Film Capacitors Overview Film Capacitors A film capacitor

Film Capacitors Overview

Film Capacitors • A film capacitor is made by winding or “stacking” plastic film between two electrodes. • Polypropylene and Polyester are the two most widely used film dielectric materials. Wound Construction • Each end is sprayed with a metal coating “endspray” to lower the resistance and acts as a base to solder or weld wire leads to. • The winding or stack, a. k. a “sections” may be placed in a can or box or tape wrapped and end filled with epoxy. Stacked Construction

Dielectrics, Polyester • Higher loss than polypropylene: best suited for DC applications. • Lower Cost per CV rating • Higher temperature up to 105°C without derating. – Blocking circuits – By-passing – Coupling/Decoupling – Filtering – Timing – Across the line X 2

Dielectrics, Polypropylene • • Lower loss than polyester. Lower ESR Used in high frequency, snubber and pulse applications. Cost more per CV rating than polyester. Rated to 85°C without derating. – High frequency coupling / decoupling – High pulse operation – Snubber – High voltage circuits – Input / output filtering – Across the line X 2

Electrode Types Metallized Electrodes Metal deposited electrodes (metallized capacitors) are used for volumetric efficiency and for self healing. Typically, aluminum is used for DC, Zinc for AC. Metallized Self Healing When a short occurs in the dielectric, the metallization evaporates in the fault area, creating a “clearing” that allows the capacitor to continue to operate with minimal capacitance loss. Aluminum Foil Electrodes Foil electrodes are used in DC applications for high pulse current or high ripple current.

Package Styles Wrap & Fill General Purpose and Commodity SMT Dipped Radial Large Wrap and fill with screw Terminals Custom Packaging Molded or Custom Box Custom Plastic or Metal Case DC Link, Plastic cylindrical Case IGBT Snubber, Plastic Case IGBT Snubber and DC Link, Plastic cylindrical Case, Hockey Puck DC Link, Cylindrical Aluminum Case, Plastic Header DC Link, Plastic Case

General Purpose DC Film Applications § Electronic Controls § Power Supplies § Motor Controls § Communications § Audio Primarily used for DC Filtering/Smoothing

General Purpose DC Film Competitors

Custom Film Capacitors § Variations of existing part numbers § Terminal modifications / crimps § Size constraint modification § Custom metallization for optimal performance in specific applications: § Highly Customized Design § Customer specific requirements § Tooled boxes or custom terminations

Custom Taser Orange Drop Capacitors Segmented Metallized Film

Custom Film Applications § Specialty Strobe (Pulse) § Tasers § Airport Runway Lighting § Aircraft Lighting § Flashing Beacons § Motion Control (Bus Filter and Snubbers) § Motor Drives § Elevators § Aircraft actuators to control flap movement § Computer Numerical Control Equipment § HVAC (Filters and Snubbers) § Electric Vehicles (Filters and Snubbers) § Electric Trains § Electric Cars & Trucks § Welding and Induction Heating (Filters and Snubbers)

Custom Film Applications § Battery Chargers (Filters and Snubbers) § Electric vehicles § Power Supplies (Filters and Snubbers) § UPS § Cable Backup § Linear Power Supplies SMPS § Alternative backup (Filters and Snubbers) § Flywheel Energy Storage § Medical (Filters, Snubbers and Energy Discharge) § X-Ray and MRI imaging § Defibrillation, Energy Discharge § Emergency Vehicle Strobe Lighting (Pulse) § Ambulance, Police, Fire, Strobe Lighting

Custom Film Applications § Generators (Filters and Snubbers) § Gasoline or Diesel to Electric § Commercial / Residential Power Backup (Filters and Snubbers) § Fuel Cell Technology § Military § Electric Vehicles § Aircraft § Power Supplies § Motion Control

Custom Film Competitors

Power Film Capacitors § IGBT Snubber • Axial Leaded – 940, 941, 942, 943 • Direct Mount – SCD, SCC, SCM • Medium Power DC Link § Radial – UNL, BLC • High Power DC Link § Bus Mount – 944, 947 C, 947 D

Power Film IGBT Snubber § IGBT snubbers are designed to protect IGBTs in large inverters § The snubber capacitor reduces the voltage spike across the IGBT during switching

IGBT Snubber Competitors

Power Film Medium / High Power DC Link § Smooth the rectified DC § High Capacitance § Filter switching frequency currents § Low ESR

DC Link Applications § Renewable Energy Inverter Unit § Solar Inverter § Wind Inverter § Fuel Cell Inverter § Power Supply § UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Induction Heater § SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply) § Welder, Cutter § Medical Equipment (X-Ray, CT Scan) § Motor Drive § VVVF (Variable Voltage Variable Frequency) Inverter § AC Servo / Spindle / Robot § HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) § Elevators § Traction § HEV/EV

DC Link Competitors

Film Capacitor Selling Tips § Identify most important characteristic: § Capacitance § Voltage § AC or DC? § Peak current or ripple current § Ambient temperature § Size, packaging § Obtain Competitive PN and/or part specification. § Highly customized parts benefit from direct engineering communication