Mitigation of capacitor bank energization harmonic transients

In the present study, an overview of the capacitor bank energizing transients is presented and the means of harmonic mitigation technique are investigated. Capacitor bank connection is essential due to reactive compensation reasons. Transients produced upon of capacitor bank energizing, reach in harmonics, may be harmful for the capacitor and become an increasing concern for both electric utilities and customers since its switching usually occurs quite frequently. We know that power factor correction capacitors are sensitive to harmonics and one factor of the failures of power capacitors indicates the prime odd harmonics like 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th harmonics. A time domain simulation using PSCAD/EMTDC was performed to predict the harmonic spectrum of the distorted voltage waveform in a real 11kV Romanian distribution subsystem.