Purpose and application of capacitors

The use of capacitors in engineering is quite extensive. Virtually every electrical or electronic circuit contains these radio elements. It's hard to imagine a power supply unit that does not have capacitors. They, along with resistors and transistors are the basis of radio engineering.

And what is a capacitor? This is the simplest element, with two metal plates separated by a dielectric material. The principle of operation of these devices is based on the ability to preserve the electric charge, i.e., charge, and at the right time to discharge.

In modern electronics, the use of capacitors is very wide and versatile. We will analyze in what areas of technology, and for what purpose these devices are used:

1. In television and radio equipment - for the implementation of oscillatory circuits, as well as their locking and tuning. They are also used to separate circuits of different frequencies, in rectifier filters, etc.
2. In radar equipment - for the purpose of forming pulses of high power.
3. In telegraphy and telephony - for separation of circuits of direct and alternating currents, currents of various frequency, cable balancing, sparking of contacts and so on.
4. In telemechanics and automation - for the purpose of realizing sensors of the capacitive principle, separating circuits of pulsating and direct currents, sparking of contacts, in thyratron pulse generators, etc.
5. In the sphere of counting devices - in special memory devices.
6. In electrical measuring equipment, for obtaining capacitance samples, creating variable capacitances (laboratory variables, capacitive devices, capacity stores), creating capacitive measuring devices, and so on.
7. In laser devices - to form powerful pulses.

The use of capacitors in the modern electric power complex is also quite diverse:

• To increase the power factor, as well as for industrial installations;
• To create a longitudinal compensation capacity of long-distance power lines, as well as to adjust the voltage of distribution networks;
• For selection of capacitive energy from high-voltage transmission lines and for connection to them of special protective equipment and communication devices;
• For protection from network overvoltage;
• For use in high - power pulse current generators , in pulse voltage circuits;
• For discharge electric welding;
• To start capacitor motors and to create the required phase shift of additional motor windings;
• In lighting fixtures based on fluorescent lamps;
• For the suppression of radio interference, which are created by electrical equipment and electric transport.

The use of capacitors in non-electrical fields of industry and technology is also very wide. So, in the sphere of metal industry these components ensure the uninterrupted operation of high-frequency installations for melting and heat treatment of metals. The use of capacitors in the coal and metal mining industry has made it possible to build transport on capacitor electric locomotives. And in electric blasting devices, the electro-hydraulic effect is used.

To summarize, let's say that the field of application of capacitors is so wide that it covers all spheres of our life, there is no such direction wherever these devices are used.