PFC用語集

A capacitor designed for operation with alternating voltage. 

NOTE: AC capacitors may be used with DC voltages only if authorized by the manufacturer. 

Active harmonic filters are usually shunt elements that are used in power systems for decreasing voltage and current distortion and for power factor correction. The principle of the Active Harmonic Filter is to produce harmonic currents equal in magnitude, but opposite in phase, to those harmonics that are present in the grid. AHFs are usually able to additionally perform load balancing and power factor correction if needed or enabled.

Power in an electrical installation that is converted to mechanical work or thermal energy.

This is a single controller which is used to control both the SVG and contactor or thyristor switched capacitor banks together. This controller is used in hybrid PFC panels.

The temperature of the air measured at a distance of 10 cm from the capacitor and at 67% of its height.

APFC is the abbreviation for Automatic Power Factor Correction.

The capacitor branches / steps are controlled by a microprocessor-based PFC controller. This controller continuously monitors the relevant grid parameters and switches capacitors in/out to maintain the specified cos phi value.

The power drawn by an electrical installation during operation. It consists of the active power P and the reactive power Q.

See Mains signalling voltage

The "frequency" or "rated frequency" of an electrical network or component. 

The current range or current value that can cause a fuse to disconnect at a specific voltage under specified conditions of use and behavior.

A passive electronic component capable of storing electric charges and thus electrical energy. It basically consists of two conductive surfaces a short distance apart separated by a dielectric. The properties of capacitors vary strongly depending on their conductive parts, dielectrics, contacts and geometrical configurations. In PFC LV capacitors, metalized polypropylene or paper is widely used as the conductive surface and polypropylene as the dielectric. Long strips of these materials are wound to form a cylindrical capacitor element (winding). The winding is finally contacted by metal wires and enclosed in a metal can. The relevant design and control standard is IEC 60831.

A number of capacitors and other components, such as fuses, contactors and controllers, connected together to function as a single system.

Special contactors designed for connecting capacitors. They protect capacitors against high inrush currents that can reach values of up to 200 times the rated capacitor current. Without the use of such contactors, these inrush currents could damage the capacitors sufficiently to cause failures. This harmful effect also shortens the capacitor's operating life.

See Capacitor

The power dissipated in the capacitor. The upper limit is stated in the capacitor specifications (e.g. 0.5 W/kvar). The capacitor losses consist of dielectric losses that depend on the applied voltage frequency and ohmic losses that depend on the applied current and serial capacitor resistance.

See APFC (Automatic PFC)

An electromechanical switch designed to connect or disconnect devices to a power network. For LV applications, it is usually implemented with two metal contacts per phase that are contacted or separated by a magnetic field.

See also Capacitor contactors

Any device that controls a number of switches (in PFC usually contactors or thyristors) in order to connect and disconnect the steps of a capacitor bank to the power network. As a rule, a processor-controlled electronic device that measures the current and voltage in the grid, calculates the power factor / cos phi and switches in an optimum number of capacitors to reach the programmed cos phi. State-of-the-art devices offer additional features such as THD-I and THD-V measurement, automatic set-up on connection, zero voltage release, error messages etc.

For more information, refer to the controller section of the EPCOS PFC Product Profile and the EPCOS controller data sheets.

Cosine of the angular difference between the current and voltage phases at a given time in an electrical network. In the case of an ideal sinusoidal waveform, it is equal to the power factor.

A capacitor designed for operation with direct voltage.

NOTE: DC capacitors may be used with AC voltages only if authorized by the manufacturer. 

Based on MKP technology with stacked windings, DeltaCap PFC capacitors are especially developed for low voltage power factor correction (LV PFC) applications in industrial and other installations. The capacitors are manufactured using metalized polypropylene film as the dielectric and housed in a cylindrical aluminum can. They are impregnated with biodegradable soft resin, feature a dual safety system with an improved welded safety overpressure safety device, similar to the PhaseCap Energy 4.0.

Based on the proven MKP technology with stacked windings, DeltaCap X Black Premium capacitors are developed for low voltage power factor correction (LV PFC) and harmonic filtering applications, especially in industrial installations with harsh conditions. The special black coating improves heat dissipation, thereby achieving a very long service life of up to 300,000 hours in accordance with temperature class -40/D. Thanks to the extremely rugged construction, the capacitors of the B32305A* series can withstand a maximum inrush current of 500 x IR, temperatures of up to +65 °C and perform up to 62,000 operating cycles per year.

