Use of ESR for deterioration diagnosis of electrolytic capacitor

A new deterioration diagnosis method for the electrolytic capacitor is proposed for a forward-type converter and a buck-boost converter. It was observed that the ESR (equivalent series resistance) of the electrolytic capacitor increases as it deteriorates, and the knowledge that ripple varies proportionally to the ESR increase was used. With this method, the electrolytic capacitor life-cycle aging rate can be projected for the active circuit over the system life. This approach to deterioration is valid for any load condition, no matter whether the circuit has feedback control or not. >