Aluminum
capacitors are a type of electrolytic capacitor. A capacitor is a two
terminal electrical component that can store energy, somewhat like a battery. Aluminum
capacitors are polarised, meaning that the energy can only flow in a single
direction. The aluminium forming an extremely thin insulating layer of aluminum
oxide, which acts as the dielectric of the capacitor.
Low Temperature
Characteristics of Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors
Various parameters of aluminum
electrolytic capacitors, as well as in operation temperatures and electrical
ratings, are greatly influenced by the characteristics of the electrolyte. The
properties of the liquid electrolyte that are considerably affected by
temperature variations include electrical conductivity and viscosity. The
electrical conductivity of the electrolyte increases with an increase in
temperature and reduces with a decrease in temperature. Temperature variations
have additional impact on the characteristics of aluminum electrolytic
capacitors than on alternative kinds of capacitors. Some of the functional
parameters for aluminum electrolytic capacitors that are considerably affected
by changes in temperature include capacitance, equivalent series resistance
(ESR), tangent delta, leakage current, and impedance.
Capacitance
Temperature changes have vital
effects on the capacitance of AN aluminum electrolytic capacitor. As the
temperature of the electrolyte decreases, its viscosity increases resulting in
a reduced electrical conductivity. Therefore, the capacitance of metal
electrolytic capacitors reduces with a decrease in temperature. At low
frequencies, the relationship between temperature and capacitance of aluminum
electrolytic capacitors is nearly linear. When in operation at -400C,
low-voltage aluminum electrolytic capacitors with a low temperature rating of
-550C exhibit a capacitance loss of between -10% and -20%. Capacitance loss for
high-voltage capacitors can be up to 40%. When in operation at the
low-temperature limit, the capacitance of aluminum electrolytic capacitors with a low temperature rating of -550C
declines by less than 20%.
Equivalent Series
Resistance (ESR)
The resistive component of an
equivalent series circuit of a capacitor is referred to as the equivalent
series resistance (ESR). The ESR of aluminum electrolytic capacitors is
considerably affected by variations in temperature and frequency. In wet atomic
number 13 electrolytic capacitors, drastic changes in capacitance are observed
when temperature drops. The changes in capacitance are mainly due to the effect
of temperature variation on the electrolyte, rather than on the dielectric. The resistivity of the electrolyte
increases with a decrease in temperature. For instance, when the temperature
drops from 250C to -550C, the resistivity of the electrolyte can increase by a
factor of about 100, resulting in a considerable increase in ESR. In wet
aluminum capacitors, dramatic changes in ESR are observed as the temperature
decreases. For an aluminum electrolytic capacitor operating at the low-temperature
limit, the ESR is more than 10 times. If a capacitor with a low-temperature
rating of -200C is operated at -400C, its equivalent series resistance can
increase by more than a factor of two.
Leakage Current
The leakage current of an electrolytic
capacitor is primarily dependent on the characteristics of the dielectric
material. Crystal defects, cracks, stress, and installation-related damages are
some of the main causes of leakage current. Although the value of leakage
current can be decreased by minimizing these defects, it cannot be fully
eliminated. The key factors that affect leakage current include temperature,
time, applied voltage, and the design of a capacitor. The leakage current
increases with an increase in temperature and reduces with a decrease in
temperature. For aluminum electrolytic capacitors, this useful parameter is
typically stable at low temperatures. In addition, the initial run current of
associate degree aluminum electrolytic capacitor depends on storage length and
conditions.
Impedance
The impedance of AN Aluminum
capacitor depends on frequency and temperature. It comprises capacitive
reactance of the capacitor, ohmic and dielectric losses of the foils,
electrolyte, and terminals, and inductive reactance of the capacitor windings.
The capacitive reactance and the equivalent series resistance depend on both
frequency and temperature, while inductive
reactance depends on frequency only. The impedance of AN aluminum
electrolytic capacitor will increase with a decrease in temperature. When an
aluminum electrolytic capacitor is working at its low-temperature limit, it
impedance increases by up to 10 times.
Dissipation Factor
Dissipation factor or tangent of loss
angle of a capacitor refers to the ratio of equivalent series resistance to
capacitive reactance. The dissipation issue of an aluminum electrolytic
capacitor depends on each temperature and frequency. This parameter increases
with a decrease in temperature.
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