PFC Capacitors: Much Longer Life and Higher Energy Density

TDK Corporation presents EPCOS PhaseCap Energy – two new series of high power capacitors for power factor correction. These components are available with gas or resin-filled housings. They are designed for voltages of 230 V AC to 690 V AC and offer a reactive power of between 5 kvar and 33 kvar.

The life expectancy of the B25674 series of gas-impregnated capacitors has been possible to extend by nearly 40 percent from 130,000 to 180,000 hours. The maximum permissible inrush current was also increased by 25 percent to 500 x IR. The new capacitors can also be switched significantly more frequently: For example, the maximum number of switching cycles per year has been doubled from 7500 to 15,000. The maximum permissible operating temperature as per IEC 60831-1 has also now been raised by 5 K to 60 °C.

The B25675 series of resin-filled capacitors features an even longer life expectancy of 200,000 hours and is likewise designed for a maximum operating temperature of 60 °C and a maximum permissible inrush current of 500 x IR.

A further significantly improved feature of both series is their increased energy density in comparison with the existing types: For the 28 kvar/440 V types, for example, this has been raised by more than 20 percent from 9.7 kvar/l to 11.8 kvar/l. This also results in compact dimensions: The new PhaseCap Energy capacitors feature a diameter of between just 75 mm and 125 mm, depending on the type, and a height of between 164 mm and 224 mm.

Like all EPCOS three-phase PFC capacitors PhaseCap Energy is equipped with an overpressure disconnector that isolates all three phases from the grid in the event of damage.