Important Construction Features of Multiple Capacitors

A capacitor is an electronic component that mainly stores electrical energy in an electric field. It acts as a passive electronic component that exists between two terminals in a system. The effect is called capacitance. It may already exist in a circuit or may get induced by the addition of the capacitor. As per the constructing qualities of this component, you can find more than one type of capacitors with classified use. The most common constructing feature is the presence of two electrical conductors in the form of metallic plates divided by a dielectric medium. 

Notable functions

An ideal capacitor should not dissipate energy, but the capacitors used in practical electrical systems and components dissipate in negligible amounts. In practical fields of work, capacitors are put in the electrical circuits to block the direct current and enable the flow of alternating current to pass through. 

• Capacitors, when used in analogue filter networks, smoothen the output of the concerned power supplies. 

• In resonant circuits, they can tune radios to specified frequencies. 

• Capacitors in electronic power transmission systems work in stabilizing voltage and power flow in the system.

• In early digital computers, capacitors acted as dynamic memory. In modern-day computers, they are present in the dynamic-RAM.

Varied types

Capacitors have different variations as per the manufacturing elements in use and dielectric plates inside them. The multiple types of capacitors feature multiple capacitance values depending on the electric system in use. The most common type is the Film Foil Capacitor that is highly in use for commercial purposes. 

Inductive and Non-inductive: The film foil caps can be both inductive and non-inductive depending on the interior arrangement of the capacitor. In both cases, electrodes are of aluminium foils, and the inter-layer present inside separates the layers of metal. 

Plastic made

If the capacitors involve plastic materials as a key manufacturing unit, then those are plastic film capacitors. They can also be Box Type Capacitors depending on the shape of the unit. Like the paper film capacitors, the only distinguishing factor is the use of plastic as the separating film. 

Axial type

Axial capacitors are a type where there is the use of lead that runs parallel to the capacitor's body. It comes out from the two ends at the opposite sides. Depending on the mounting specifications, there are two types:

• The Round Axial Capacitor has a cylindrical structure in the middle with the two ends coming outside from two opposite sides.

• The Flat Axial Capacitor is internally similar in structure, with the difference being the shape of the unit. It features a more flattened cylinder compared to the previous one.

Summing up

Reading the above will help you get an overall idea of the functions of a capacitor and the varied types available. The types differ due to manufacturing facets, and their performing abilities are also distinct. See all the related aspects before you consider a capacitor for any purpose.