What is a common application of capacitors in electric systems?

The use of capacitors for power factor correction is a well-established practice in electric systems. A capacitor can help improve the overall efficiency of an electrical system by reducing the amount of reactive power drawn from the supply. In AC power systems, particularly those that involve inductive loads, the power factor can become less than unity, meaning that not all the power being supplied is effectively used for doing work.

When capacitors are added to the system, they supply reactive power, which can counteract the inductive effect of the loads. This effectively brings the power factor closer to unity (1.0), leading to less wasted energy, lower demand charges from utility companies, and the ability to handle more load without increasing the capacity of the supply system. Thus, capacitors play a vital role in maintaining an efficient and stable power supply in electric systems.