A PFC application in which a reactor/capacitor combination is used to reduce harmonics by intentionally creating minima in the impedance spectrum at specified frequencies and to protect the capacitors. In contrast to tuned PFC, the LC filter frequency is set at a comfortable distance to the resonant frequencies of the harmonics to avoid overload due to resonance. The filter effect achieved is thus smaller than for tuned PFC, but still sufficient for most applications. Note that the 3rd harmonic and its multiples cannot be filtered this way. In PFC, the filter frequency is usually expressed in percent as a detuning factor p. Common standard factors are 7% (189 Hz) and 14% (134 Hz). 7% detuning is effective for the 5^th, 7^th and 11^th harmonics. 14% detuning, although often called filtering, actually increases the impedance for the 5^th harmonic and upward. The capacitors are protected from harmonic currents in this way, and while no big filter effect is obtained for the power network, the capacitors are not overloaded and can therefore correct the power factor. 

Ratio of the impedances of a reactor/capacitor combination in detuned PFC.

An inductor that discharges a capacitor to 75 V or less within 3 minutes. It usually has a considerably shorter discharge time than a discharge resistor. Nevertheless, its main advantage is its substantially lower losses during capacitor operation, due to its high AC resistance.

An ohmic discharge device for a capacitor. It is usually pre-mounted or supplied together with an EPCOS PFC capacitor. IEC 60831 stipulates that after disconnection, a capacitor must be discharged to 75 V or less within ≤ 3 minutes by this device.

A PFC method designed especially to handle fast-changing reactive power requirements. EPCOS dynamic PFC uses only thyristor switches with a reaction time of 5 to 20 ms. As thyristors keep the capacitors at the maximum network voltage (e.g. 566 V in a 400 V_RMS AC network) when disconnected, the capacitor discharge time is also short (only overvoltages generated by switching need to be discharged) and a capacitor step can be switched in again after approximately 200 ms. Load changes in the millisecond range, such as transients or motor-start effects can thus be compensated, which is not possible for contactor-switched PFC with a switching time in the seconds range and capacitor discharge times of 60 to 75 s. 

Any device that passes on only a selected part of its input as output. In power quality applications, it is usually used as a filter for specific voltage/current frequencies in a power network.

For more information, refer to tuned and detuned PFC 

Power factor correction using fixed capacitors with no switching options.

The subjective impression of an unsteady visual sensation induced by a light stimulus whose luminance or spectral distribution fluctuates with time. Voltage fluctuations can cause changes in lamp luminance which can create the visual phenomenon known as flicker. Above a certain threshold, it becomes annoying. The annoyance grows very rapidly with the amplitude of the fluctuation. At certain repetition rates, even very small amplitudes can be annoying. 

The repetition rate of the fundamental wave of the supply voltage measured over a given interval of time. Usually 50 or 60 Hz.

A device that disconnects one part of an electrical installation from the rest when a given value of a parameter (usually a current) is reached for a defined time period.

See Supply voltage.

This term refers to connecting fixed or automatically controlled capacitors to a group of simultaneously operating loads, such as motors.

Harmonics are integral multiples of a fundamental frequency that, when added together, distort the normally sinusoidal waveform. They are usually derived by a Fourier transform of the measured current and/or voltage curves (over time) at multiples of the network's base frequency. They are usually specified as a percentage known as the total harmonic distortion referred to the RMS value of the base current or voltage. For example:
The abbreviations THD-U and THD-V are commonly used for the voltage terms, which are calculated in the same way as THD-I. Harmonics cause numerous problems in power networks and are increasing because they represent a growing problem for modern electrical and electronic equipment.

For more information, consult the technical part of the EPCOS PFC Product Profile. The 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th harmonics, and odd ones up to the 50^th harmonic, are most common.

The ratio of the frequency of a harmonic to the fundamental (rated) network frequency.

The temperature of the hottest spot inside a capacitor. It is caused by its power losses during operation. Its temperature and location depend not only on these losses, but also on the capacitor's heat dissipation properties and the ambient temperature. The hot spot is usually located close to the core of the capacitor winding at about two-thirds of its height from the base. 

