Electrolytic capacitor lifetime prediction in ground mobile applications

Electrolytic capacitors are widely used in several power electronic systems. Their high energy density (J/cm3) features make them an attractive candidate for smoothing voltage ripple in supply circuitry. However, electrolytic capacitors have the shortest life span of components in power electronic circuits, usually due to their wear-out failure. The main wear-out mechanisms in electrolytic capacitors are the loss of the electrolyte by vapor diffusion trough the seals and the deterioration of the electrolyte. In this paper, a corrective model for reliability prediction is presented. This model is employed satisfactorily to estimate lifetime duration according to manufacturers' tests. An implementation of this method is proposed, which can be very helpful for predicting the capacitor reliability and alerting plant operators to execute maintenance and/or replacement of the component. Copyright�� (2014) by the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO).