CHAPTER 12

CAPACITOR PROTECTION

Chapter 12 Page 1 Capacitor Protection

CAPACITOR PROTECTION

Capacitor Unit Ratings (ANSI/IEEE 18-1980)

Capacitor Bank Arrangements And Connections

Individual Unit Overcurrent Protection

Bank Overcurrent Protection

Overvoltage Protection

Unbalance Protection

Chapter 12 Page 2 Capacitor Protection

CAPACITOR UNIT RATINGS (ANSI/IEEE 18-1980)

Capacitors:
1. Shall be capable of continuous operation up to 110% of rated terminal
r.m.s. voltage, including harmonics.

2. Shall be capable of continuous operation up to 180% of rated r.m.s.

current, including fundamental and harmonic currents.

3. Shall give no less than 100% and not more than 115% of rated active
power at rated sinusoidal voltage and frequency.

4. Shall be suitable for continuous operation at 135% of rated reactive

power caused by the combined effects of :
a) System Voltage
b) Harmonic Voltages
c) Manufacturing Tolerances

CAPACITOR BANK PROTECTION

Capacitor bank protection equipment must guard against seven basic

conditions:

1. Over-currents due to capacitor bank bus faults

2. System surge voltages
3. Over-currents due to individual capacitor failures
4. Continuous capacitor unit over-voltages
5. Discharge current from parallel capacitor units
6. Inrush current due to switching
7. Arc-over within the capacitor rack

Chapter 12 Page 3 Capacitor Protection

The type of protection and preventive measures are shown in the following
table

Summary of Shunt Capacitor Protective Methods

Type of Protection and
Preventive Measures
Condition Remarks

Bus faults (1) Supply breaker with over- Conventional methods

current relays apply
(2) Power fuses
System surge (1) Surge arresters Grounded capacitor bank
voltages (2) Spark gaps partially reduces surge
voltages. Check arrester
rating

Over-currents due to Individual capacitor unit Coordination normally

individual capacitor fuses (expulsion or current provided by capacitor
unit failures limiting types) manufacturer

Continuous capacitor (1) Unbalance sensing with The various schemes

unit over-voltages current or voltage relays used have some
for Y or double Y banks limitations and suitability
(2) Periodic visual fuse depends on bank
inspection arrangement and rating.
(3) Phase voltage relays Not suitable for unmanned
substations

Discharge current (1) Individual capacitor unit Coordination normally

from parallel capacitor fuses (current limiting type) provided by capacitor
units (2) Proper bank design manufacturer.

Limit number of parallel

capacitors

Inrush current Switched or fixed To reduce inrush current.

impedance in series with
capacitor bank May not be necessary, if
only a single bank

Rack faults (1) Unbalance relaying Prompt relay action

(2) Over-current relaying necessary to limit fault
damage

Chapter 12 Page 4 Capacitor Protection

 CAPACITOR BANK ARRANGEMENTS
AND CONNECTIONS

• DELTA CONNECTION

• Delta connected banks are

generally used only at low voltages

• No third harmonic currents can flow

in a delta connected capacitor bank

• GROUNDED WYE CONNECTION

• Grounding the bank reduces surge

voltages

• Third harmonic resonance may be

a problem

• Provides a low impedance path to

ground for harmonic currents

Chapter 12 Page 5 Capacitor Protection

• UNGROUNDED WYE
• Usually, capacitors do not require
current limiting fuses

• Connection does not pass third

harmonic currents during system
ground faults

• Neutral must be insulated for full

line voltage

• UNGROUNDED DOUBLE WYE

NEUTRALS

• Two neutrals may or may not be

tied together

• Used when individual capacitor

bank ratings exceed fuse sizes

• Similar to ungrounded Wye

connection

• If two neutrals are not tied together,

system unbalance cannot be
detected

Chapter 12 Page 6 Capacitor Protection

• GROUNDED DOUBLE WYE
• Similar to grounded wye connection

• Will pass third harmonic currents

• Unbalance between the two parts

of the bank can be detected

• The two neutrals should be directly

tied to ground through a single
connection

• GROUNDED WYE BANKS

MULTIPLE SERIES GROUPS

• Are composed of two or more

series groups of two or more series
groups of parallel connected
standard voltage capacitor units per
phase

Chapter 12 Page 7 Capacitor Protection

 CAPACITOR BANK PROTECTION

INDIVIDUAL UNIT OVERCURRENT PROTECTION

The first line of protection for a capacitor bank is the individual capacitor fuse. The
current through the fuse when a unit becomes shorted should not be less than ten
times the normal capacitor unit current through the fuse.

Ö Current Limiting Fuses

Ö Expulsion Type Fuses

Chapter 12 Page 8 Capacitor Protection

BANK OVERCURRENT PROTECTION

(a) Using Bank Fuses

Ö Could use either current

limiting or expulsion-type
fuses

Ö In either case, select fuse

size equal to approx. 1.65
times rated current of the
capacitor bank

(b) Using Over-current Relays

52
Ö Set relay taps at 135% of
rated capacitor current
51 51 51
51N

Ö Set instantaneous at 400%

of rated capacitor current

Ö Set time dial for a timing of

0.2 seconds at 150% of tap
value current

Chapter 12 Page 9 Capacitor Protection

OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION

Lightning and switching transient over-voltages are controlled by surge

arresters

System over-voltages are controlled by time over-voltage relays.

They should be set below the duration limits shown in the following table

Limits of Short Time Power Frequency

Over-voltages at Sub-zero Temperatures

Multiplying Factor

Duration Times Rated rms Voltage

0.5 cycles 3.0

1.0 cycles 2.7

6.0 cycles 2.2

15.0 cycles 2.0

1.0 seconds 1.7

15.0 seconds 1.4

1.0 minutes 1.3

5.0 minutes 1.2

30.0 minutes 1.15

Chapter 12 Page 10 Capacitor Protection

 CAPACITOR BANK PROTECTION (Cont'd.)
• UNBALANCE PROTECTION

(a) Neutral Current Unbalance Protection Method,

Grounded Y-Connected Capacitor Bank

59N
86

(a)

(b) Neutral Voltage Unbalance Protection Method,

Ungrounded Y-Connected Capacitor Bank

Resistive
Potential

86 Device

86
Surge 59N
59N
Arrester

VT

(b)

Chapter 12 Page 11 Capacitor Protection

 CAPACITOR BANK PROTECTION (Cont'd.)
(c) Summation of Line-to-Neutral Voltage Protection
Method with Optional Line-to-Neutral Over-voltage
Protection, Ungrounded Y-Connected Capacitor
Bank

VT

59 59 59

59N
(c) 86

(d) Neutral Current Unbalance Detection Method,

Ungrounded Double Y-Connected Capacitor Bank

CT

51N

(d)

Chapter 12 Page 12 Capacitor Protection

 CAPACITOR BANK PROTECTION (Cont'd.)

(e) Neutral Voltage Unbalance Protection Method,

Ungrounded Double Y-Connected Capacitor Bank
(Neutrals Isolated)

VT

59N

(e)

(f) Neutral Current Differential Protection Method,

Grounded Double Y-Connected Capacitor bank

87

CT CT

(f)

Chapter 12 Page 13 Capacitor Protection