Detuned Capacitor Bank in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Power Factor Company supplies the detuned capacitor bank in Saudi Arabia for plants whose drives, UPS units and rectifiers produce harmonic currents. Each bank pairs LV capacitors with series reactors tuned below the lowest harmful harmonic, so it corrects power factor without resonating with the supply. Reactor tuning is chosen from your harmonic data: 5.67%, 7% or 14% reactors, banks from 50 to 1,000 kVAr.
What you receive: a written proposal with the kVAr, reactor tuning, capacitor voltage class, standard, lead time and price. It reaches you within one working day of your bill and drive list. Request a quotation
What is the purpose of a detuned reactor in a capacitor bank?
A capacitor and the supply transformer form a resonant circuit. If a harmonic current produced by your drives lands near that resonance, the current is amplified many times and the capacitors overheat, bulge and fail. The breaker may also trip for no visible reason.
A detuned reactor wired in series with each capacitor step moves the circuit's resonant frequency below the lowest harmonic present. Above that frequency the combination behaves as an inductor, so the bank cannot resonate and part of the harmonic current is simply blocked. You keep the power factor correction and protect the capacitors.
What does a 7% or 14% detuned reactor mean?
The percentage is the reactor's impedance as a share of the capacitor's impedance. It sets the tuning frequency. On the 60 Hz Saudi supply the common ratings work out as follows.
| Reactor rating | Tuned to (60 Hz supply) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 5.67% | about 252 Hz (4.2nd harmonic) | Drives and rectifiers where the 5th harmonic dominates |
| 7% | about 227 Hz (3.8th harmonic) | Mixed drive load with the 5th and 7th harmonics |
| 14% | about 160 Hz (2.7th harmonic) | Sites with strong 3rd-harmonic content, or high ripple on the supply |
A 7% reactor is the usual choice for industrial plants. Choose 14% where measurement shows a 3rd-harmonic problem.
Detuned capacitor bank in Saudi Arabia: what we deliver
| Item | Range / specification | Standard | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detuned automatic bank | Multi-step, 50–1,000 kVAr | IEC 61439-1/-2; capacitors to IEC 61921 | 3–4 weeks |
| Detuned fixed bank | Single stage, for a motor or steady base load | IEC 61439-1/-2 | 3–4 weeks |
| Series reactors | 5.67%, 7% or 14%, with thermal protection | IEC 60076-6 | 3–4 weeks |
| Capacitors | Voltage class above the network voltage to carry the reactor voltage rise | IEC 60831 / IEC 61921 | 3–4 weeks |
| Switching | Capacitor-duty contactors, HRC fuses or MCCBs, controller with harmonic alarm | IEC 60947-4-1 | 3–4 weeks |
| Factory acceptance test | Wiring, insulation, reactor temperature and step-switching checks | IEC 61439-1/-2 | Included in build time |
We build with ABB, Schneider Electric and Siemens components.
When do I need a detuned bank instead of a standard one?
Fit a detuned bank when non-linear loads make up a large share of your demand. A common rule of thumb is to detune once non-linear load, such as variable frequency drives, UPS units, LED drivers and welders, passes roughly 15% of the transformer rating. Above that, or when you are unsure, detune.
The surest answer comes from measurement. A power quality survey records harmonic spectra and shows whether resonance is a risk. If the harmonic voltage distortion is already high at the busbar, you may need a harmonic filter panel rather than a detuned bank alone. For steady loads with no drives, a standard capacitor bank costs less.
How do we design, build and commission it?
- Enquiry. You send your bill, the transformer rating and a list of drives and UPS units.
- Harmonic assessment. We review the load or the survey data and choose the reactor tuning.
- Design. We fix the kVAr, steps, capacitor voltage class and enclosure, and issue drawings for approval.
- Build. The bank is assembled in our Dammam workshops.
- Factory test. We test wiring, insulation, reactor protection and step switching, with a test record.
- Delivery. The bank is transported to site with connection guidance.
- Commissioning. We set the target and confirm stable switching with the drives running.
- Documentation and support. Handover covers as-built drawings, the test record and the manual, and spares stay available from us.
Who we supply detuned banks to
Saudi Power Factor Company has worked in Saudi Arabia since 2010 and is approved by Saudi Aramco, SABIC and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. We have worked on projects for all three, and hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certification.
We have worked on projects for Saudi Aramco, SABIC and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, in all regions of Saudi Arabia. Tell us your plant type and city in the quotation form, and we describe the scope closest to your detuned bank projects written as content: plant type, location, kVAr, reactor rating job.
Detuned banks suit plastics and packaging lines, water treatment, steel fabrication, hospitals with UPS and chiller drives, and data rooms. We deliver to every region of Saudi Arabia. Jubail is about 1 hour from Dammam and Riyadh about 4 hours by road; Jeddah and Yanbu are reached by air or road. Our wider approach is set out under power factor correction in Saudi Arabia.
Detuned bank and reactor questions
Who provides a detuned capacitor bank in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Power Factor Company provides detuned capacitor banks from its Dammam workshops, built with ABB, Schneider Electric and Siemens components. We are approved by Saudi Aramco, SABIC and the Royal Commission. Each bank is tuned to the harmonics measured or expected on your plant.
What affects the cost of detuned banks with reactors?
Cost depends on total kVAr, the number of steps, the reactor rating, the capacitor voltage class (which is higher than for a standard bank), enclosure, IP rating and switchgear make. For the same kVAr, the reactors make the price higher than a plain bank.
How long does delivery of a detuned bank take?
Time depends on kVAr, step count, reactor availability and drawing approval. Our typical lead time is 3–4 weeks. Reactors for uncommon ratings can extend the schedule, so tell us the tuning you need at the enquiry stage.
What is the difference between a detuned bank and a harmonic filter?
A detuned bank is a capacitor bank made safe in the presence of harmonics; its job is power factor correction. A harmonic filter is built to reduce harmonic distortion on the supply. Passive filters are tuned reactor-capacitor branches, and active filters inject cancelling current.
Can I convert my existing standard bank to a detuned bank?
Yes. We inspect the existing panel and fit reactors, change the capacitors to the correct voltage class and update the contactors and protection, where space allows. Our capacitor replacement and retrofit service covers the full conversion.
Need a detuned capacitor bank in Saudi Arabia? Send us your electricity bill, the transformer rating and a list of the drives on site and receive a quotation within one working day.
Email: inquiry@saudipowerfactor.com | Request a quotation