Testing of Three Phase Capacitors & Surge Arresters

[Curry_Duck]

How do you go about testing a three phase capacitor & Surge Arresters?

What type of test can you perform?

How to test the capacitance of the capacitor?



Attached is the nameplate if the Capacitor & Surge Arresters

https://files.engineering.com/getfi...a703-4ce4-ac87-b1ee5ec9f9ed&file=IMG_9222.jpg

https://files.engineering.com/getfi...ab7e-445c-a890-8a02c2a64677&file=IMG_9240.jpg

https://files.engineering.com/getfi...cf9a-4f54-aaf0-d798ea508ad4&file=IMG_9252.jpg

 

[waross]

One test could be a Rogowski coil around each bushing in turn to verify that the capacitors are drawing the appropriate current.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[thermionic1]

The Doble M4000 system is designed to test both the capacitance and insulation quality of the capacitors. Ditto for surge arrestors. The system is driven by SW that guides the user through the connections and analysis of results. You can rent a Doble, or hire a qualified contractor to perform the testing. Most testing contractors have a Doble. The tests are performed off line.

The test set injects a voltage, measures the current and compares to an internal reference capacitor. The results yield V, Watts, mA,Cap & %PF. There is an accessory that has a clamp on (amps) for testing multiple capacitors within a large bank.

Testing of surge arrestors is performed with the same test set. HV is applied to the HV end of SA. Losses are measured to ground. There is a large database of similar units to compare to.

 

[buzzp]

This won't be a comprehensive test but I have used an insulation resistance tester to see if the caps are breaking down with voltage applied. This was also on LV caps in a VFD - kept tripping drive and found bad caps in the DC bus. You might have some luck with doing something similar since your only talking 4160. It is just a quick and dirty test.
As already suggested, Doble Engineering makes a test set that tests caps and much, much more but they cost $50,000+. Many testing companies own these.