Tests and analysis of circuit-breaker performance when switching large capacitor banks

THE increased kilowatt burden on generation and transmission equipments — occasioned by the existing national emergency — calls for a reduction in the use of these equipments for generating and transmitting reactive kilovolt-amperes. When operating conditions permit the use of either capacitors or synchronous condensers, the relatively shorter production time of capacitors is making them more and more justifiable as a reactive source in the range of kilovolt-ampere ratings where economics might normally dictate a synchronous condenser.1 At the present time the use of capacitors in banks up to 10,000 kva is being given increased consideration, and several installations having steps in this range have already been made.