Characteristics of dielectric failure in REP rate pulse capacitors

Repetitively discharged energy storage capacitors are used in a variety of applications where energy density (J/m
³
) and inverse specific weight (J/kg) are parameters as critical as reliability. The energy density of an ideal capacitor is proportional to the square of the average electric field in the dielectric, and directly proportional to the effective dielectric constant. Since the useful lifetime of the capacitor is also a function of the electric field, energy density is, in effect, a function of the required lifetime and reliability for any given dielectric system.