Capacitors

A capacitor is a device that stores energy within an electric field. This is achieved by having two oppositely charged electrical conductors separated by dielectric materials.

Power capacitors are constructed of several smaller capacitors commonly referred to as elements, windings, or packs. These elements are formed from multiple layers of aluminum foil (conductors) and polypropylene film (dielectric) wound together. When interconnected, multiple elements combine to function as a single capacitor unit. Elements are connected in series based on rated voltage, and in parallel based on required reactive power, or kVAR. The completed module is enclosed in a hermetically sealed tank, and any air from the unit is removed and replaced with a dielectric fluid. Units include bushings with terminal caps that are used as connection points to maintain electrical creepage and clearance requirements.

In distribution systems, these capacitors provide reactive power to offset inductive loading from devices like motors, arc furnaces, and lighting loads. The incorporation of capacitors into a power distribution system offers economical and operational benefits including increasing system load capacity, reducing losses, and improving power factor.

Capacitor Diagram

Required Configurations

Capacitors must be configured to be single-terminal devices.
Must use the E:Power Factor Correcting, E:Power Factor Correcting – Capacitor, E:Power Factor Correcting - Reactor categories.
The E:Has Connected Units network category is used to distinguish between a bank type capacitor Device and a unit type capacitor JunctionObject.

Impact on ArcFM

The Editor XI Move and Split tool requires the device to be inline.
Capacitor Network Categories are used in the ArcFM tools.
Has Connected Units — ArcFM provides an Autoupdater that keeps the device propagator and phase information in sync with the units. Phase Swap works with connected units.
Has Disconnected Units — Propagation impacts only the device, and units are not kept in sync without customizations. Limits the switchable devices and can only be gang operated. Phase Swap does not work with disconnected units.
No Units – There are no units for the specified asset group asset type.