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Metal encl osed capaci tor banks (MECB) - ABB
Asif Eqbal
Capacitor Banks In Power System (part one)
Capacitance
When a charge is delivered to a conductor its potential is raised in proportion to the quantity of charge
given to it. At a particular potential a conductor can hold a given amount of charge. Capacitance is the term
to indicate the limited ability to hold charge by a conductor.
Let charge given to a conductor be = q
Let V be the potential to which it is raised.
Then q V, or
q = CV
C is constant f or a conductor depending upon its shape size and surrounding medium. This constant is
called capacitance of a conductor.
If V = 1 Volt than C = Q, thus capacitance is def ined as the amount of electric charge in coulomb required
to raise its potential by one volt.
If V = 1 Volt than C = Q, and Q = 1 Coulomb than C = 1 Farad thus one Farad is capacitance of a
capacitor which stores a charge of one coulomb when a voltage of one volt is applied across its terminal.
Capacitor
A capacitor or condenser is a device f or storing large quantity of electric charge. Though the capacity of
a conductor to hold charge at a particular potential is limited, it can be increased artif icially. Thus any
arrangement f or increasing the capacity of a conductor artif icially is called a capacitor.
Capacitors are of many types depending upon its shape, like parallel plate, spherical and cylindrical
capacitors etc.
In capacitor there are two conductors with equal and opposite charge say +q and q. Thus q is
called charge of capacitor and the potential dif f erence is called potential of capacitor.
Principle of Capacit or
Let A be the insulated conductor with a charge of +q units. In the absence of any other conductor near A
charge on A is +q and its potential is V. The capacity of conductor A is theref ore given by:
C = qV
If a second conductor B is kept closed to A than electrostatic induction
takes place. q units of charge are induced on nearer f ace of B and +q
units of charge is induced on f arther f ace of B. Since B is earthed the
charge +q will be neutralized by the f low of electrons f rom the earth.
Potential of A due to self charge = V
Potential of A due to q charge on B = -V
Thus net potential of A = V + (-V) = V -V which is less than V
Hence potential of A has been decreased keeping the charge on it f ixed,
hence capacitance has been increased.
With the presence of B the amount of work done in bringing a unit positive
charge f rom inf inity to conductor A decreases as there will be f orce of
repulsion due to A and attraction due to B. Thus resultant f orce of repulsion is reduced on unit positive
charge and consequently the amount of work doe is less and f inally due to this potential of A decreases.
Theref ore capacity of A to hold charge (Capacitance) is increased.
Top
Dielectric Strength
The material between the two conductors A and B as shown in f igure above is always some dielectric
material. Under normal operating conditions the dielectric materials have a very f ew f ree electrons. If the
electric f ield strength between a pair of charged plates is gradually increases, some of the electrons may
be detached f rom the dielectric resulting in a small current.
When the electric f iled strength applied to a dielectric exceeds a critical value, the insulating properties of
the dielectric material gets destroys and starts conducting between the two conductors A and B.
This is called breakdown of dielectric which is f ault condition f or a capacitor bank. The minimum potential
gradient required to cause such a break down is called the dielectric strength of the material. It measures
the ability of a dielectric to withstand breakdown. It is expressed as kV/mm.
It is reduced by moisture, high temperature; aging etc. Below table gives dielectric strength of some
dielectrics.
Si.No. Dielectric Material Dielectric strength [kV/mm]
1 Air 3
2 Impregnated Paper 4 10
3 Paraf f in Wax 8
4 Porcelain 9 20
5 Transf ormer Oil 13.5
6 Bakelite 20 25
7 Glass 50 120
8 Micanite 30
9 Mica 40 150
Dielectric Strength f or capacitor is the maximum peak voltage that the capacitor is rated to withstand at
room temperature. Test by applying the specif ied multiple of rated voltage f or one minute through a current
limiting resistance of 100 per volt.
Top
Sizing of Capacitor banks f or power f actor improvement
The Power Factor Correction of electrical loads is a problem common to all industrial companies. Every
user which utilizes electrical power to obtain work in various f orms continuously asks the mains to supply a
certain quantity of active power together with reactive power.
Most loads on an electrical distribution system can be placed in one of three categories:
Resistive
Inductive
Capacitive
The most common of these on modern systems is the inductive load. Typical examples includes
transf ormer, f luorescent lighting, AC induction motors, Arc/induction, f urnaces etc. which draw not, only
active power f rom the supply, but also inductive reactive power (KVAr). Common characteristics of these
inductive loads is that they utilize a winding to produce an electromagnetic f ield which allows the motor or
transf ormer to f unction and requires certain amount of electrical power in order to maintaining the f ield.
Theref ore Active Power (KW) actually perf orms the work whereas Reactive Power (KVAr) sustains the
electro-magnetic f ield. This reactive power though is necessary f or the equipment to operate correctly but
could be interpreted as an undesirable burden on the supply.
If we quantif y power f actor improvement aspect f rom the utility companys point of view, than raising the
average operating power f actor of the network f rom 0.7 to 0.9 means:
Cutting costs due to ohmic losses in the network by 40%
Increasing the potential of production and distribution plants by 30%.
These f igures speak f or themselves: it means saving hundreds of thousands of tons of f uel and making
several power plants and hundreds of transf ormer rooms available.
Thus in the case of low power f actors utility companies charge higher rates in order to cover the additional
costs they must incur due to the inef f iciency of the system that taps energy. It is a well-known f act that
electricity users relying on alternating current with the exception of heating elements absorb f rom the
network not only the active energy they convert into mechanical work, light, heat, etc. but also an inductive
reactive energy whose main f unction is to activate the magnetic f ields necessary f or the f unctioning of
electric machines.
Power Factor Tri angl e
Power Factor is also def ined as cos = kW / KVA
One can see af ter compensation requirement of kVAR (equal to kVAR1 kVAR2) f rom the system has gone
down.
Since kVA = kW + kVAR decreased kVAR requirement f rom the system has will result in decreased kVA
requirement, which will consequently result in lower current consumption f rom the source.
Point to be noted in this case that any load which was operating at a power f actor of 0.85 bef ore
compensation continues to operate on same power f actor of 0.85 even af ter compensation. It is the
source power f actor which has been improved by compensating the kVAR requirement of that particular
load (or group of loads) f rom parallel connected capacitor banks. The source is now relieved of providing
some amount of kVAR (=kVAR1 kVAR2).
COMPENSATED kVAR =
kVAR1 kVAR2 = kW tan1 tan 2 = kW [tan1 - tan 2]
Hence Required
Rating of
Capacitor banks
to be connected
= kW [tan1 -
tan 2]
Where,
cos 1 =
Operating Power
Factor
cos 2 = Target
Power Factor or
Power Factor
af ter
improvement.
To be continued
in 2
nd
part
Capacitor
Banks In Power System (part two)