Power factor improvement device

A power factor correction device comprising:

• (a) first, second, and third input terminals to which three-phase alternating current (AC) is inputted;
• (b) a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal;
• (c) first, second, and third transformers having primary coils with first ends respectively connected to the first, second, and third input terminals and secondary coils with first ends respectively connected to the negative electrode terminal;
• (d) one or more switching elements having control ends controlled so as to selectively open and close a current path between second ends of the primary coils of the first, second, and third transformers and a common potential terminal on a side of the primary coils;
• (e) first, second, and third rectifying devices respectively disposed between second ends of said secondary coils of the first, second, and third transformers and the positive electrode terminal so as to pass current flow into the positive electrode terminal when the second ends of the secondary coils have forward-biased potentials and block current flow into the positive electrode terminal when the second ends of the secondary coils have reverse-biased potentials;
• and
• (f) a smoothing condenser disposed between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal;
• wherein
• (g) the control ends of the one or more switching elements are controlled by a single control signal having a constant duty ratio;
• and
• wherein one of the one or more switching elements comprises a first sub-switching element and a second sub-switching element,
• the first sub-switching element having a control end having an end connected to the common potential terminal and on-off controlled so as to pass or interrupt the current flowing into the primary coils, and the second sub-switching element being disposed between the first sub-switching element and the primary coil in serial alignment with the first sub-switching element and having a control end, and
• wherein the power factor correction device further comprises
• a Zener diode (ZD) disposed between the connecting point of the first and second sub-switching elements and the control terminal of the second sub-switching element, and
• a resistance element disposed between one of the input terminals and the control terminal of the second sub-switching element,
• the Zener diode being disposed so as to apply reverse bias to the voltage between the one of the input terminals and the common potential terminal on the side of the primary coils.