Switchable Capacitor Bank

Switchable Capacitor Bank Definition

A switchable capacitor bank is defined as a set of capacitors that can be turned on or off to manage reactive power in an electrical system.

Purpose

The main purpose of a switched capacitor bank is to improve power factor and voltage profile by balancing the inductive reactive power in the system.

Reactive Power Management

Switched capacitor banks help in reducing overall reactive power, which enhances system efficiency and stability.

Automatic Control

These banks can be controlled automatically based on system voltage, current load, reactive power demand, power factor, or timers.

Benefits

• A capacitor bank can be automatically switched ON and OFF depending upon condition of different parameters of the system-Capacitor Bank can be controlled automatically depending upon voltage profile of the system. Since the voltage of the system depends upon the load, hence capacitor may be switched on just below a certain preset voltage level of the system and also it should be switched OFF above a preset higher voltage level.

• Capacitor bank can also be switched ON and OFF depending upon the Amp of the load.

• The function of a capacitor bank is to neutralize reactive power in the system, measured in KVAR or MVAR. The switching of the capacitor bank depends on the reactive power load. When KVAR demand exceeds a preset value, the bank switches on and switches off when the demand drops below another preset value.

• Power factor can be used as another system parameter to control a capacitor bank. When the power factor of the system comes below a predetermined value the bank is automatically switched ON to improve the pf.

• A capacitor bank can also be controlled by a timer. It can be set to switch off at the end of every factory shift using a timer.