Gas-Insulated Self-Breakdown Spark Gaps: Aspects on Low-Scattering and Long-Lifetime Switching

• Authors: W. Frey , M. Sack , R. Wuestner , G. Mueller
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The influence of the electric field distribution between the electrodes and the seed electron generation rate on the scattering of the breakdown voltage of SF_{6}-insulated spark gaps was investigated. The breakdown voltage scattering considerably can be reduced by applying large-gap-volume, uniform-field electrode profiles instead of spherical shaped electrodes. Moreover, uniform field electrode profiles exhibit an uniform discharge probability in the entire gap volume and following an almost uniform erosion of electrode material along the electrode's surface. This preserves electrode shape and switching performance of the spark gap for a long maintenance-free lifetime. Breakdown voltage scattering further can be reduced by increasing the seed electron generation in the gap by an auxiliary corona discharge adjacent to the main gap. The experimental observations are discussed on the basis of the volume time law for discharge initiation.

Keywords

EN

52.75.Kq; 52.80.Mg

Discipline

• 52.80.Mg: Arcs; sparks; lightning; atmospheric electricity(see also 92.60.Pw Atmospheric electricity, lightning in meteorology)
• 52.75.Kq: Plasma switches (e.g., spark gaps)

• Publisher: Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Acta Physica Polonica A
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 115
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1016-1018

Dates

published

2009-06

Contributors

author

W. Frey

• Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Inst. f. Hochleistungsimpuls- und Mikrowellentechnik (IHM), Hermann-v-Helmholtz-Platz, 1, DE-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

author

M. Sack

• Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Inst. f. Hochleistungsimpuls- und Mikrowellentechnik (IHM), Hermann-v-Helmholtz-Platz, 1, DE-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

author

R. Wuestner

• Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Inst. f. Hochleistungsimpuls- und Mikrowellentechnik (IHM), Hermann-v-Helmholtz-Platz, 1, DE-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

author

G. Mueller

• Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Inst. f. Hochleistungsimpuls- und Mikrowellentechnik (IHM), Hermann-v-Helmholtz-Platz, 1, DE-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

References

• 1. M. Sack, C. Schultheiss, H. Bluhm, IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl. 41, 707 (2005)
• 2. W. Boeck, Elekt. Zeitschrift A 96, 300 (1975)
• 3. P. Osmokrovic, B. Loncar, M. Gajic-Kvascev, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 33, 1677 (2005)
• 4. M. Finkel, W. Boeck, in: Conf. on Electric Instruments and Dielectric Phenomena, IEEE Dielectrics and Insulation Society, 2001, p. 436
• 5. H. Prinz, Hochspannungsfelder, R. Oldenbourg Verlag, München 1969
• 6. P.L. Levin, A.J. Hansen, D. Beatovic, H. Gan, J.H. Petrangelo, IEEE Trans. El. Ins. 28, 161 (1993)

Identifiers

DOI

10.12693/APhysPolA.115.1016