TECAP - CBO Software

The CBO (Capacitor Bank Organizer) is a software tool, designed to fulfil the technical needs for support, when capacitors and its apparatus are involved for troubleshooting or commissioning capacitor banks

General view of a constructed capacitor bank

Capacitor can be selected from the diagram selection or directly by double clicking in the image. The image can be moved by positioning the mouse over the image and by holding the left side of the mouse while sliding the mouse in the direction desired. By moving the 3D image, it is allowing the user to visualize any side of the bank in order to see the desired capacitor.(CBO required)

File ->	New, Open, Save, Save as, Print, Print set-up, Exit
Edit ->	Undo, Redo, Properties, Open Group(s), Close Group(s), swap Capacitors, Preferences
View ->	Toolbars, Status Bar, Bank Data, Bank Description and Historic, Inventory Manager
Tools ->	Rebalance, Alarm and Trip, Fast Track, Initial balance, Bank Parameters
Visual Bank Modification ->	Move Camera, Move Selected Object, Rotate Selected Object, Free Axis, Group rotation, Uses Local Axis
Help ->	About CBO

The upper screen interface contains also a set of fast access button for the most accessed function such as :

New, Open, Save, Undo, Redo, Print, Bank Data, Rebalance, Fast Track, Inventory, About, Rotate Camera, Move Camera, Camera Zoom and Reset Camera

With all the capacitor data information been included in the electrical diagram connection, it is then possible to activate the “Rebalance” function.

By activating the “Search Solution” button the software provide to the user the smallest number of capacitors swapping that meet the unbalance limit target. Each selected solution is highlighted in the physical representation which reduce the risk of misplacement error. This function will allow the user to perform a capacitor bank rebalance more rapidly and more efficiently than ever.

In conjunction with the use of the Rebalance function, Alarm and trip can provide easy access to the information related to the protection relay setting. Either to confirm or modify the setting that is most appropriate for your capacitor bank or to validate the unbalance limit chosen for your rebalance function.

From this table you can set the alarm and trip for your capacitor bank and see directly the corresponding current (or voltage) value associated with your setting. On the left column, the symbol A (Alarm) and T (Trip) indicate you the number of failed unit (or element) which will correspond the setting.

This table is giving you a wide range of information related to the general behavior of the capacitor bank while capacitor units or elements are failing.

It is mostly useful while it is used in coordination with a troubleshooting effort or during the fine tuning of relay setting for filter capacitor bank.

“Initial balance” which allow you to build an entire balanced capacitor bank using capacitor from an inventory,

“Inventory management” which allow you to take account of inventory capacitors to be used during balancing activities

"Fast Track" which allow you to perform quick balancing during emergency situation

Capacitor Bank construction

In order to achieve the construction of the capacitor bank shown above, the user shall create the capacitor bank through set of simple instruction that will enable him to recreated the physical appearance of its own capacitor bank.

The advantages are undeniable since it provide direct contact correlation with the real apparatus which in return could decrease the possibility of reading error or capacitor misplacement

The time to set-up a capacitor bank is rather small, in the range of 5 minutes regardless of the bank size. To achieve this the user start the selection of the “New” Button and have to fill the following six screen shots :

Following those simple steps you can easily create this 115 kV, 24 MVAR Externally fused Capacitor bank as shown below :

Note that the image contains a cardinal wheel that could be fixed to match the effective orientation of the equipment. By fixing its orientation, you avoid selecting a capacitor in the wrong side of the rack.

You are now ready to input your capacitor data or capacitor group data directly on each specific address allocated in the electrical diagram connection. The input could be done manually or by “copy” and “paste” from an excel file for example. By double clicking one of these address, you are accessing a screen interface that allow you to input your data.

This screen allow you to enter the capacitance “C” value and even to correct this value according to temperature compensation. You can also change the address name to suite your own terminology. Adding a specific note to this capacitor is possible by selecting the “Add Note” button.

Contact us for a demonstration ! We will be please to meet you and to demonstrate the great potential of this software to save time and money for its user !