Indicator for failed capacitor unit

The disclosure generally relates to a failure indicator for providing an indicator that a failure has occurred on a capacitor unit of a capacitor bank. In some embodiments, the failure indicator may include a magnetic element, and the failure indicator may be configured to move from a first orientation to a second orientation based on a mechanical or electromagnetic impulse in the capacitor unit resulting from a failure of the first capacitor unit. In some embodiments, the magnetic element may maintain the first failure indicator in the second orientation to indicate the failure of the first capacitor unit.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to capacitors, and in particular to, systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing an indicator for a failed capacitor unit in a capacitor bank.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A conventional electrical capacitor bank may be protected and monitored by an unbalance relay which may provide an indication when a capacitor unit failure occurs in the bank. However, it may be relatively expensive to find out which of the many capacitor units in the bank have failed. For example, some conventional systems may implement current and/or voltage measurement devices and a data transmitter to collect and share the information with an operator. These conventional solutions may also require a power source. However, high voltage capacitors may be relatively inexpensive components with a long lifetime expectancy so customers have been sometimes reluctant to invest money to implement capacitor monitoring systems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In certain embodiments of the disclosure, one or more systems, methods, apparatus, and the like can provide an indication that a capacitor unit has experienced a failure. In at least one embodiment, a system can be provided. In some embodiments, the system may include one or more capacitor units comprising a first capacitor unit. In some embodiments, the system may also include a first failure indicator coupled to the first capacitor unit, the first failure indicator including a first magnetic element, the first failure indicator being configured to move from a first orientation to a second orientation based on a mechanical or electromagnetic impulse in the first capacitor unit resulting from a failure of the first capacitor unit, wherein the first magnetic element maintains the first failure indicator in the second orientation to indicate the failure of the first capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the first failure indicator provides a visual indication of the failure of the first capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the first failure indicator is held in the first orientation based on a magnetic force between the first magnetic element of the first failure indicator and the first capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the first failure indicator moving from the first orientation to the second orientation is further based on the mechanical or electromagnetic impulse overcoming the magnetic force between the first magnetic element of the failure indicator and the capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the first failure indicator is further configured to be manually moved from the second orientation back to the first orientation.

In some embodiments, the first failure indicator comprises a horizontally or vertically-oriented elongated member, wherein the first magnetic element is affixed to a first end of the horizontally or vertically-oriented elongated member.

In some embodiments, the horizontally or vertically oriented elongated member further comprises a second end opposite to the first end, and is further configured to rotate about the second end, such that in the first orientation the first end is located above the second end and in the second orientation the first end is located below the second end.

In some embodiments, the first failure indicator is coupled to the first capacitor unit at a lid, a side, or a bottom of the capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the system may also include a second capacitor unit including a second failure indicator, the second failure indicator remaining in a first orientation, wherein the second failure indicator remaining in the first orientation indicates that the second capacitor unit is operational.

In at least one embodiment, a failure indicator for a capacitor unit may be provided. In some embodiments, the failure indicator may include a first magnetic element, the failure indicator being configured to move from a first orientation to a second orientation based on a mechanical or electromagnetic impulse in the capacitor unit resulting from a failure of the capacitor unit, wherein the first magnetic element maintains the failure indicator in the second orientation to indicate the failure of the first capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the failure indicator provides a visual indication of the failure of the capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the failure indicator is held in the first orientation based on a magnetic force between the first magnetic element of the failure indicator and the capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the failure indicator moving from the first orientation to the second orientation is further based on the mechanical impulse overcoming the magnetic force between the first magnetic element of the failure indicator and the capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the failure indicator is further configured to be manually moved from the second orientation back to the first orientation.

In some embodiments, the failure indicator includes a horizontally or vertically-oriented elongated member, wherein the first magnetic element is affixed to a first end of the vertically-oriented elongated member.

In some embodiments, the horizontally or vertically oriented elongated member further comprises a second end opposite to the first end, and is further configured to rotate about the second end, such that in the first orientation the first end is located above the second end and in the second orientation the first end is located below the second end.

In some embodiments, the failure indicator is coupled to the capacitor unit at a lid, a side, or a bottom of the capacitor unit.

