What is a visual inspection of a capacitor bank?

Visual inspection of the capacitor bank must be conducted for blown capacitor fuses, capacitor unit leaks, bulged cases, discolored cases, and ruptured cases.

What safety practices should be followed during installation and maintenance of capacitors?

Standard safety practices should be followed during installation, inspection, and maintenance of capacitors. Additionally, there are procedures that are unique to capacitor banks that must be followed to protect field operators and equipment in accordance with the NESC – National Electrical Safety Code.

How should capacitor insulating fluid be handled?

When handling the leaking fluid, avoid contact with the skin and take measures to prevent entry into sensitive areas such as eyes. Handling and disposal of capacitor insulating fluid should comply with state, federal, and local regulations. Some capacitor units contain combustible liquid and require careful handling.

How often should a substation and distribution capacitor bank be inspected?

The substation and distribution capacitor banks should be inspected and electrical measurements be made periodically. The frequency of the inspection should be determined by local conditions such as environmental factors and type of controller used to switch the capacitors on and off. 7. Visual Inspections

How do you check a capacitor bank after energization?

Also, measure and verify if the supply voltage, phase currents, and the kVAR of the capacitor bank are within the allowed limits. Approximately 8 h after energization, conduct a visual inspection of the bank for blown fuses, bulged units, and proper balance in the currents.

How to measure the capacitance of a capacitor?

Measure #1 – Verify proper mechanical assembly of the capacitor units, clearances as per the electrical code, and soundness of the structure of all capacitor banks. Measure #2 – It may be useful to measure the capacitance of the banks and keep the measurements as benchmark data for future comparison.