What is the purpose of a capacitor bank in a substation?

A capacitor bank in a substation serves multiple important functions that are critical for maintaining the stability and efficiency of power systems. The correct answer highlights two primary purposes: power factor correction and voltage regulation.

Power factor correction involves improving the efficiency of the electrical system. When loads are inductive, such as motors or transformers, they draw reactive power, which can lead to a less than optimal power factor. This means that not all the power being used is contributing to useful work, causing higher losses in the system. By adding a capacitor bank, which generates reactive power, the overall power factor can be improved. This reduces the amount of reactive power drawn from the grid, thus lowering losses and avoiding potential penalties from utility companies for maintaining a poor power factor.

Voltage regulation is another essential function of a capacitor bank. In an electrical grid, voltage levels can fluctuate due to varying loads throughout the day. Capacitor banks help stabilize these voltage levels by supplying reactive power when needed, ensuring that voltages remain within specified limits. This is crucial for the reliable operation of electrical equipment and services.

While some options mention functions like operational redundancy or current limiting, these are not primary roles of a capacitor bank in a substation. Capacitor banks primarily focus on enhancing system performance through