In some embodiments, the failure indicator includes a second capacitor unit including a second failure indicator, the second failure indicator remaining in a first orientation, wherein the second failure indicator remaining in the first orientation indicates that the second capacitor unit is operational.

In at least one embodiment, a system may be provided. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more capacitor units comprising a first capacitor unit. In some embodiments, the system includes a first failure indicator coupled to the first capacitor unit, the first failure indicator including a first magnetic element, the first failure indicator comprising a horizontally or vertically-oriented elongated member, wherein the first magnetic element is affixed to a first end of the horizontally or vertically-oriented elongated member, wherein the vertically oriented elongated member further comprises a second end opposite to the first end, and is further configured to rotate about the second end, such that in a first orientation the first end is located above the second end and in a second orientation the first end is located below the second end, wherein the first failure indicator is configured to move from a first orientation to a second orientation based on a mechanical or electromagnetic impulse overcoming a magnetic force between the first magnetic element of the first failure indicator and the first capacitor unit in the first capacitor unit, wherein the mechanical impulse results from a failure of the first capacitor unit, and wherein the first magnetic element maintains the first failure indicator in the second orientation to indicate the failure of the first capacitor unit.

Additional systems, methods, apparatus, features, and aspects can be realized through the techniques of various embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed subject matter. Other features can be understood and will become apparent with reference to the description and to the drawings.

Embodiments of the disclosure are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like, but not necessarily the same or identical, elements throughout.

The following embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable at least those skilled in the art to understand and use the disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments would be evident based on the present disclosure and that process, mechanical, material, dimensional, process equipment, and parametric changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In the following description, numerous specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent that the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure, some well-known system configurations and process steps may not be disclosed in full detail. Likewise, the drawings showing embodiments of the disclosure are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and may be exaggerated in the drawings. In addition, where multiple embodiments are disclosed and described as having some features in common, for clarity and ease of illustration, description, and comprehension thereof, similar and like features will ordinarily be described with like reference numerals even if the features are not identical.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus, and the like can provide an indication that a capacitor unit has experienced a failure. The failure may be a breakdown of capacitor element insulation leading to a short circuit and discharge of capacitor elements. In some embodiments, such a capacitor unit may be a single capacitor unit of a group of capacitor units that may form a collective capacitor bank. Each of the capacitor units may have their own associated indicators (hereinafter referred to as “failure indicator”), and each failure indicator may be a physical element attached to the capacitor unit. This may allow an operator to visually inspect the failure indicators on the capacitor units of the capacitor bank to determine which of the capacitor units have experienced a failure. The failure indicators may be attached to any number of portions of the capacitor unit, such as a lid or a bottom of the capacitor unit (or any other location).

In some embodiments, the failure indicator may provide an indication that a capacitor unit has experienced a failure through the use of multiple physical orientations, where one or more orientations may indicate a failure has not occurred and one or more orientations may indicate that a failure has occurred. For example, the failure indicator being in a first orientation may indicate that a failure has not occurred and the failure indicator being in a second orientation may indicate that a failure has occurred. The failure indicator may transition from the first orientation to the second orientation based on a vibration in the capacitor unit caused by pressure impulse that results upon an internal failure of the capacitor unit. For example, the impulse may be a mechanical or electromagnetic impulse. This vibration may impact the failure indicator and cause it to transition from the first orientation to the second orientation. Examples of various embodiments of such failure indicators may be provided below with respect to the description of the figures. In some instances, to ensure that the failure indicator remains in the first orientation until the failure of the capacitor unit, the failure indicator may include one or more magnetic elements with magnetic forces strong enough to keep the failure indicator attached to the capacitor unit in the first orientation, but also weak enough such that the vibration from the capacitor unit may overcome the magnetic force and allow the failure indicator to transition into the second orientation. As mentioned above, this may allow an operator to visually locate the failed capacitor units when standing next to the capacitor bank. The operator may still use existing local or remote monitoring systems to identify that a problem exists in the capacitor bank, and the use of the failure indicators may reduce operator time in identifying the specific capacitor units that have experienced a failure while visually inspecting the capacitor units themselves. Additionally, the failure indicator as described above may be mechanical without any power source or electronics.

