Tutorial Session for Field

Testing Capacitor Bank

or “Doble CapBank” Test

By Long Pong
Outline

Motivations

Test Principle and Procedure

Data Interpretation

Field Experiences:
 Capacitor Bank Description
 Typical Problems Identified

Conclusions and Recommendation

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Background & Motivation

Capacitor Bank Failure Which one is
the bad guy?

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Background & Motivation

Intermittent Voltage or Current Unbalancing

How to troubleshoot this without

spending days?

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Background & Motivation

Failure

Intermittent Voltage or Current Unbalancing

Maintenance: To detect a coming problem

Better way to evaluate the capacitor condition,
once mounted in bank

Use the existing tools, M4000:
 Simple and Effective Tool
 Little Investment

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Safety Requirement

• Comply With Your Company’s Policy

• Glove (600V)
• Safety Glass
• Decrease Test Voltage to Zero Before
Removing Source Leads (M4110’s Red
and Black)

Training– Doble CapBank Test

 Principle – Doble CapBank Test
Parallel Group

ITotal
M4110
(External
Ic1 Ic2 Ic3 Ic4 Ic5 Ic6 Ic7 Ic8 Ic9
Source)

M4100 for Ic3/Ratio Ic6/Ratio

measurement

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Connection For Parallel Group

M4110
Breakers
V. Control VTest Ic1 Ic2 Ic3 Ic4 Ic5 Ic6 Ic7 Ic8 Ic9

PC Sensor
M4100 Ic3/Ratio Ic6/Ratio
Training– Doble CapBank Test
Testing Series Parallel Groups
A

B C

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Testing Series Parallel Groups
A

B C

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Testing Series Parallel Groups
A

1st

6th

10th

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Principle – Doble CapBank Test
Serial String
1 2 3 4

Neutral Bar

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Principle - Unit in Serial
String

Source Lead

V1
V. Lead

Current Lead
Ii
Ii
M4100

Ik
M4110 Itotal
Source Lead Common Neutral Bar

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Next Unit in Serial String

Source Lead

V. Lead
V2
Current Lead
Ii
Ii
M4100

Ik
M4110 Itotal
Source Lead Common Neutral Bar

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test the Whole Serial String

Source Lead

V1
V. Lead

Current Lead
Ii
M4100 Ii
Ik
M4110 Itotal
Source Lead Common Neutral Bar

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Connection – Unit in Serial
String

Source Phase Bar

M4110
Lead

V. Lead

Ii
M4100
Sensor PC Source Lead
Neutral Bar

Training– Doble CapBank Test

String Test
Vs / Is => String Cap & %PF
1 2 3 4
M4100
Vs

Is

M4110 N

I = Σ Is
s=1

Neutral Bar

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Connection - String Test
1 2 3 4
M4110

M4100

Sensor PC
Common Neutral Bar

Training– Doble CapBank Test

All Covered
Training– Doble CapBank Test
Hook Adapters for Voltage leads

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Hook Adapters for Voltage leads

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Installation Requirement

• Install M4000 version 4.1

 Choose Voltage Coupling Device:

Ohm (72000)
 Copy and Past in Test Line
 1200 test lines

If use V3.4, install M4120 version 2.1 or later

Training– Doble CapBank Test
Modify or Create Test Plan
1. Use the provided Templates Test
Module
Max.Voltage
<0.6kV
Coupling
Device
Test Mode in ID:
Capacitor
Current
UST Xn-m
Probe Ratio
Correction (Attenuation)
Factor (-1)

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Training– Doble CapBank Test
Test Connection – Doble CapBank
Clamps need to close completely and centers
around bushing connection

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Connection – Doble CapBank
Clamps completely close and centers around
bushing connection

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Connection - Lead Polarity
• Polarity of Test leads:
Voltage Polarity: white and black Voltage
leads agree with red and black Source leads

Current Polarity: Current Probe agrees with

current direction (Red → Black)

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Connection - Lead Polarity

I
Training– Doble CapBank Test
Test Connection – Clearance

• Keep BNC Connection out of test circuit

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Running the Tests – Doble CapBank

• Cursor in the starting line and F2

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Running the Tests – Doble CapBank

• Increase Test Voltage to 240 Volts

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Running the Tests – Doble CapBank

• F3 : Take the measurement

• F5 : Accept Test Results

MoveTraining–
the Clamp-On
Doble CapBank Test
Probe to Next Capacitor
Running the Tests – Doble CapBank

1. Repeat the test until the last unit in the

group
2. Decrease Test Voltage to Zero
3. Move Test Source Leads to Next Group
4. Repeat the process on each group until
the end

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Data Interpretation

• Two Parameters:
Power Factor (%PF) → Quality Change
Capacitance Change → Physical
Change or Internally Damaged
• Comparison between units and historical
Trend

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Data Interpretation
Limit of Power Factor
Low
Cond. Very Low OK High Limit Very High
Limit
Relative Avg
<Avg/2 Avg/2 2Avg >2Avg
Limit ±50%
1% @
Ab. Limit <0.1 0.1% 5% > 5%
3%
Case Gnd Case Gnd/ Bad connection Very bad
Typical
Loose/bad Bad - or Internal connection/
Cause
connection connection Deterioration Deterioration

