Demystifying Three-Phase Active Front End or Power Factor Correction (PFC) Topologies

Application Note Overview 

Three−phase Power Factor Correction (PFC) systems (or also call Active Rectification or Active Front−End systems) are becoming of great interest, experiencing a sharp increase in demand in recent years. This article introduces the key advantages of three−phase systems and dives into the essential design considerations for a three−phase PFC. Furthermore, it presents the most common three−phase PFC boost topologies in the market, and discusses their pros and cons. Overall the article provides guidance on how to approach a three−phase PFC design from scratch and on the suitability of the different topologies based on the application requirements.