One technical effect and/or solution of certain embodiments of the disclosure can include visually indicating one or more apparent capacitor failures within a bank or group of multiple capacitors. Further, another technical effect and/or solution of certain embodiments of the disclosure can include providing a relatively inexpensive indicator of one or more apparent capacitor failures within a bank or group of multiple capacitors, wherein the indicator is relatively cost effective to install, maintain, and/or reset when needed. Moreover, another technical effect and/or solution of certain embodiments of the disclosure can include improving reliability and efficiency

With reference to the figures,FIG. 1Amay show an example embodiment of a failure indicator100as described herein.FIG. 1Amay show the failure indicator100in a first orientation, where the failure indicator100being in a first orientation provides an indication that a capacitor unit (not shown in the drawing) to which the failure indicator100is coupled has not experienced a failure. The failure may be a breakdown of capacitor element insulation leading to a short circuit and discharge of capacitor elements. As shown inFIG. 1A, the failure indicator100may include a magnetic element102and an elongated member104. In some embodiments, the magnetic element may be affixed to a first end106of the elongated member104, and in some cases the first end106may be located at the upper end of the elongated member104. The magnetic element102may be affixed to a side of the elongated member104that faces the capacitor unit101, such that the magnetic element102is located between the elongated member104and the capacitor unit101. This configuration may allow for the magnetic element to hold the failure indicator100in the first orientation through a magnetic force between the magnetic element102and the capacitor unit101. The failure indicator100may also be configured such that a second end108of the elongated member104is moveably attached to a fixed portion110of the failure indicator100. In some instances, the second end108of the elongated member104may be located at a bottom end of the elongated member104. Additionally, the second end108elongated member104may be moveably attached to the fixed portion110of the failure indicator100in the sense that the second end108may be adjustable as to allow the elongated member104to move from the first orientation to a second orientation (for example, a second orientation as depicted inFIG. 1Bdescribed below). The failure indicator100being in the second orientation may provide an indication that a failure has occurred in the capacitor unit101. In some embodiments, this movability may involve the second end108being configured to rotate about an imaginary axis112through the second end108as depicted inFIG. 1A. For example, as depicted in the figure, the fixed portion110of the failure indicator100may contain two holes114for receiving extruding portions of the second end108of the elongated member104. The imaginary axis112may pass through the extruding portions of the second end108and through the holes114, such that the elongated member104may rotate about the second end108.

In some embodiments, as mentioned above, upon a failure of the capacitor unit, the failure indicator100may move from a first orientation to a second orientation.FIG. 1Bmay show an example of a failure indicator100being in the second orientation. That is, the failure indicator inFIG. 1Bmay be the same or similar to the failure indicator100shown inFIG. 1B, with the failure indicator100inFIG. 1Abeing in the first orientation, which may indicate no failure in the capacitor unit101and the failure indicator100inFIG. 1Bbeing in the second orientation, which may indicate that a failure has occurred in the capacitor unit101. In some embodiments, the failure indicator100may move to from the first orientation to the second orientation based on an impulse that may occur during failure of the capacitor unit101. The impulse may be, for example, an electromagnetic or mechanical impulse, but may also include any other type of impulse. The impulse may cause the failure indicator100to move from the first orientation to the second orientation by overcoming the magnetic force between the magnetic element102of the failure indicator100and the capacitor unit101. That is, the force of the impulse may be greater than the magnetic force, causing the magnet, and correspondingly, the elongated member104of the failure indicator100to move away from the capacitor unit. As the force of the impulse pushes the elongated member104away from the capacitor unit, the elongated member104may rotate about the imaginary axis112through the second end108, causing the elongated member104to fall into the second orientation. The elongated member104(and correspondingly the failure indicator100) being in the second orientation may provide a visual indicator to an operator that a failure has occurred on the capacitor unit101associated with the failure indicator100that is in the second orientation. The operator may then address the capacitor unit101and manually place the failure indicator100back in the first orientation to indicate that the capacitor unit101is no longer experiencing a failure.

