EN 60871-4:2014

Shunt capacitors for AC power systems having a rated voltage above 1 000 V - Part 4: Internal fuses

IEC 60871-4:2014 applies to internal fuses which are designed to isolate faulty capacitor elements, in order to allow operation of the remaining parts of that capacitor unit and the bank in which the capacitor unit is connected. Such fuses are not a substitute for a switching device such as a circuit-breaker, or for external protection of the capacitor bank or any part thereof. The object of this part of IEC 60871 is to formulate requirements regarding performance and testing and to provide a guide for coordination of fuse protection. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1996. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: The disconnecting requirements have been modified. Keywords: internal fuses, faulty capacitor elements, fuse protection

Parallelkondensatoren für Wechselspannungs-Starkstromanlagen mit einer Bemessungsspannung über 1 000 V - Teil 4: Eingebaute Sicherungen

Condensateurs shunt pour réseaux à courant alternatif de tension assignée supérieure à 1 000 V - Partie 4: Fusibles internes

L'IEC 60871-4:2014 s'applique aux fusibles internes qui sont destinés à isoler les éléments de condensateur en défaut et permettre ainsi le maintien en service de la partie saine de l'unité et de la batterie à laquelle cette unité est raccordée. Ils ne sont pas destinés à se substituer à un dispositif de coupure, par exemple un disjoncteur ou une protection externe de la batterie de condensateurs ou une partie de celle-ci. La présente partie de l'IEC 60871 a pour objet de formuler des exigences relatives aux performances et aux essais et de fournir un guide pour la coordination de la protection par fusibles internes. Cette deuxième édition annule et remplace la première édition parue en 1996. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente: Les exigences concernant la déconnexion ont été modifiées. Mots clés: fusibles internes, éléments de condensateur en défaut, protection par fusibles internes

Vzporedni kondenzatorji za izmenične napajalne sisteme z naznačeno napetostjo nad 1000 V - 4. del: Notranje varovalke (IEC 60871-4:2014)

Standard EN IEC 60871-4 se nanaša na notranje varovalke, ki so namenjene izolaciji okvarjenih kondenzatorskih elementov, da bi se omogočilo delovanje preostalih delov take kondenzatorske enote in baterije, v katero je priključena kondenzatorska enota. Take varovalke niso nadomestek za stikalno napravo, kot je odklopnik, ali za zunanjo zaščito kondenzatorske baterije ali katerega koli njenega dela. Cilj tega dela standarda IEC 60871 je oblikovati zahteve glede zmogljivosti in preskušanja ter zagotoviti navodila za usklajevanje zaščite varovalk.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 10-Jul-2014
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Apr-2017
• ICS: 29.240.99 - Other equipment related to power transmission and distribution networks
• ICS: 31.060.70 - Power capacitors
• Technical Committee: CLC/SR 33 - Power capacitors
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 33 - IEC_TC_33
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 11-Jul-2014
• Completion Date: 11-Jul-2014
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60871-4:2014 - Shunt capacitors for A.C. power systems having a rated voltage above 1000 V - Part 4: Internal fuses

Relations

• Replaces: EN 60871-4:1996 - Shunt capacitors for a.c. power systems having a rated voltage above 1 kV - Part 4: Internal fuses
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023
• Refers: EN 60871-1:2005 - Shunt capacitors for a.c. power systems having a rated voltage above 1 000 V - Part 1: General
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026

Overview

EN 60871-4:2014 specifies requirements for internal fuses in shunt capacitors used in AC power systems with rated voltages above 1,000 V. Developed by CENELEC with harmonization to IEC 60871-4:2014, this standard focuses on fuses designed to isolate faulty capacitor elements within a capacitor unit, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of capacitor banks. Internal fuses allow remaining capacitor elements and the wider bank to continue operation even when an element fails. This edition presents revised disconnecting requirements and supersedes EN 60871-4:1996.

Internal fuses are not intended as alternatives to circuit-breakers or external protective devices; instead, they offer an additional layer of selective protection to maintain system performance and minimize downtime by isolating only defective elements.

Key Topics

• Purpose of Internal Fuses

  • Isolate only the faulty capacitor element within a unit.
  • Enable the rest of the capacitor bank to continue safe operation.

• Performance and Testing Requirements

  • Guidance on current and voltage withstand levels specific to embedded fuses.
  • Requirements for routine and type testing to verify performance under expected service conditions.
  • Disconnecting tests to ensure the fuse operates according to design under various voltage conditions.

• Coordination of Fuse Protection

  • Recommendations for coordinating internal fuses with external protection devices.
  • Role of internal fuses in a hierarchy of protection, which may include relay protection and system-level devices.

• Technical Revisions in the 2014 Edition

  • Updated disconnecting requirements reflecting practical experience and technological advances for enhanced protection.

Applications

EN 60871-4:2014 is essential for manufacturers, engineers, and designers involved in:

• Design of High-Voltage Capacitor Banks

  • Application in transmission and distribution substations, industrial power factor correction, and utility systems where system reliability is critical.

• Selection and Integration of Internal Fuses

  • Ensuring that internal fuses are appropriately specified and tested to isolate only faulty elements, preventing unnecessary outages or damage.

• Maintenance and Lifecycle Management

  • Providing criteria for inspection and assessment of internal fuses during routine maintenance cycles.

