MAL214860222E3

Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors

The MAL214860222E3 is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, a type of capacitor mainly used for the purpose of storing electrical energy for short periods of time. It is an electronic component that stores energy in the form of an electric field between two conductive layers, each possessing an opposite electrical charge. This particular version of a capacitor is a bi-polar aluminum electrolytic capacitor and is designed for high power applications.

Application Field

The main application field of aluminum electrolytic capacitors such as the MAL214860222E3 is in power electronics, where they are used to reduce ripple and noise in a DC power supply, supply surge currents to motors, decouple voltage between stages, and store enough energy to bridge interruption of the power supply when energy is needed in peak times. Additionally, aluminum electrolytic capacitors are used in audio frequency circuits, where their higher capacitance range and cost effectiveness makes them a good choice for analog filters, phase shifting circuits, and reference voltage circuits.

Working Principle

The working principle of aluminum electrolytic capacitors is dependent on the physical properties of the oxide layer on the surface of the anode aluminum foil. When an electric field is applied, ions are attracted through the electrolyte to form a film on the anode’s surface. This film creates an insulating layer that allows the capacitor to store energy in the form of an electric field.

The most critical factor of the capacitor’s performance is the quality of the oxide layer. The film must be thick enough to withstand applied voltages, but at the same time thin enough to allow enough current to flow through the capacitor at the desired frequencies. This feature is known as the “design rule” and is maintained through careful manufacturing processes.