Capacitor Switchboard Guide: Components, Types, Advantages, and Applications

General Review of Capacitor Switchboard

Surely, we have all seen and are familiar with the electric meter. Now, the electrical panel is essentially the same as the electric meter found in homes, but on a larger scale for bigger locations such as factories, offices, hospitals, etc. This is because a regular meter cannot handle the power input required for these places. Therefore, to manage, upgrade, control, and protect the electrical system, an electrical panel is used.

Electrical panels are designed, manufactured, and marketed in various types. Here we intend to introduce you to the capacitor electrical panel, which is one of the types of electrical panels. So stay with us…

Everything You Need to Know About Capacitor Switchboards

Capacitor switchboard is one of the most widely used equipment in the field of electronics, also known as capacitor bank switchboard.

To understand more, it is better to get acquainted with the concept of a capacitor bank: a set of capacitors placed next to each other with different powers. These capacitors will be used to correct the power factor of the network. This type of switchboard is used in industrial centers and complexes, large factories, etc.

The capacitor bank panel consists of the following equipment and parts:

• Capacitors: for power factor correction
• Contactor: For connecting capacitors in the circuit and automatic control
• Fuses: For protection against overcurrent and short circuits.
• Fuse (main switch): To protect the entire capacitor bank power circuit
• Regulator: To control the contactor control circuit or to intelligently insert capacitors into the circuit.

In general, each capacitor switchboard consists of a three-phase power input that is connected to the main switch (the main switch transfers the three phases to the fuses via a copper bus).

Each fuse supplies power to each contactor and, consequently, to the capacitor, which is called a capacitor step. The regulator detects the amount of capacitor required using a current transformer located on the main line of the consumers and, by activating the contactor, introduces the capacitors into the circuit.

What Are the Most Important Advantages of Using Capacitor Bank Panels?

A capacitor switchboard is a set of devices that are used to compensate for reactive power and increase the power factor. In addition to this, other important uses for it include:

• Cost-effectiveness makes their installation essential in industrial environments.
• Reducing voltage drop means that capacitors, by neutralizing the leading-phase current of inductive elements, will reduce the current consumption and, as a result, reduce losses and reduce voltage drop in the wires.
• They reduce the cost of electricity bills by more than half; that is, if capacitor bank panels are not used, the reactive meter of the electricity department, in addition to calculating the active meter separately, will also calculate the cost of electricity.
• By using a capacitor switchboard, you can significantly improve the power factor. The power factor of an electrical device is the amount of reactive energy that the device uses.
• Capacitor bank panels have the ability to adjust and maintain a constant voltage; therefore, they significantly prevent damage to the intended devices.

Introduction to Types of Capacitive Electrical Panels

• Fixed type capacitor bank panels
• Automatic capacitor bank panel

Capacitor banks are used in the power industry in two types: fixed and automatic. The main purpose of both types of capacitor banks is to compensate reactive power and increase the power factor (power factor) in low-voltage distribution networks.

Fixed Type Capacitor Bank Panels

They are made in the shape of a rectangular cube and in steel bodies, in three phases in different voltages and powers. This type of panel can be installed and used on electric motors, transformers, agricultural well pumps, industrial centers, etc. in a group or individually.

Automatic Capacitor Bank Panel

This model is used in large and small factories, office complexes, commercial centers, hospitals, and more. It is designed and produced in various reactive power capacities, tailored to the customer’s needs. It features a smart regulator that can measure values, waveform shapes, and the time differences between voltage and current, allowing the required capacitor to be determined and connected to the network.

Also remember that to connect an automatic capacitor bank, we must create appropriate steps to connect the capacitor bank to the consumer network so that the capacitor bank starts operating with the regulator’s command to the capacitor contactors and the stored reactive power enters the system circuit or network.

Capacitor Bank Circuit

A series of capacitors connected in parallel to the power grid. This series plays a very important role in improving power quality and reducing energy costs in electrical systems.

Why Do We Need a Capacitor Bank?

In electrical systems, especially in industry, inductive loads such as motors and transformers generate reactive power. Reactive power transfers energy between the source and the load without doing any useful work, resulting in increased current and voltage drop.

This leads to increased energy losses, reduced system efficiency, and increased energy costs.

By injecting negative reactive power into the network, the capacitor bank neutralizes the reactive power generated by inductive loads and brings the power factor closer to the ideal value (around 0.95).

Main Components of a Capacitor Bank Circuit

• The main element of the capacitor bank is that it produces negative reactive power.
• Switches: They are used to connect and disconnect capacitors and control the amount of injected reactive power.
• Controller: It is a system that issues commands to connect and disconnect capacitors based on network parameter measurements.
• Electrical panel: Used to install and protect capacitor bank components.

Advantages of Using a Capacitor Bank

• Reducing energy losses: By improving the power factor, energy losses in transmission and distribution lines are reduced.
• Reducing the voltage drop: By reducing the current, the voltage drop in the lines is reduced and the voltage at the point of consumption becomes more stable.
• Increasing network capacity: By improving the power factor, the network transmission capacity increases.
• Reducing energy costs: Reducing energy losses and increasing system efficiency leads to reduced energy costs.
• Improving power quality: By reducing voltage and current fluctuations, power quality improves.

Types of Capacitor Banks

Capacitor banks are divided into different types based on the type of control and how the capacitors are connected:

• Fixed capacitor bank: The capacitors are permanently connected to the grid and the amount of injected reactive power is constant.
• Automatic capacitor bank: The amount of injected reactive power is automatically adjusted based on network conditions.
• Stepped capacitor bank: Capacitors are connected to the network in groups, and the amount of reactive power is adjusted by connecting and disconnecting different groups.

Applications of Capacitor Banks

Capacitor banks are used in the following various industries:

• Textile industries
• Steel industries
• Chemical industries
• Food industries
• Air conditioning systems

Conclusion

Finally: In general, it should be said that an electrical panel is a device that monitors the amount of current and electronic fluctuations and controls the power entering electrical devices. These devices have different types and are used according to environmental conditions, protection, and the space required for installation.