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Connections and Composition of LV, MV, HV Capacitor Banks
Connections and Composition of LV, MV, HV Capacitor Banks
Compensation capacitors
Compensation capacitors are installed in numerous locations in electrical installations. They are to be found in
high voltage transmission and distribution systems, in transformer substations and also at various levels in low
voltage installations. Capacitors therefore have to be made in accordance with very diverse technical
specifications, for powers ranging from a few kvar to several Mvar.
Installing capacitors in electrical systems fulfils several functions. Although the most well-known is power
factor compensation, they also improve the voltage regulation of transmission lines by reducing the voltage
drop and increase the capacitive component of lines that are naturally inductive.
Capacitor banks are made up of capacitor units wired, protected and connected together according to different
connection modes appropriate to each type of use. Each of these modes has advantages and disadvantages.
It should also be noted that numerous detection systems (current or voltage relays, controllers, etc.) are used
with capacitor banks to detect (alarm threshold) and eliminate dangerous situations that could occur, like
unbalance, cascading damage, etc.
Table of contents:
1. Connections of capacitor banks
1. Delta connection
2. Star connection, neutral not connected
3. Double star connection, neutral not connected
4. Star and double star connections, neutral earthed
5. H connection
2. Internal faults in capacitor banks
1. Protection by pressure monitoring device
2. Protection using internal fuses
3. “All film” HV capacitors
3. Composition of LV capacitor banks
1. Fixed capacitor banks
2. Step capacitor banks with automatic regulation
3. Capacitor banks with separate control
4. Conventional rule for selecting the capacitor bank technology
1.5 H connection
H connection can be used for delta or star single-phase or three-phase connections. The schematics below
represents a branch between two phases or between phase and neutral.
This type of wiring is intended for high power HV capacitor banks. For three-phase capacitor banks, the
unbalance is monitored on each phase. It provides greater current unbalance measurement sensitivity.
This “all film” capacitor technology has top quality characteristics: excellent resistance to electrical fields, very
low ohmic losses limiting temperature rises, a much longer service life than with previous technologies using
paper, and excellent resistance to transient overcurrents and overvoltages.
With the polypropylene film, the liquid dielectric, which has a remarkably high chemical stability, a high gas
absorption capacity and a high partial discharge extinction capacity (flash point approximately 150°C), ensures
total insulation between electrodes.
Table 1 – Technical characteristics
on energization: 0.15 W/kvar
Average loss factor
after 500 hours’ operation: 0.10 W/kvar
Average variation of the capacitance as a function of the temperature 2×10-4 °C
Standard: 50 Hz
Operating frequency
On request: 60 Hz
Permissible overloads Permanent: 1.3 In
12 h/24 h: 1.1 Un
30 min/24 h: 1.15 Un
Permissible overvoltages
5 min/24 h: 1.2 Un
1 min/24 h: 1.3 Un
The capacitors will therefore only be activated after the motor starts. Likewise, they may be disconnected before
the motor is switched off.
The advantage of this system is the ability to totally compensate the reactive power of the motor at full
load. An optional damping reactor should be provided if several capacitor banks of this type are installed on the
same system.