CAPACITOR
Engineering Failure Analysis
The aim of the project was to induce failure through various failure modes on an electrical capacitor. Different failure modes of an electrical capacitor were identified to and carefully induce failure from that exact route.
The three failure modes were high peak voltage, excessive heat, and oscillating voltage.
The portion of the capacitor that went under rupture was observed under a microscope before and after the failure for studying and drawing the conclusion.
Conclusion
-
The root cause of the capacitor failure was due to the combined effect of the thermal stress generated at a high temperature.
-
At this high temperature(T>373.15K), the electrolyte evaporates resulting in the formation of gases.
-
These gases try to escape which leads to the popping of capacitor and hence the failure.