A PFC system combining electromechanical and thyristor-switched steps to respond simultaneously to fast and slow-changing demands for reactive power.

See Fixed PFC

A transient current surge of high amplitude and frequency that may occur when a capacitor is connected to the power network. Its amplitude and frequency are determined by factors such as the short-circuit impedance of the power supply, the capacitance connected in parallel, the residual capacitor charge, and the grid conditions at the moment of switching. 

A measure of the degree of protection: the first digit refers to electric shock hazards and the second one to the intrusion of unwanted substances. 

All important parts required to set up a PFC/PQS system, such as capacitors, controllers, reactors, contactors or thyristor modules.

In PFC voltages up to 1 kV RMS. 

A signal superimposed on the supply voltage for the purpose of transmission of information (e.g. signals to automatically switch in and out special loads).

The average time up to which useful service of a device is expected under the conditions specified by the manufacturer and the relevant (international) standards. 

In PFC, voltages with RMS values above 1 kV and below 35 kV.

A capacitor whose electrodes consist of metal foils separated by a non-metallized dielectric of different material. In the event of dielectric breakdown, the capacitor cannot perform self-healing.

See Hybrid compensation

A capacitor technology with metallized polypropylene as dielectric and electrode. Three-phase MKK capacitors employ concentric capacitor elements. They are produced by winding the metalized film around a single core to form all three capacitances from the center of the element to its outer rim. The three capacitances are separated by non-metalized isolation film between the three segments of this winding. In this way, a very compact capacitor can be designed and constructed with fewer internal connections, as the phases can be interconnected by spraying metal directly onto the top and bottom of the winding.

See also PhaseCap

A capacitor technology with metallized polypropylene as dielectric and electrode. In three-phase MKP capacitors, three single-phase capacitor elements are stacked on top of each other. They have a production advantage over MKK capacitors thanks to simpler winding, but need more internal wire connections between the elements and more space for additional parts between the single windings.

See also PhiCap

A capacitor technology with non-metallized polypropylene film as dielectric and metalized paper as the electrode. The capacitor element is produced by winding alternating layers of polypropylene and paper together. Such capacitors are usually filled with mineral oil as the impregnation agent. As non-metalized polypropylene can withstand higher electric field strengths (voltage loads) and the mineral oil gives excellent heat dissipation properties, these capacitors can cope with exceptional electrical and temperature conditions.

See Supply voltage

See Rated

This terminal is used for PFC-capacitors of the new generation (PhaseCap C-series, PhaseCap Compact, PhaseCap HD and PhiCap E-series) for fast and easy cable connection to the capacitor. It offers two contacts per phase as well as electric shock protection to IP20.

For further information, refer to the EPCOS PFC Product Profile or contact the local EPCOS sales office.

Any kind of current load applied to a device above its rated value.

See Tear-off fuse

Any kind of voltage load applied to a device above its rated value. 

Abbreviation for Power Factor Correction. Any method to achieve a power factor as close to unity as desired. 

The next-generation MKK capacitor from EPCOS. Relying on the same successful concentric winding technology as PhaseCap it features an innovative internal construction and an improved terminal concept. These innovations enable customers to connect cables with larger cross sections more safely and thus improve the reliability of their PFC systems. The enhanced performance of the new capacitor includes a longer operating life as well as an improved capability to withstand inrush and surge currents.

Contact your EPCOS sales contact to learn more about this next step in improving capacitors for PFC. 

The PhaseCap Energy 4.0 series represents a new generation of capacitors for power factor correction. On the basis of well-proven MKK-technology, this extension of the PhaseCap series offers some major enhancements. These capacitors are manufactured using Industry 4.0 technologies and processes. Instead of a notch wire the PhaseCap Energy 4.0 features a new welded overpressure safety disconnector. The enhanced performance of this series includes a longer operating life as well as an improved capability to withstand inrush and surge currents.

The EPCOS PFC capacitor with high power density offers an output of up to 60 kvar. This not only means enormous power per capacitor volume and thus allows panel builders to increase the packing density in their cabinets, it also reduces the requirement for other components (such as cables) for the user. It consists of three large stacked capacitor elements and is gas-impregnated like the PhaseCap.