FIG. 2shows an example capacitor bank200including one or more capacitor units202(for example, capacitor unit204, capacitor unit206, capacitor unit208, and capacitor unit210). Although the capacitor bank200only shows four capacitor units, the capacitor bank200may include any number of capacitor units202. Each of the capacitor units202in the capacitor bank200may include an associated failure indicator212(for example, failure indicator214, failure indicator216, failure indicator218, and failure indicator220). That is, capacitor unit204may be associated with failure indicator214, capacitor unit206may be associated with failure indicator216, capacitor unit208may be associated with failure indicator218, and capacitor unit210may be associated with failure indicator220. In some instances, each capacitor unit202may be associated with any other number of failure indicators212as well, and capacitor units202may also share failure indicators212. The failure indicators212may be located on any portion of the capacitor unit202, such as a lid222or bottom224of the capacitor unit202(as well as any other location). The failure indicators212may be the same as the failure indicator100as described above with respect toFIGS. 1A-1B, as well as any other failure indicator described herein.

In some embodiments, each of the failure indicators212(for example, failure indicator214, failure indicator216, failure indicator218, and failure indicator220) may provide a visual indication as to whether the capacitor unit202associated with the failure indicator212has experienced a failure. As illustrated inFIG. 2, failure indicator214, failure indicator216, and failure indicator220may be in a first orientation as described above with respect toFIGS. 1A-1B. These failure indicators being in the first orientation may provide a visual indication that capacitor units204,206, and210associated with failure indicators214,216, and200respectively, have not experienced a failure. Additionally, failure indicator218may be in a second orientation as described above with respect toFIGS. 1A-1B. The failure indicator218being in the second orientation may provide a visual indication that the capacitor unit208associated with failure indicator218may have experienced a failure. An operator may be able to visually inspect the capacitor bank200and see that the failure indicator218is in the second orientation. This may allow the operation to quickly discern which capacitor units202of the capacitor bank200have experienced a failure. As mentioned above, the operator may subsequently move the failure indicator218back to the first orientation when the failure of the capacitor unit208is addressed.

FIG. 3Amay show an example embodiment of a failure indicator300in a first orientation. The first orientation of the failure indicator300may be similar to the first orientation of the failure indicator100in that failure indicator300being in the first orientation may provide a visual indication that a capacitor unit301onto which the failure indicator300is attached has not experienced a failure. The failure indicator300may be an alternate embodiment to the failure indicator ofFIGS. 1A-1Bor any of the other failure indicators described herein. The failure indicator300may function similarly to the failure indicator100. For example, the failure indicator300may include a magnetic element302and an elongated member304, or any other elements of the failure indicator100as described above. The failure indicator300may differ from the failure indicator100in that the failure indicator300may include an extruding element306that extrudes from the elongated member304. The extruding element306may serve to better assist an operator in visually identifying which orientation (for example, the first orientation or the second orientation) the failure indicator300is currently in. AlthoughFIGS. 3A-3Cdepict the extruding element306as being triangular in shape, it may also be any other shape. Additionally, the failure indicator300may differ from the failure indicator100through the manner in which a second end308of the elongated member304is moveably attached to a fixed portion310of the failure indicator300. For example, a portion of the second end308may protrude through a hole312in the fixed portion310of the failure indicator300. This configuration may allow the elongated member304, and consequentially the failure indicator300, to rotate about an imaginary axis through the hole312.

FIG. 3Bmay show an example embodiment of the failure indicator300in a second orientation. As with the failure indicator100, the failure indicator300being in the second orientation may provide a visual indicator that a failure has occurred at the capacitor unit301. The failure indicator300may move from the first orientation to the second orientation in a similar manner as the failure indicator100. That is, the failure indicator300may move to from the first orientation to the second orientation based on an impulse that may occur during failure of the capacitor unit301. The impulse may be, for example, an electromagnetic or mechanical impulse. The impulse may cause the failure indicator300to move from the first orientation to the second orientation by overcoming the magnetic force between the magnetic element302of the failure indicator300and the capacitor unit301. That is, the force of the impulse may be greater than the magnetic force, causing the magnet, and correspondingly, the elongated member304of the failure indicator300to move away from the capacitor unit. As the force of the impulse pushes the elongated member304away from the capacitor unit, the elongated member304may rotate about an imaginary axis through the second end308, causing the elongated member304to fall into the second orientation.

