New type test requirements for forced triggered spark gap in series capacitor bank applications

New version of IEC 60143 “Series capacitors for power systems - Part 2: Protective equipment for series capacitor banks” [1] will be published shortly. It determines type tests for series capacitor bank spark gap. Test requirements are more specific and demanding than in previous version of the standard. Similar tests are carried out for Jacques-Cartier series capacitor bank spark gap system according to Hydro-Québec test specification. It is recognized that special high power test facilities are needed for these tests, where the both high current and voltage are applied. This paper gives a summary of the results obtained and describes the test arrangements required for the spark gap.