Impact of capacitor installations on networks and systems

Power system equipment failures in a harmonic environment can be traced to capacitor installations. Basic installations of capacitor banks can aggravate the issue of harmonic amplification. In such an environment, capacitor installations by themselves can further aggravate and trigger equipment failure. Capacitor banks themselves can become victims of resonance effects. A carefully analysed filter scheme should substitute otherwise basic capacitor banks wherever they are requisitioned. While on one hand the fundamental frequency power is enhanced, properly designed filters suppress harmonic content. Compak filters are recommended to eliminate deleterious side effects in power systems, while reactive compensation measures are pursued. The issues are discussed specific to case studies and a procedure to design the filter is indicated