A Model-based Prognostics Methodology for Electrolytic Capacitors Based on Electrical Overstress Accelerated Aging

This methodology is based on the Kalman filter framework and an empirical degradation model. Electrolytic capacitors are used in several applications ranging from power supplies on critical avionics equipment to power drivers for electro-mechanical actuators.

These devices are known for their comparatively low reliability and given their criticality in electronics subsystems they are a good can- didate for component level prognostics and health manage- ment. Prognostics provides a way to assess remaining use- ful life of a capacitor based on its current state of health and its anticipated future usage and operational conditions. We present here also, experimental results of an accelerated ag- ing test under electrical stresses.