The Capacitor Exhibits Efficient Storage of Energy

Energy is typically stored in one of two places when it comes to electronic devices and circuits. The first, in chemicals, a battery stores energy. A less common alternative is a voltage capacitor. In an electric field, they store energy.

In either case, an electric potential is created by the stored energy. An electric potential can drive a flow of electrons, as the name might suggest. An electric current is nothing but this flow. To power electrical components within a circuit, that current can be used.

Capacitors

A variety of functions can be served by Capacitors. They can allow alternating current to pass but block the flow of direct current in a circuit. To a particular frequency, capacitors help tune a radio in certain circuits. But to use capacitors, engineers are also looking to store energy.

A pretty basic design is present in the Capacitors.  From two components that can conduct electricity, the simplest ones are made which we’ll call the conductors. These conductors are conducted by a gap that doesn’t conduct electricity. Electrons flow in and out of the capacitor when connected to a live circuit. Those electrons are stored on one of the capacitor’s conductors, which have a negative charge. Across the gap between them, Electrons won’t flow. Still, the charge on the other side is affected by the electric charge that builds up on one side of the gap. The electrical condenser is also a useful device.

On several factors, the amount of energy a capacitor can store depends. The more charge it can store the larger the surface of each conductor. Also, the charge that can be stored is more if the insulator in the gap between the two conductors is better.

The conductors were disks or metal plates separated by nothing but the air in some early capacitor designs. But those early designs as engineers would have liked, couldn’t hold as much energy. In the gap between the conducting plates, they began to add non-conducting materials in later designs. Today, plastics or ceramics can be chosen by the designers as their nonconductors in a motor capacitor. Follow us on Facebook