Delta Connections Calculation of Capacitor Unbalance

(Article # GES4233)

By Neal S. Ciurro The industrial market has become aware of the money that can be saved with the use of power-factor correction capacitors and has given rise to more delta-connected capacitor banks. Customers showing concern for identifying failures within the banks find that the biggest problem is in finding an easy method of determining the current differences in unbalanced conditions so that relay and/or alarms can be used. This problem can be reduced considerably with mathematics. First, consider the balanced delta connection of Figure 1. Using a simple and standard connection, let the system be 7200 volts, delta, with 2400 kvar. This means 800 kvar per phase.

Figure 1 Converting kvar into microfarads, we have:

Using the parameters set up:

From here, the capacitive reactance can be determined.

Where: V = phase to phase voltage C = capacitance in microfarads Xc = capacitive reactance

Figure 2. Hypothetical circuit Based on the balanced load, we know the phase voltages are 120 apart. We also know that current leads the voltage by 90 degrees. This is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Phasor diagram of the circuit. From Figures 2 and 3, we have:

The leg currents will then become:

Using Kirchoff's Law:

or

Note that 111.3 amps times = approximately192.6 amps. This confirms the fact that in a balanced delta-connected load, the line voltage and phase voltage are equal, and the line current is times larger than the phase current.

This arduous method is simplified by mathematics if the displacement of the currents is not considered and only the integer co-factor is considered. This is simply:

In our case, it would be:

Line current is

Leg current is But the main concern is the unbalanced delta. What happens to the line and leg currents? The above calculation will not apply. Again, in order to appreciate the mathematics, we will go through the pains of the total calculations. The phase currents need to be computed and then Kirchoff's current law applied at the junctions to obtain the three line currents. The line currents will not be equal nor will they have a 120 difference as in a balanced load.

Figure 4. Assume we lose a unit in leg A-B: Let V = 7200V AB = 600 kvar BC = 800 kvar CA = 800 kvar

Again, using We find

or C (in mfd) =

and

(See Figure 4) Then:

Figure 5 So, we have:

But, as before, we can use

for the leg currents.

You will notice Ic remained at change in either case.

in both cases. This is because Ica + Icb didn't

Again, mathematics can be used to solve the line currents. Ignoring the displacement again, we can easily see Ia and Ib will be equal as far as the integer co-factor is concerned. Using the law of cosines, we can obtain the formula:

or

In our case:

Summary The balanced delta capacitor circuit and calculations are basic but still prove to be time consuming. For the most part, angular displacement is not significant and there is no reason to go through the long arduous task of finding the displacement just to obtain the resultant, or current. The formula provides the resultant we seek.

The same holds true on the unbalanced delta condition and can be easily handled with the

formula

Delta Versus Wye Connected Capacitor Banks Introduction

Delta connected capacitor banks are often specified for medium voltage (2.4kV to 34.5kV) systems. This is contrary to IEEE Std 1036-1992, "IEEE Guide for Application of Shunt Power Capacitors". This standard states that delta connected capacitors are generally only used at low voltages, e.g., 2400 V, where a standard capacitor rating is not available for a wye-connection. The standard further states that wye-connected capacitor installations are less complicated to construct, and are more economical. The purpose of this bulletin is to discuss the basic aspects of the delta and ungrounded-wye connected capacitor bank. A related bulletin, titled, "Why Your Capacitor Bank Should be Left Ungrounded", is available from NEPSI, and it discusses the aspect of grounded versus ungrounded-wye connected capacitor banks.

Delta Versus Ungrounded-Wye

Figure 1 shows the capacitor bank connections that are the topic of this bulletin. The only other popular connection that is not shown, is the grounded-wye and split wye-connected capacitor bank. The following key points can be made in regard to bank connection under normal and abnormal system conditions. Bus Bar Connections: From looking at figure one, it should be evident that the ungrounded-wye connection is much simpler in design than either of the two delta connected banks. The cross-over connection that connects phase "A" to phase "C" to close the delta is complicated at the medium voltage level due to clearance requirements.

Figure 1 -Connection delta connected capacitor banks

and

fusing

arrangements

for

ungrounded-wye

and

Fusing: Figure one also shows common fusing practices for each of the bank arrangements. The figure shows that the delta connected bank can be protected by placing the fuses inside or outside of the delta. Two fuses per single phase capacitor are required when fusing inside of the delta, but their rating is decreased to 57% of the outside fuse rating. The fuses outside of the delta are sized in the same way as the fuses for the ungrounded-wye connected capacitor bank. Capacitor: Except for voltage rating, the capacitors in both ungrounded-wye and delta-connected banks are the same and will have the same kvar rating. They consists of a double bushing design, meaning both terminals are fully insulated from their case (ground). On delta connected banks, the capacitors have a line-to-line voltage rating, and on a wye-connected banks, they have a line-to-neutral voltage rating. Fault Conditions: A capacitor typically fails in two ways: 1) A bushing to case fault occurs. 2) The internal sections fail (commonly known as a dielectric fault), which basically shorts the capacitor terminals. Whether the capacitors are delta or wye-connected, a bushing fault will have the same impact on the power system. Internal section faults, or dielectric faults appear differently to a power system. On a delta connected bank, an internal section fault subjects the power system to a phase-to-phase bolted fault. This fault will cause a major voltage sag on the facilities power system (until the capacitor fuse(s) blow) and may cause capacitor case rupture if not properly protected. It also subjects the power system to high magnitude fault currents which can impose mechanical and thermal stress on components in the fault path. On a wyeungrounded capacitor bank, internal section faults subject the power system to a fault current that is three times the banks rating (until the capacitor fuse blows). Therefore, the voltage sag, mechanical and thermal stressing associated with the fault, and case rupture concerns are reduced.

Common Misconceptions
The following misconceptions are common reasons why medium voltage capacitor banks are specified as delta connected: The system that the bank is being applied to is delta connected or high resistance grounded. So therefore the bank should be delta connected. (Statement Not True) It is a typical practice for low voltage (600 volts and below) systems, and therefore it must be appropriate for medium voltage systems. (Not technically appropriate for medium voltage systems) A faulted wye-connected capacitor bank will go undetected. (Not true when a blown fuse detection system is installed). Bank kvar rating will not be correct. (Not True) All of the above reasons do not justify the use of a delta connection over an ungrounded-wye