• System Protection Strategies

  • Integrating internal fuse protection with unbalance protection, relay protection, and network-level protection schemes for comprehensive safety.

Incorporating EN 60871-4:2014 principles ensures continuity of service, minimizes equipment replacement costs, and optimizes system reliability where shunt capacitors are widely used.

Related Standards

When implementing internal fuse protection for shunt capacitors in AC power systems, consider the following related standards:

• EN 60871-1 (IEC 60871-1:2005): Shunt capacitors for AC power systems above 1,000 V - Part 1: General.
• EN 60871-2 & EN 60871-3: Covering thermal stability, safety requirements, and other aspects for power capacitors.
• IEC 60282-1: High-voltage fuses - General requirements.
• IEC 60664: Insulation coordination for equipment within low-voltage systems.

Keywords: internal fuses, faulty capacitor elements, shunt capacitors, fuse protection, AC power systems, high-voltage capacitors, EN 60871-4, IEC 60871-4, capacitor bank protection, CENELEC standards.

Adhering to EN 60871-4:2014 ensures that internal fuses deliver selective protection, safeguard equipment, and maintain operational efficiency in high-voltage power systems.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2014
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 60871-4:2001
9]SRUHGQLNRQGHQ]DWRUML]DL]PHQLþQHQDSDMDOQHVLVWHPH]QD]QDþHQRQDSHWRVWMR
QDG9GHO1RWUDQMHYDURYDONH,(&
Shunt capacitors for A.C. power systems having a rated voltage above 1000 V - Part 4:
Internal fuses
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60871-4:2014
ICS:
29.120.50 9DURYDONHLQGUXJD Fuses and other overcurrent
PHGWRNRYQD]DãþLWD protection devices
31.060.70 0RþQRVWQLNRQGHQ]DWRUML Power capacitors
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60871-4
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2014
ICS 29.240.99; 31.060.70 Supersedes EN 60871-4:1996
English Version
Shunt capacitors for AC power systems having a rated voltage
above 1 000 V - Part 4: Internal fuses
(IEC 60871-4:2014)
Condensateurs shunt pour réseaux à courant alternatif de Parallelkondensatoren für Wechselspannungs-
tension assignée supérieure à 1 000 V - Partie 4: Fusibles Starkstromanlagen mit einer Bemessungsspannung über
internes 1 000 V - Teil 4: Eingebaute Sicherungen
(CEI 60871-4:2014) (IEC 60871-4:2014)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2014-05-01. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2014 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 60871-4:2014 E
Foreword
The text of document 33/548/FDIS, future edition 2 of IEC 60871-4, prepared by IEC/TC 33, "Power
capacitors and their applications" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 60871-4:2014.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has (dop) 2015-02-01
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2017-05-01
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60871-4:1996.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60871-4:2014 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.

- 3 - EN 60871-4:2014
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD
applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60871-1 2005 Shunt capacitors for a.c. power systems EN 60871-1 2005
having a rated voltage above 1 000 V -- Part
1: General
IEC 60871-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2014-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Shunt capacitors for AC power systems having a rated voltage above 1 000 V –

Part 4: Internal fuses
Condensateurs shunt pour réseaux à courant alternatif de tension assignée

supérieure à 1 000 V –
Partie 4: Fusibles internes
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX L
ICS 29.240.99; 31.060.70 ISBN 978-2-8322-1495-4

– 2 – IEC 60871-4:2014 © IEC 2014
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope and object . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Performance requirements. 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Disconnecting requirements . 6
4.3 Withstand requirements . 6
5 Tests . 6
5.1 Routine tests. 6
5.1.1 General . 6
5.1.2 Discharge test . 7
5.2 Type tests . 7
5.3 Disconnecting test on fuses . 7
5.3.1 Test procedures . 7
5.3.2 Capacitance measurement . 8
5.3.3 Inspection of the unit . 8
5.3.4 Voltage test after opening the container . 8
Annex A (normative) Test procedures for the disconnecting test on internal fuses . 9
A.1 General . 9
A.2 Test procedures . 9
Annex B (informative) Guide for coordination of fuse protection . 11
B.1 General . 11
B.2 Protection sequence . 11

IEC 60871-4:2014 © IEC 2014 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SHUNT CAPACITORS FOR AC POWER SYSTEMS
HAVING A RATED VOLTAGE ABOVE 1 000 V –

Part 4: Internal fuses
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60871-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 33: Power
capacitors and their applications.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1996. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
– The disconnecting requirements have been modified.

– 4 – IEC 60871-4:2014 © IEC 2014
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
33/548/FDIS 33/561/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60871 series, published under the general title Shunt capacitors
for AC power systems having a rated voltage above 1 000 V, can be found on the IEC
website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IEC 60871-4:2014 © IEC 2014 – 5 –
SHUNT CAPACITORS FOR AC POWER SYSTEMS
HAVING A RATED VOLTAGE ABOVE 1 000 V –

Part 4: Internal fuses
1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 60871 applies to internal fuses which are designed to isolate faulty capacitor
elements, in order to allow operation of the remaining parts of that capacitor unit and the bank
in which the capacitor unit is connected. Such fuses are not a substitute for a switching device
such as a circuit-breaker, or for external protection of the capacitor bank or any part thereof.
The object of this part of IEC 60871 is to formulate requirements regarding performance and
testing and to provide a guide for coordination of fuse protection.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normati
...