FIG. 3Cmay show another example embodiment of the failure indicator300in the second orientation. As shown inFIG. 3C, the failure indicator300may include one or more holes314on the elongated member304that may be used to house the magnetic element302. That is, the location of the magnetic element302may not be limited to just a first end307of the elongated member304. This may similarly apply to any of the other failure indicators described herein (that is, the location of any of the magnetic elements may not be limited). Additionally,FIG. 3Cmay depict that other elements of the failure indicator300may not necessarily be limited to the embodiments shown inFIGS. 3A-3B. For example, the second end308of the elongated member304may be moveably attached to the fixed portion310of the failure indicator300through two holes (for example, a first hole314and a second hole not shown in the figure). In this manner, the failure indicator300, as well as any of the other failure indicators described herein) may be configured in any number of different ways that may allow the failure indicator300to move from the first orientation to the second orientation, and may not be limited to the exact structural descriptions provided herein.

FIG. 4Amay show an example embodiment of a failure indicator400in a first orientation. The failure indicator400depicts inFIG. 4A, as well asFIG. 4Bdescribed below, may include some similarities to the other failure indicators described herein. For example, failure indicator400may include a magnetic element402and an elongated member404, where position of the elongated member404may be used by an operator to discern whether a capacitor unit401that the failure indicator400is attached to has experienced a failure. The failure indicator400may differ from other failure indicators described herein as well. For example, the failure indicator400may include a housing406and a spring408. In some embodiments, the housing406may be a structural element that physically surrounds the magnetic element402, the elongated member404, and/or the spring408. The housing406may be cylindrical in shape with an opening in the middle to house the aforementioned failure indicator400elements, but may also alternatively be any other shape. The housing406as depicted inFIG. 4Amay be transparent, but may also be nontransparent. The housing406may also conform to the shape of the magnetic element402such that the magnetic element may be fixed to a particular path within the housing406.

FIG. 4Bmay show an example embodiment of a failure indicator400in a second orientation. As with any of the other failure indicators described herein, the failure indicator400being in the second orientation may provide a visual indication to an operator that a failure has occurred at the capacitor unit401(that is, the capacitor unit associated with the failure indicator400). In the particular embodiment depicted inFIG. 4B(as well asFIG. 4A), the second orientation may involve the elongated member404protruding outwards from the housing406such that the elongated member404is visible outside of the housing406. In the first orientation, for example, the elongated member404may either be fully contained within the housing406or may extrude from the housing406, but may extrude less than when the failure indicator400is in the second orientation as shown inFIG. 4B.

In some embodiments, the movement of the failure indicator400from the first orientation to the second orientation may be similar to other failure indicators described herein, but may differ in some regards. For example, the failure indicator400may move to from the first orientation to the second orientation based on an impulse that may occur during failure of the capacitor unit401. The impulse may be, for example, an electromagnetic or mechanical impulse. The impulse may cause the failure indicator400to move from the first orientation to the second orientation by overcoming the magnetic force between the magnetic element402of the failure indicator400and the capacitor unit401. That is, the force of the impulse may be greater than the magnetic force, causing the magnet, and correspondingly, the elongated member404of the failure indicator400to move away from the capacitor unit. However, as depicted inFIG. 4B, instead of the failure indicator400moving to the second orientation through a rotation of the elongated member404(for example, as described with respect to failure indicator100and failure indicator200), the magnetic element402(and the elongated member404) may translate through the housing406to the second orientation. That is, the first orientation may involve the magnetic element402being at a first end410of the housing406where the capacitor unit401is located, and the second orientation may involve the magnetic element402being at or proximal to a second end412of the housing406that may be on an opposite end of the housing406from the first end410. Additionally, the magnetic element402may be held at the second orientation through the spring408. That is, in the first orientation the spring408may be exerting little to no force on the magnetic element402, but in the second orientation the spring408may be exerting a force on the magnetic element in a direction away from the capacitor unit401. That is, in the first orientation the spring408may be exerting little to no force on the magnetic element402, but in the second orientation the spring408may be exerting a force on the magnetic element in a direction away from the capacitor unit401. This may allow the failure indicator400to remain in the second orientation until an operator is able to visually identify the failure indicator400and manually reset the failure indicator400back to the first orientation.

