ELECTRONICON KONDENSATOREN GMBH

Who said it has to look like a surge capacitor? They look different, and as a matter of fact, they are. Surge protection capacitors are designed to protect high voltage motors and transformers from events with high transient overvoltages (e.g. lightning or switching surges). Keeping with our tradition of completely dry products, we have designed the first MV Surge Capacitor in self-healing technology: DSCTM In combination with the PD-free layout, the self-healing dielectric provides for extremely long operating life and highest operational safety. Unlike traditional oil-filled ALLFILM-capacitors which are bound to fail as soon as overvoltage or other stress factors have provoked a dielectric breakdown, the self-healing dielectric of DSCTM insulates the breakdown spot immediately and continues operation as usual.

Harmonic distortion is a key issue not only in low voltage, but also medium and high voltage Power Factor Correction. The installation of detuning reactors helps to protect capacitor installations from dangerous and devastating resonances by preventing any amplification of harmonic currents and voltages caused by resonance between capacitors and inductances in the mains. At the same time, it reduces the overall level of harmonic distortion in the mains. With FKD-MVTM, we are now expanding our long-year experience in making reactors for low-voltage PFC to the field of medium voltage up to 10kV. The low-loss reactors which are made of aluminium windings on iron cores, are optimized for use with our MSDTM capacitors. Each reactor is formed by a set of three compactly sized single phase units; that makes handling easier during mounting and maintenance and opens interesting options for allocation and dimensioning of your equipment.

The traditional ALLFILM system of conventional medium and high voltage capacitors consists of aluminium foil and polypropylene, immersed completely in synthetic, flammable oil. Breakdowns in this kind of dielectric tend to result in permanent short circuits which take out the entire capacitor element, change the voltage conditions inside the capacitor and initiate a chain reaction of further failures of capacitor elements which will end up in the loss of the entire capacitor. In three-phase capacitors, this process is usually accompanied by the occurrence of phase asymmetries which may cause damage and catastrophic failure. In our MSD™ medium voltage capacitors, we are using the metallised polypropylene so well known from LV power factor correction. Instead of flat pack windings, our capacitance is formed by compact cylindrical windings, avoiding the mechanical stress at the edges of the ALLFILM flat packs.

A consumer whose load includes a high proportion of variable speed motor drives and/or other harmonic generating loads may require a detuned capacitor system. This would perform the function of power factor improvement whilst preventing any amplification of harmonic currents and voltages caused by resonance between capacitors and inductances in the mains. Our low-loss reactors are designed for such systems. They are available with adjusted (Dla) and fixed ratings (D): The adjusted reactor is designed to create exactly the required output of reactive power, allowing for the internal voltage rise inside the resonating circuit formed together with the capacitor connected in the circuit. Note that exact sizing of the capacitor is necessary.

Using selected low-loss, self-healing polypropylene films and sophisticated manufacturing techniques such as high-vacuum drying and special coating patterns, the best of ELECTRONICON™s design expertise and highest care in manufacturing have been spent to prepare these capacitors for your most demanding applications, and toughest ambient conditions. Our long-life MKP UHDTM contain three delta-switched capacitor elements of short height and large diameter. The optimized combination of winding length, film size, and winding geometry substantially reduces inherent power losses and allows us to achieve highest surge and rms current ratings as well as an overvoltage strength and switching stability which before would have been known only of impregnated paper capacitors. An MKP UHD™ handles up to 250% of its rated current and current surges of 400 x IN. The permitted operating temperatures range from -40°C up to 70°C maximum temperature (average over 24 hours: 60°C).

Our capacitors of the E12 and E33 series are universally-suited for lighting and motor applications as well as power factor correction and power electronics. Their winding element of self-healing polypropylene film is immersed in eco-friendly vegetable oil and designed for highest requirements regarding operational life and functional safety even at high operating temperatures and other extreme conditions such as high humidity. Connection is made through tab connectors. The hermetical aluminium can is provided with an integrated overpressure safety mechanism (break-action mechanism, " BAM ") that disconnects the capacitor irreversibly from the supply in the event of a failure. The E12/E33 ranges comply with the "Type B" classification under lighting standard IEC/EN61048 as well as with "Class P2" under motor capacitor standard IEC/EN 60252-1. Please mind our safety remarks on the use of lighting capacitors in critical environment.

The PK16™ capacitor can be universally used for the assembly of low inductance DC buffer circuits and DC filters; with its high energy density it can replace banks of series-connected electrolytic capacitors as well as large film capacitors in rectangular cases. The capacitance in a DC buffer circuit must be sufficiently sized to both handle and smoothen the occurring ripple currents. The traditional use of series-/parallel-connected electrolytic capacitors offered large capacitance at seemingly low cost, however the low cost per microfarad is countered by the very low current strengh, the high sensitivity to voltage and current surges, as well as a substantial risk of failures in the field, resulting in high maintenance cost. Our advanced know-how in special capacitor film coating and many years of practical experience in designing and manufacturing capacitors have allowed us to develop our PK16™ range with high capacitance density.

In power electronics in general, and especially in low inductance buffer circuits with higher voltages as well as in discharge circuits, the call for capacitors with low inductance tends to pose problems: traditional high voltage capacitors are filled with oil, and the generous bushings required for clearance and creepage as well as internal safety mechanisms add substantially to the self-inductance of the capacitor. Based on decades of proprietary experience in metallizing capacitor films, ELECTRONICON has created a range of high voltage capacitors in self-healing technology, using the opportunities of special metallizing patterns. Despite the high voltage rating, our E51 range is manufactured in dry technology and without expensive bushings. Inside the can made of self-extinguishing plastic, the capacitor element is enclosed in solid resin (PUR). Connection is made through robust flat terminals with internal thread.

E53 and E55 capacitors have a particularly low series resistance and high pulse strength. Using sophisticated metallizing patterns, our SINECUT slitting technology and clever winding geometries, they are especially suited for the damping of GTO thyristors and low-inductance buffer circuits with high rms currents. Along with their very good ratio of capacitance to volume, these components do also have very good self-healing characteristics without loss of capacitance. Their very low self-inductance makes them suitable for use in high-current applications with medium frequencies. The capacitors of the E53 product family are housed in flame-retardant plastic cans (V0) and filled with solid resin. Special care has been taken both in terms of design and conservative electrical rating to ensure reliable operation even under tough environmental conditions. Connection is usually made through robust axial terminals with internal thread.

Thanks to the special kind of films and coating patterns used in our E56/E59-capacitors, clever winding geometries and refined internal construction, they unite large capacitance, very small self-inductance and high surge current sustaining capability (up to 700kA) as well as the possibility of high rms currents (up to 750A). Instead of flat pack windings, our capacitance is formed by compact cylindrical windings, avoiding the mechanical stress and instabilities at the edges of flat packs. Special terminals allow for additional reduction of the self-inductance. At the same time, they are extremely overvoltage-proof. They are especially suited for buffer storage circuits of converters, filter circuits and such like. The capacitors are housed in aluminium or steel cases and filled with solid resin which makes them absolutely dry and leakage-proof. Their shape and dimensions can be adapted to the individual requirements of our customers.