A New Design for a High-Voltage Discharge Tube

Atta, L. C. Van; Graaff, R. J. Van de; Barton, Henry A.

doi:10.1103/physrev.43.158

Cited by 32 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Proposed mechanisms have included field emission of electrons from surface imperfections, the growth of whiskers that enhance field emission of electrons, emission of ions from surfaces, and the acceleration of electrically charged clumps, presumably of oxide, from one electrode to the other. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] The clump model yields the best agreement with the generally observed scaling of voltage holding with the vacuum gap distance, namely, but suffers from the fact that oxides are tightly bound to their surfaces, and thus not easily detachable for acceleration.…”

mentioning

confidence: 74%

Experimental test of whether electrostatically charged micro-organisms and their spores contribute to the onset of arcs across vacuum gaps

Grisham¹,

Halle²,

Carpe³

et al. 2013

Physics of Plasmas

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Recently it was proposed [L. R. Grisham et al. Phys. Plasmas 19, 023107 (2012)] that one of the initiators of vacuum voltage breakdown between conducting electrodes might be micro-organisms and their spores, previously deposited during exposure to air, which then become electrostatically charged when an electric potential is applied across the vacuum gap. This note describes a simple experiment to compare the number of voltage-conditioning pulses required to reach the nominal maximum operating voltage across a gap between two metallic conductors in a vacuum, comparing cases in which biological cleaning was done just prior to pump-down with cases where this was not done, with each case preceded by exposure to ambient air for three days. Based upon these results, it does not appear that air-deposited microbes and their spores constitute a major pathway for arc initiation, at least for exposure periods of a few days, and for vacuum gaps of a few millimeters, in the regime where voltage holding is usually observed to vary linearly with gap distance. V C 2013 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4858895]Although the voltage gradient which can be reliably sustained across a vacuum gap between two metallic conductors without arcing is the most significant constraint in the design of electrostatic accelerators and in related applications, the physical mechanisms responsible for the onset of electrical arcs between electrodes have remained unclear. Proposed mechanisms have included field emission of electrons from surface imperfections, the growth of whiskers that enhance field emission of electrons, emission of ions from surfaces, and the acceleration of electrically charged clumps, presumably of oxide, from one electrode to the other. 2-16 The clump model yields the best agreement with the generally observed scaling of voltage holding with the vacuum gap distance, namely, but suffers from the fact that oxides are tightly bound to their surfaces, and thus not easily detachable for acceleration.Recently, it was proposed 1 that some or all of the "clumps" of the clump model might be microbes such as bacteria, bacterial spores, fungi, and fungal spores. They are ubiquitous in air, and thus constantly being deposited upon exposed surfaces, they are appropriately sized, 17,18 with dimensions of microns, they are in most cases only weakly attached, if attached at all, to the surfaces on which they land, and they readily acquire an electrostatic charge, especially as spores.If microbes and their spores deposited from air, as hypothesized, play a significant role in initiating at least some electrical arcs between metallic electrodes in vacuum, then one way to test this hypothesis would be to explore whether changes in the timing of the final cleaning of the electrodes comprising a high voltage vacuum gap relative to when the electrodes are put under vacuum is associated with changes in the number of high voltage conditioning shots required to reach the nominal operating voltage for the vacuum gap. The results of thi...

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mentioning

confidence: 74%

Experimental test of whether electrostatically charged micro-organisms and their spores contribute to the onset of arcs across vacuum gaps

Grisham¹,

Halle²,

Carpe³

et al. 2013

Physics of Plasmas

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show abstract

“…In these hypotheses, it is assumed that a random electron located in the inter-contact space, accelerated by the action of an electric field, knocks positive ions and photons out of the anode, and these in turn knock subsequent electrons out of the cathode [6,7,13]. In this case, cumulative ionization is assumed to occur and thus an electrical breakdown.…”

Section: Electrical Breakdown In Vacuummentioning

confidence: 99%

Disassemblable Vacuum Chamber as an Innovative Test Stand Designed for Research on Improving the Operational Parameters of Power Switching Apparatus

Lech

2020

IAPGOS

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Polish power industry is characterized by outdated elements and in poor technical condition. This applies mainly to overhead lines operating at medium and high voltage (MV and HV) levels. Moreover, the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) requires the Distribution System Operators to supply electricity with specified parameters, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to end users. Failure to meet these conditions results in specific financial penalties. In connection with with the above, there is a strong need to upgrade the existing electricity grids using modern equipment. The article presents an innovative, original research position based on the so-called dismountable vacuum chamber, which allows to conduct research on improving the performance of modern switching equipment used in Smart Grid networks. The article also presents the results of the electric strength tests of the inter-contact break in order to confirm the correctness of operation of the described test stand.

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“…-It has been hypothesized that there is an inter-electrode exchange of charged particles that arise from secondary emissions [6]. When this exchange becomes cumulative, an electrical breakdown occurs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of selected parameters on the electrical strength of a high-voltage vacuum insulation system

2024

Archives of Electrical Engineering

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The article presents the results of laboratory measurements of 𝑈 𝑑 breakdown voltages in a high-voltage vacuum insulating system for different pressures, contact gaps, type of electrode contacts and type of residual gas inside the discharge chamber. First of all, the electrical strength of the discharge chamber with a contact system terminated with contact pads made of W 70 Cu 30 and Cu 75 Cr 25 material was compared for selected values of contact gaps. It was found that below a pressure of 𝑝 = 3.0 × 10 −1 Pa the electrical strength reaches an approximately constant value for each of the set contact gaps 𝑑. Analytical relationships were determined to calculate this value for each of the contact pads used. Above a pressure of 𝑝 = 3.0 × 10 −1 Pa, the measured values of 𝑈 𝑑 breakdown voltages decrease sharply. The values of breakdown voltages in the discharge chamber with residual gases in the form of air, argon, neon and helium were also determined for selected values of contact gaps 𝑑. Depending on the residual gases used, significant differences were noted in the values of pressure 𝑝 at which the loss of insulating properties in the discharge chamber occurred. These values were 3.3 × 10 −1 Pa for argon, 4.1 × 10 −1 Pa for air, 6.4 × 10 −1 Pa for neon, and 2.55 × 10 0 Pa for helium, respectively.

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A New Design for a High-Voltage Discharge Tube

Cited by 32 publications

References 1 publication

Experimental test of whether electrostatically charged micro-organisms and their spores contribute to the onset of arcs across vacuum gaps

Experimental test of whether electrostatically charged micro-organisms and their spores contribute to the onset of arcs across vacuum gaps

Disassemblable Vacuum Chamber as an Innovative Test Stand Designed for Research on Improving the Operational Parameters of Power Switching Apparatus

Effect of selected parameters on the electrical strength of a high-voltage vacuum insulation system

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