FIG. 5Amay show an example embodiment of a failure indicator500in a first orientation. The failure indicator500depicted inFIG. 5A, as well asFIG. 5Bdescribed below, may include some similarities to the other failure indicators described herein. For example, failure indicator500may include a magnetic element502and an elongated member504. The failure indicator500may differ from other failure indicators described herein as well. For example, the elongated member504of the failure indicator500may also completely encompass the magnetic element502. The elongated member504may also be transparent so that the magnetic element502may be visible inside the elongated member504. In the first orientation, the magnetic element of the failure indicator may be attached to a first end506of the capacitor unit501to which the failure indicator500is attached. As may be the case with the other failure indicators described herein, the magnetic element502may be attached at the first end506through an electromagnetic force.

FIG. 5Bmay show an example embodiment of a failure indicator500in a second orientation. As with any of the other failure indicators described herein, the failure indicator500being in the second orientation may provide a visual indication to an operator that a failure has occurred at the capacitor unit501(that is, the capacitor unit associated with the failure indicator500). In the particular embodiment depicted inFIG. 5B(as well asFIG. 5A), the second orientation may involve the magnetic element502being at a different location that the first end506of the elongated member504. For example, the elongated member504may be fixed, and the magnetic element502may simply detach from the first end506of the elongated member504and fall to a second end508of the elongated member504. An operator may be able to visually inspect the failure indicator500and see the magnetic element502at the second end508of the elongated member to discern that a failure has occurred at the capacitor unit501. The operator may then be able to move the magnetic element502from the second end508to the first end506using a magnet to draw the magnetic element502through the elongated member504.

FIG. 6Amay show an example embodiment of a failure indicator600in a first orientation. The failure indicator600depicted inFIG. 6A, as well asFIG. 6Bdescribed below, may include some similarities to the other failure indicators described herein. For example, failure indicator600may include a magnetic element602and an elongated member604. The magnetic element602may be affixed to a first end606of the elongated member604, and in some cases the first end606may be located at the top end of the elongated member604. The magnetic element602may hold the failure indicator600in the first orientation through a magnetic force between the magnetic element602and the capacitor unit601. The failure indicator600may differ from other failure indicators described herein as well. For example, the elongated member604may be made of a relatively flexible material, such as silicone, rubber, etc. Additionally, a second end608of the elongated member604may be affixed to the capacitor unit601, such that it may not be moveable as is the case in other failure indicators600described herein.

FIG. 6Bmay show an example embodiment of a failure indicator600in a second orientation. As may be the case with any of the other failure indicators described herein, the failure indicator600being in the second orientation may provide a visual indication that the capacitor unit601to which the failure indicator600is attached may have experienced a failure. In some embodiments, the failure indicator600may move to from the first orientation to the second orientation based on an impulse that may occur during failure of the capacitor unit601. The impulse may be, for example, an electomagnetic or mechanical impulse. The impulse may cause the failure indicator600to move from the first orientation to the second orientation by overcoming the magnetic force between the magnetic element602of the failure indicator600and the capacitor unit601. That is, the force of the impulse may be greater than the magnetic force, causing the magnetic element602, and correspondingly, the elongated member604of the failure indicator600to move away from the capacitor unit601. In some instances, due to the flexible nature of the elongated member604, the impulse may cause the first end606of the elongated member604at which the magnetic element602is located to fall away from the capacitor unit601, which may effectively cause the elongated member604to bend in the manner depicted inFIG. 6B. The elongated member604being in this second orientation in which it is bent as depicted may provide the visual indication to the operator that a failure has occurred at the capacitor unit601. The operator may then move the first end606of the elongated member604back to the first position in which the magnetic element602is magnetically attached to the capacitor unit601.

FIGS. 7A-7Dshow example plots of acceleration over a period time, and may be representative of impulses that result from a failure in a capacitor unit. The plots700inFIGS. 7A-7Dmay depict four testing scenarios for various capacitor units (such as the capacitor units described above). These testing scenarios depict example impulses702that may occur during a failure of a capacitor unit. These impulses702shown in the plots700may be the impulses that trigger the failure indicator (for example, any of the failure indicator described herein) to move from the first orientation to the second orientation so that the operator may visually inspect a capacitor bank and quickly discern which capacitor units have experienced a failure.