Capacitors

DOE-HDBK-1092-2004

10.9.3 WORK ON ENERGIZED OR DE-ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Unless explicitly stated otherwise in this section, all work on energized/de-energized equipment

will conform to Section 2.0, "General Requirements."

10.10 REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC R&D EQUIPMENT

Electrical equipment and components used in research may pose hazards not commonly found

in industrial or commercial facilities. Special precautions are required to design, operate, repair,

and maintain such equipment. Electrical safety and personnel safety circuits (e.g., interlocks)

are covered in this section as a guide to reduce or eliminate associated hazards. Training and

experience in the specialized equipment are necessary to maintain a safe workplace.

All personnel involved with research electrical equipment should be trained and be familiar with

the hazards they may encounter in the workplace. Only qualified electrical personnel should

design, install, repair, or maintain electrical research equipment or components. Safety-related

design, operation, and maintenance techniques should be incorporated into all new or modified

equipment. Existing equipment should be modified when necessary to ensure safety.

Equipment for which specific standards are not available should be constructed according to the

principles of established standards, as determined by the AHJ.

Capacitors and inductors are used in research apparatus in special configurations as well as in

their standard configurations. The design, operation, and maintenance of research apparatus

using capacitors and inductors in these special configurations require that special consideration

be given to the safety of both personnel and equipment.

10.10.1 CAPACITORS

This section covers capacitors that are used in the following typical R&D applications:

1. Energy storage

2. Voltage multipliers

3. Filters

10.10.1.1

HAZARDS

Examples of capacitor hazards include:

1. Capacitors may store and accumulate a dangerous residual charge after the equipment has

been de-energized. Grounding capacitors in series may transfer rather than discharge the

stored energy.

2. A hazard exists when a capacitor is subjected to high currents that may cause heating and

explosion.

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