The document describes the procedure to perform preventive maintenance on capacitor banks. The procedure includes identifying the equipment, performing a general cleaning, checking the electrical connections, checking the condition of the components, and testing operation before putting them back into service.
Capacitor banks generally require very little maintenance because they are static type of equipment, but don’t be fooled by this statement. Capacitors are well known for their dangerous reaction when something goes wrong. Standard safety practices should be followed during installation, inspection, 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.
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.
The procedure includes identifying the equipment, performing a general cleaning, checking the electrical connections, checking the condition of the components, and testing operation before putting them back into service. The objective is to identify possible faults and ensure that the capacitor banks are working correctly.
Allow a minimum of 5 min between de-energization of the capacitor bank and re-energization of the capacitor bank to allow enough time for the stored energy to dissipate. 5. Initial Inspection Measurements and Energization Procedures