what is the function of capacitor bank?

Answer 1

The function of any capacitor is to store charge, a bank is just a grouping of capitors.

Answer 2

All of the above are correct, with the exception of charging the capacitor and throwing it to someone...
Don't do it! Even capacitors that you can hold in your hand can discharge surprisingly large amounts of current (albeit for a relatively short time). It takes only about 50 milliamp (50/1000) ampere of current through the heart to cause an irregular heartbeat or fibrillation. Don't ever do the throwing the cap thing. It's not a joke.
Now, in the context of electrical power, capacitor banks are used to correct lagging power factor on distribution and transmission systems to allow the most efficient use of those facilities. Allowing loads with lagging power factors to remain on line uncorrected uses up precious capacity of the distrubution or transmission equipment. Speaking in very general terms, connecting capacitors near the point of the lagging load cancels the lagging current and allows for most efficient use of conductors and other equipment.

Answer 3

All the above is correct, but there’s more. Capacitors are used to cause a phase shift in the start windings of single phase electric motors. Capacitors are used to reduce signal noise. They also prevent electomechanical contacts from burning. And capacitors pass AC signals while blocking DC signals (a form of filtering).

Answer 4

Capacitors store electrical energy. One of the lab pranks is to charge up a capacitor and throw it to somebody. WHen they catch it, thier fingers complete the circuit and the capacitor discharges, giving the catcher a nice little shock.

Answer 5

Capacitor banks are used to improve the power factor and built behind large factories because the power supplier charges the factory according to power factor instead of real power. (For residential users, they are only charged according to the real power they used.)

To know more about the power factor, please refer to this page:

http://www.kodkodkod.com/files/powerfactor.htm

Answer 6

Usually they are used to create very large current pulses for a short amount of time.