For further information, see the EPCOS PFC Product Profile.

The EPCOS product name for capacitors in MKP technology. It represents a smart balance between production costs and quality. The result is a product with excellent technical specifications, making it a good choice for a wide range of PFC applications. PhiCap capacitors are usually impregnated with biodegradable resinol. Thanks to these features, millions of PhiCap capacitors have been sold in recent years.

For further information, refer to the EPCOS PFC Product Profile.

A capacitor concept designed for external mounting or for environments requiring dust and water protection to IP54. An additional protection cap and contact cables to either a PhaseCap or PhiCap capacitor produces a comparatively small, independent capacitor unit. Originally developed for mounting on the top of electric poles in developing countries, it features a red bead on the aluminum can that expands to become visible when the overpressure disconnector is activated.

The power factor is the ratio of active power P to apparent power S under sinusoidal conditions.

For further information, refer to the technical section of the EPCOS PFC Product Profile.

Abbreviation for Power Quality Solutions.

PQS is the EPCOS concept of providing customers not only with standalone components, but with the complete set of key components needed to design a solution for a power quality problem, including the service and know-how of experienced EPCOS staff and partners.

For further information, contact your local EPCOS sales office.

The PQSine S series is an active harmonic filter system designed to eliminate harmonic oscillations and consequently reduce costs. PQSine S series monitors the current signal and compensates the unwanted elements of the measured current. Thus, the filter ensures harmonic suppression independently of the number of loads. It also corrects the power factor, improving the system efficiency while reducing harmonic pollution.

See Active Harmonic Filter - AHF for more details.

PQvar static var generators represent a new approach to power factor correction and load balancing. The modular design and compact structure make the PQvar Series the ideal solution for active stepless PFC and load balancing in industrial applications and commercial buildings. Compared to conventional PFC systems, PQvar offers a response time of less than 15 ms and a dynamic reaction time of less than 50 µs. It can compensate both inductive and capacitive loads and achieve a power factor of 0.99.

See Static Var Generator – SVG for more details.

Term used to designate the characteristic values of certain parameters that together define the operating conditions on which the tests for a device are based. The device is designed for the relevant parameter set of these values, usually given in the respective data sheet. The term "Nominal" is often used instead. The indices R and N are commonly used (e.g. I_N or I_R or the rated voltage) to indicate the rated value of a parameter.

For more information on EPCOS products, refer to the EPCOS PFC Product Profile.

(U_N or V_N)

In PFC, this is usually the rated AC RMS voltage.

NOTE: for other capacitor applications, the peak voltage is often used as the rated voltage (e.g. 400 V L-L AC_RMS = 566 V L-L AC_peak).

The power drawn by an electrical installation for operation without being consumed. It is mainly due to the power needed to build up magnetic fields in inductive loads (e.g. in motors).

An inductor (usually with a metal core) used with a capacitor to form an LC filter circuit. It protects the capacitor by blocking harmonics (by increasing the impedance at certain frequencies) and damping inrush currents. It also reduces harmonics from the power network by creating impedance minima at certain frequencies. 

The voltage remaining at the terminals of a capacitor for a certain time after disconnection.

Resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate with increasing amplitudes at some frequencies of excitation. In an electrical circuit, resonance exists when the inductive reactance and the capacitive reactance are of equal magnitude, causing electrical energy to oscillate between the magnetic field of the inductor and the electric field of the capacitor.

Resonance occurs when a combination of electrical components produces an impedance minimum at a frequency equal to a voltage frequency present in a power network (usually the base frequency and its harmonics). In such a case, the current in the power network can rise significantly depending on the value of the impedance minimum. If the latter is close to zero, the current can in theory become infinite (short circuit!). Operation at or close to a resonant frequency thus implies the danger of current surges and damage to components in the system. Discrete PFC capacitors usually have resonant frequencies in the kHz range.

Refer to detuned PFC and/or reactors for additional information. 

See Mains signalling voltage

The peak-to-peak alternating component of a unidirectional voltage. This small regular variation in a DC voltage remains after rectification and filtering of an AC voltage.

Root mean square.

