.3
-0.25
-0.2
-0.15
-0.1
-0.05
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
-90
-60
-30
0
30
60
90
Angle (degrees)
Error (%)
kk=-1
kk=-2
kk=0
kk=1
kk=-2
kk=0
kk=1