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Re: Capacity Value Transformation
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> Original Poster: "J. B. Weazle McCreath" <weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca>
>
>
>
> While reading a text on A.C. motors I came across an interesting circuit
> that might have application in Tesla coil power supplies. The value of
> a capacitor can be increased by the use of a transformer, as in this
> example. A transformer with a primary/secondary voltage ratio of 1:2
> has a 20 uF. capacitor connected across its secondary. This causes an
> apparent capacity equal to the ratio squared times the capacitor value,
> in this case 80 uF., to be across the primary.
>
> I'm wondering if by using a relatively low KVA rated 1:2 ratio
transformer
> one could achieve power factor correction with relatively small values of
> PFC capacitors. This would be particularly useful for larger coils that
> require capacitors in the hundreds of micro-farads for PFC. The primary
> of the "capacitor transformer" would simply be paralleled with the MOT or
> pole pig primary. One cap of 40 uF., a readily obtainable value in oil
> filled motor run caps, would yield an apparent capacity of 160 uF. in the
> power transformer primary circuit.
>
This is actually pretty common. Those 4500V illumination transformers from
C&H, Herbach and Rademan, etc. have shunts and are current limited by
leakage inductance. They have a 600 V tertiary winding across which a 10 uF
660V cap is placed for PFC. (instead of the 360 uF cap you'd need at 110V)
Eventually, though, you get to a situation where the higher voltage cap
costs more. I suspect that 660V is probably a good compromise.