Quality Assurance for a New Capacitor

This paper describes the analysis and testing of a new non-PCB dielectric fluid used in power-factor-correction capacitors. The testing involves older, classical, tests which, in some cases, have been modified to accommodate the different chemical and physical characteristics of the new fluid. New analytical methods such as gas chromatography and flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy are described. These methods provide more detailed information on the composition of the dielectric fluid than was previously possible usingoldertest methods. A test method for determining interactions of capacitor components with the dielectric fluid is described, along with examples of application of the new test procedure. Use of old and new dielectric fluid test methods in conjunction with the system testing approach to capacitor development has been shown, through field experience, to be effective in improving capacitor reliability.