Cornell Dubilier Expands Capabilities in High Current AC Harmonic Filter Capacitors

Liberty, SC, December 2, 2019,  – Cornell Dubilier Inc. announced that it now offers 85 Ampere RMS ratings and numerous other enhancements to its PC series of AC harmonic filter capacitors. The series improvements include UL recognized construction and an internal pressure interrupter system that has passed the rigors of UL testing to ensure fail-open performance under high current fault conditions. The higher current ratings improve the capacitor’s ability to handle the high levels of harmonic content encountered in inverter AC input and output filtering applications.  

 

 

The series is typically networked with inductors to filter out undesirable harmonics in both single-phase and three-phase AC power systems. As a two-terminal capacitor device, multiple PC series capacitors can be connected in delta or wye configurations to achieve the reactive power and harmonic tuning needed to filter out the unwanted frequencies. The presence of multiple harmonics puts additional stress on capacitors in the form of self-heating. The PC series is designed with robust terminations and low equivalent series resistance (ESR), to minimize heating. The service life objective of the PC series is 60,000 hours when operated at full rated voltage and a case hot spot of 70 °C.

The PC series is offered with capacitance ratings ranging from 20 µF to 125 µF at voltage ratings from 300 Vac to 700 Vac. Case diameters vary from 63.5 to up to 116mm. Custom capacitance and voltage ratings, sizes and performance characteristics are also available. Specific application conditions, especially harmonic content profiles, are needed to properly size the capacitors for peak performance.

The PC series enhancements add capabilities to the broad range of AC harmonic filtering solutions offered by the company. These include three-phase cylindrical and welded rectangular cases used in large inverter systems. Cornell Dubilier also offers rack-mount systems, designed and fabricated in-house, to allow for easy integration of capacitor banks into the mechanical design of a filter system.

 

About Cornell Dubilier Incorporated

Cornell Dubilier’s roots can be traced back to 1909 when founder William Dubilier first used a glassy mineral called mica to help form a “condenser” (now called a “capacitor”). While the mica capacitor saw limited success for its intended application, it went on to revolutionize radio broadcast communications allowing for better transmission over longer distances.

 

Growth and Prosperity

Soon after inventing the mica capacitor, Dubilier started manufacturing capacitors and contributed to World War I by developing a system to detect submarines. The Dubilier Company was the earliest commercial manufacturer of capacitors, and in 1933, merged with Cornell Radio to form Cornell Dubilier Electronics (CDE).

Fueled by the rise of radio and television broadcasting, the company experienced phenomenal growth, and by 1966, possessed more than 350 patents in radio and electrical sciences. Over time, the company grew even more to become one of the largest capacitor makers in the world.

 

A Global Leader

A privately held, American owned company, Cornell Dubilier Electronics has earned a global reputation for manufacturing quality, high-end capacitors. Almost all of the company’s capacitors are used in demanding industrial applications, separating themselves from the competition.