A safety feature of capacitors with a polypropylene dielectric. If a local discharge (caused by an over-voltage, for instance) penetrates the dielectric, the polypropylene evaporates at this location. The vapor condenses around the hole in the dielectric and isolates it electrically. The capacitor then only suffers a negligible capacitance loss and can safely continue operation. 

EPCOS PFC capacitor terminal used for MKV-capacitors, series PhaseCap B-version and PhiCap D-version.

For further information, refer to the EPCOS PFC Product Profile or contact the local EPCOS sales office.

A PFC installation without reactors. Usually found in applications with no or very low harmonic content. It uses all key components such as controllers, contactors and thyristors, but is fast losing market share. In Europe more than 95% of all PFC installations currently employ reactors, and the global trend is likewise toward detuned PFC. In standard PFC, thyristors or capacitor contactors are mandatory to avoid high inrush currents.

See also capacitor contactors

Static Var Generators are shunt elements that are used in power systems for compensating the inductive and capacitive reactive power requirement and thereby maintain the power factor of the network. The principle of Static Var Generators is to produce reactive currents equal in magnitude, but opposite in phase, to those reactive components that are already present in the grid. SVGs are usually able to additionally perform load balancing if needed or enabled.

Combination of one or more capacitors and switches (and if applicable also reactors) that can be switched in/out by a single switching signal. 

The RMS value of the voltage supplied to an electrical component or installation.

A sudden reduction of the supply voltage to an RMS value between 90 and 100% of its standard value rapidly followed by a voltage recovery. Usually, such a voltage dip lasts between 10 ms and 1 minute.

Surge capacitors are designed to suppress the surges in medium voltage MV grids by absorbing them. These capacitors play a vital role in the protection of MV equipment such as generators, motors, transformers and reactors by reducing dv/dt and smoothening voltage distribution across the winding. They also help protect mechanical and solid state switching devices from malfunctions such as pre-strike, post-strike and insulation failure and also reduce the switching-off transients caused by inductive current chopping.

The ratio between the equivalent series resistance ESR and the capacitive reactance Xc of the capacitor at a specified sinusoidal AC voltage and frequency.

tan δ = ESR / Xc

An internal safety device designed to disconnect the capacitor elements from the power supply. Aging, overload and the consequent multiple self-healing processes lead to the production of gas inside PFC capacitors, resulting in considerable overpressure. The addition of a suitable bead in the capacitor casing allows the capacitor to expand in a specific direction at a designated overpressure. The wires leading internally from the terminal block to the capacitor elements then break at predetermined points. 

Defines the permissible ambient temperature for a capacitor to IEC 60831:

Note that the three conditions for a temperature class are all simultaneously valid. 

Any kind of interface for a component. EPCOS PFC capacitors usually have one or two contacts per phase for electric cables of specified sizes.

See also SIGUT terminal

See Harmonics

An electronic switch for capacitor steps in dynamic PFC. Unlike electromechanical contactors, thyristors operate fully electronically using power semiconductors. This reduces the switching time to less than 5 … 20 ms compared to seconds in the case of contactors. EPCOS thyristors minimize capacitor wear by keeping them at the maximum supply voltage when not connected (DC) and thus avoid inrush currents by switching at zero current.

An efficient way of reducing harmonics. The series resonance of these filters is close to the order of the harmonics to be reduced. It is mandatory to perform an accurate power quality analysis and such filters must be designed by specialists because large harmonic reductions can also lead to large currents flowing through the capacitors. Inappropriate designs involve a high risk of damage.

A term used for an electric or power company or energy authority, and thus the (local) company that supplies electrical energy.

A series of voltage changes or a cyclic variation of the voltage.

In a three-phase system, a condition in which the RMS values of the voltage for the three phases or the phase angles between consecutive phases are not equal. 

An increase or decrease of the supply voltage, usually due to a variation in the total load of a distribution system.

A special method of cutting the metallized film used to manufacture a capacitor element. Cutting the edge of the film in a wavy rather than a straight pattern optimizes the contact area of the capacitor element. This creates a lower contact resistance and thus leads to lower contact losses and a higher inrush current capability compared to a straight cut.

A feature of a controller, allowing it to recognize an interruption in the power supply and disconnect charged capacitors from the power network after a specified time (e.g. 20 to 50 ms).