TDK Corp. and its EPCOS division have introduced to the market a fast, electronically controlled, self-monitoring thyristor switch for capacitive loads. The company’s new TSM-LC-N690 is capable of connecting power capacitors within a few milliseconds, and as often and long as requested to the grid without any wear off.
The module performs two-phase switching of the capacitors, so that a neutral conductor is not needed.
The new TDK/EPCOS thyristor module features an expanded operating voltage range up to 690 VAC. Depending on the operating voltage, the new module can switch currents of up to 60 A, and is designed for a reactive power of 40 kvar (kilovolt ampere reactive) to 75 kvar.
Reactive power occurs when the current and voltage is out of phase, caused by loads imposed, for example, by electric motors and transformers. Reactive power can be almost completely compensated for by switching power factor correction capacitors. PFC reduces energy costs and relieves the load on the environment.
The new TDK/EPCOS module helps to increase the operating life of capacitors by switching at the zero crossing of the current—the instantaneous point at which there is no voltage present. Dangerous over-currents are avoided and the grid is not exposed to transients, those momentary surges of energy that are induced upon power, data, or communication lines.
The module continuously monitors voltage, phase and its own temperature, and is thus very reliable. Like all EPCOS thyristor modules, the TSM-LC-N690 operates silently and is wear- and maintenance-free, with a short switching time of only 5 milliseconds (ms).
The EPCOS TSM-LC-N690 thyristor module can be triggered by EPCOS’ dynamic power factor controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLC), or directly from the processor. It is suited for dynamic PFC applications with presses, welding machines, elevators, cranes and wind turbines.
TDK is a leading electronics company established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK’s portfolio today includes electronic components, modules and systems marketed under the product brands TDK and EPCOS. The company also manufactures power supplies, magnetic application products, energy devices, and flash memory application devices.
TDK’s EPCOS division, based in Munich, Germany, offers capacitors, ceramic components, EMC filters, inductors, non-linear resistors, RF modules, surface acoustic wave components, surge arresters and ferrites.