What is the use of capacitor bank?

Answer 1

I believe that capacitor banks are used to improve the power factor of lagging loads. They do this by reducing the reactive load.

Capacitor banks cannot improve the resistive component of a load, and they cannot improve the power factor of leading loads.

Here is an explanation of the technical terms used:

A leading load is one where current leads voltage. Lagging or reactive loads have current which lags the voltage. Resistive loads have a current which is in phase with (not leading or lagging) voltage.

If a capacitor bank is used on a circuit where current lags voltage, it decreases the current lag, improving the power factor. If a capacitor bank is used on a leading or resistive load, it will increase the leading time and make the power factor worse.

A leading load is one that is already too capacitive.

Answer 2

A capacitor bank is a grouping of several identical capacitors interconnected in parallel or in series with one another. These groups of capacitors are typically used to correct or counteract undesirable characteristics, such as power factor lag or phase shifts inherent in alternating current (AC) electrical power supplies. Capacitor banks may also be used in direct current (DC) power supplies to increase stored energy and improve the ripple current capacity of the power supply.

Answer 3

In high voltage situations, a capacitor bank stores a charge of electric, similar to a battery, so that when a sudden large draw is put on the line, thus causing the voltage to drop, it will do a temporary release of stored energy into that line causing the sustained energy level to be more stabilized.

Answer 4

A Capacitor Bank is a group of several capacitors of the same rating that are connected in series or parallel with each other to store electrical energy . The resulting bank is then used to counteract or correct a power factor lag or phase shift in an alternative current (AC) power supply. They can also be used in a direct current (DC) power supply to increase the ripple current capacity of the power supply or to increase the overall amount of stored energy.

There are some specific advantages of using capacitor bank such as,

a) It reduces line current of the system.

b) It improves voltage level of the load.

c) It also reduces system Losses.

d) It improves power factor of the source current.

e) It reduces load of the alternator.

f) It reduces capital investment per mega watt of the Load.