Inspect/clean Inspect Inspect/tighten Inspect/tighten

Action /tighten the Unit - connection/ Connection/ fuse
mounting Mounting fuse & Retest Retest/replace

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Data Interpretation
Limit of Capacitance Deviation
Cond. Very low Low Limit OK High Limit Very high

%∇ ≤ -5% -5% ± 3% 5% ≥ 5%

Severe Delaminating/lo
Partial short- Short-
Typical Delaminating, w fluid level
- circuited layer circuited
Cause low fluid level/ /partial
section layer section
Discontinuity discontinuity
Replace Unit/ Inspect Unit
Inspect Unit/
Repair Mounting/ Replace the
Action - Replace Unit if
Connection Retest Unit unit
necessary
Note 1 sooner

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Test Data Interpretation

• Manufacturer Recommendation:
Only Capacitance change: 10% to 15%,
which is too high
No
No %PF: unable to detect deterioration
Mfg criteria is for completely failed unit
Not for deterioration or partial failure.

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Unit Identification

Unit Identification for multiple groups:

Xk-n-m
 X is Phase Label (Example A, B or C)
 k is section position
 n is group, string or rack position in a section
 m is unit position in the string or group

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Typical Cap Bank
Parallel Groups (lower voltage with ungrounded neutral)

Phase A
Phase A’

Ungrounded Neutral

Phase C Phase B Phase C’ Phase B’

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Typical Cap Bank
Series-Parallel Group (Higher voltage with grounded neutral)
n:
m: 1 2 14
1
2
Grounded Neutral
3
4
5

Neutral

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Typical Cap Bank: Serial Strings
Xk-n-m n: 4 Strings/group
A
1 2 3 4
k: A1 A2 A3 A4 m: A4-1-1
1
2 A4-4-1
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
C 12
B
13
14
15
A4-1-16
16

Training– Doble CapBank Test

One Serial Group
1 2 3 4

Training– Doble CapBank Test

 4
3
Xk-n-m 2 C
1
3
4
B
1
2
A

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Field Experiences: Unit ID
Xk-n-m; 14 units per rack and k=1

C1-1-14 1 C1-2-1

2
3

5 4

Phase A Phase B Phase C

Training– Doble CapBank Test
Typical Problems Identified

Ref. Cap Avg Cap %PF

ID # Problem Description
(µF) %PF (µF)
Severe delaminating/
1 4 1.3 3.30 28.42
deterioration (leakage)
2 4 1.3 3.7 13.29 Delaminating (leakage)
3 4 1.3 5.43 1.44 Severely shorted section
4 4 1.3 4.14 1.26 Shorted layer
5 4 1.3 4.02 3.35 Internal deterioration
6 8.25 1 8.44 5.46 Bushing contamination
7 2.28 1.4 2.29 6 Bad connection
8 2.28 1.4 2.34 0.79 Case ground loose

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Field Experiences: Users Feedbacks

Test Time: 30 second pers unit test

Simple and no training required

Additional Test Technique:
Test on entire group or phase to detect a
capacitance unbalancing
Recommend for troubleshooting or
Engineering purpose
Not for maintenance or baseline

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Field Experiences: Users Feedbacks
Graphic Analysis
5.0 6
1 2 3
4.8 Overlay %PF &
5
Capacitance (pF)

%PF
4.6 Capacitance
4.4 6 units to be replaced
4
4.2
4.0 3
3.8
3.6 2
3.4
1
3.2
3.0 0
C1-3
C1-11
C2-4
C2-12
C3-5
C3-13
C4-6
C4-14
C5-7
B1-6
B1-14
B2-7

B3-8
B4-1
B4-9
B5-2
B5-10
A1-1
A1-9
A2-2
A2-10
A3-3
A3-11
A4-4
A4-12
A5-5
A5-13

Capacitor ID Cap. %PF

Training– Doble CapBank Test
Field Experiences: Users Feedbacks
Graphic Analysis
5.0 5 units to be monitored 6
4.8
5
Capacitance (pF)

%PF
4.6
4.4 1 2 4 5 4
4.2
4.0 3 %Limit
3.8 3
3.6 2
3.4
1
3.2
3.0 0
C1-3
C1-11
C2-4
C2-12
C3-5
C3-13
C4-6
C4-14
C5-7
B1-6
B1-14
B2-7

B3-8
B4-1
B4-9
B5-2
B5-10
A1-1
A1-9
A2-2
A2-10
A3-3
A3-11
A4-4
A4-12
A5-5
A5-13

Capacitor ID Cap. %PF

Training– Doble CapBank Test
When to Test CapBank

 Test all Capacitor Bank:

• New for baseline
• Commissioning for QA and spec confirmation
• Maintenance test to prevent catastrophic
failure
• As Troubleshooting Tool to save time
 Contact Doble for the first time user
• Keys of Success
• Incorporate in DTAf

Training– Doble CapBank Test

Training - Field Testing CapBank

Thanks for listening

Any question?

Training– Doble CapBank Test