Electrode conditioning characteristics in vacuum under impulse voltage application in nonuniform electric field

In this paper, we quantitatively investigated the impulse conditioning mechanism under nonuniform electric field electrodes in a vacuum. A negative standard lightning impulse voltage was applied between rod and plane electrodes whose materials were Cu-Cr, stainless steel and Cu and the gap lengths were d=5 and 10 mm, respectively. Experimental results revealed the transition of the breakdown (BD) sport region on the rod electrode and the corresponding BD field strength in the conditioning process. As a result, we found that the BD spot region started at the tip of the rod electrode and moved to the wider region of the rod electrode with lower electric field as the shots of the voltage application increased before the saturation of the BD voltage. Finally, by analyzing the results with an electric field strength, we propose that "the conditioning degree" along the electrode surface distributed directly proportional to the electric field distribution under a nonuniform electric field in a vacuum, irrespective of the electrode materials     

Relationship between electrode surface roughness and impulse breakdown voltage in vacuum gap of Cu and Cu-Cr electrodes

The relationship between the impulse breakdown voltage of vacuum gaps and electrode surface roughness was investigated for the purpose of controlling the surface roughness on HV conductors. The roughness of mechanically polished Cu and Cu-Cr electrodes was measured with a roughness meter, and the relationship between the breakdown voltage and surface roughness was obtained for plate-to-plate gaps. The discharge-conditioning effect increased with reduction in the surface roughness. The breakdown voltage depended not only on the roughness of the cathode but also on the anode surfaces. Reducing the surface roughness was found not to be an effective way to increase the breakdown voltage for non-uniform field gaps after discharge conditioning.     

Breakdown conditioning characteristics of long gap electrodes in a vacuum

An improvement in dielectric strength is required in vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) intended for use in higher voltage systems. In order to develop higher voltage VCBs, it is important to improve the dielectric strength in a vacuum based on consideration of the vacuum breakdown mechanism. Particularly for gaps longer than 10 mm, little is known about the breakdown mechanisms and their quantitative analyses in a vacuum. This paper discusses the breakdown conditioning characteristics of long gap electrodes, under a non-uniform electric field in a vacuum. We treat gap lengths of up to 50 mm in this paper. The conditioning characteristics are investigated under impulse voltage applications. A negative standard lightning impulse voltage was applied to rod-plane electrodes made of Cu-Cr and SUS304 for different tip radii and gap distances until the conditioning effect was completed. We observed illumination spots on electrodes at each breakdown during the conditioning process and calculated the corresponding breakdown field strengths. Experimental results revealed that the tendency of breakdowns associated with long gaps is different from that for the short gaps. As a result, we clarified that the breakdown field strengths are nearly constant at 110-120 kV/mm at the distances longer than 10 mm, and the breakdown field strength is at its maximum when the gap distance is about 5 mm.     

Discussion of electrode conditioning mechanism based on pre‐breakdown current under nonuniform electric field in vacuum

Electrode conditioning is a very important technique for improvement of the insulation performance of vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs). This paper discusses the spark conditioning mechanism under a nonuniform electric field, focusing on the pre‐breakdown current. We quantitatively evaluated the spark conditioning effect by analyzing the pre‐breakdown current based on the Fowler‐Nordheim equation. The field enhancement factor β was found to decrease with increasing breakdown voltage at the beginning of the conditioning process, and finally became saturated with the saturation of the breakdown voltage. In addition, in the case of a nonuniform field, we found that β on a high‐voltage rod electrode after conditioning varied according to the electric field strength on the rod electrode. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 175(2): 21‐28, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21059     

Charging and behavior of a spherically conducting particle on a dielectrically coated electrode in the presence of electrical gradient force in atmospheric air

This paper discusses the charging and behavior of a spherically conducting particle on a dielectrically coated electrode in non-uniform dc and ac electric fields between non-parallel plane electrodes in atmospheric air. The charging mechanism of a particle resting on a dielectrically coated electrode is investigated by observing light emissions from partial discharges and by utilizing the dust figure technique. The charge acquired by a particle is estimated from the results of particle motion onset voltage measurement and direct measurement with a Faraday cage. The basic particle movement as well as particle-triggered breakdown characteristics under non-uniform electric field distribution along the electrode surface is also investigated. The results suggest that the effect of the electrical gradient force/dielectro-phoretic force on particle motion on a dielectrically coated electrode should be adequately considered in the design of gas insulated systems (GIS). This is because a particle can move laterally on the coated electrode toward increasing electric field regions by the action of the electrical gradient force which is independent of the charge on the particle. Also the possibility of the particle charging and lifting at high field regions or reaching and adhering onto an insulating spacer further increases the risk of breakdown.     

Electrode roughness effects on the breakdown of air-insulatedapparatus

The dielectric breakdown of air insulating systems is believed to be sensitive to local irregularity of the electric field which may result from the presence of defects such as contaminants adhering to electrode surfaces and surface roughness. Normally metal machining methods are used to eliminate such electrode surfaces irregularities. However, system aging and harsh operating conditions create and sustain such rough surface conditions which may, in turn, lead to the failure of insulation under the resulting enhanced electric stresses. Electrode surface roughness causes a large reduction in the breakdown strengths of gas insulated apparatus. Surface roughness leads to the existence of localized microscopic regions with local field intensities larger than the average field in the gas near the electrodes. This paper models the insulation breakdown mechanism in the presence of such surface roughness, or protrusions, taking into account their random nature which lends the problem to probabilistic treatment. In order to generalize the surface roughness effect on the dielectric withstand of air-insulated systems, surface roughness is simulated by using a random event generator. The perturbations which these protrusions inflict on the field distribution in a nearly-uniform field gap are assessed. The corresponding breakdown voltages are estimated for different patterns of surface roughness. The results are statistically formulated     

Effect of electrode surface roughness on electrical breakdown in high voltage apparatus

This paper considers the statistical theory of electrical breakdowns in high voltage (HV) devices. The extended probability distribution of breakdown is deduced for nonuniform gaps. The breakdown of high voltage apparatus is sensitive to local irregularity of the electric field which may result from the presence of defects such as surface roughness. The surface roughness leads to existence of localized microscopic projection with local electric field strength at the projection top larger than the average field at the electrode surface. The link between parameters determining the probability of electrical breakdown and the parameters determining microscopic geometry of electrode surface is obtained. In this paper a simplified breakdown model is used as a basis for statistical treatment. According to the model the breakdown proceeds if the electric field strength at the projection top exceeds the critical value. The method of dielectric strength calculation for HV devices using a simplified model of breakdown is presented. The paper gives an example of calculation of the breakdown voltage for vacuum switch TVS-43. Results of calculations are compared with available experimental data and Weibull distribution     

Discharge characteristics under non-uniform electric field in He,Ar and air at low pressures

We measured dc discharge inception voltage V_i for various electrode configurations in He, Ar and air in vacuum range from 10⁵ to 10^-1 Pa to determine discharge characteristics under a space vacuum environment. By quantitative consideration of the E_i/p distribution in the gap space at the discharge inception, the discharge inception mechanism under non-uniform electric field was investigated in vacuum. At the same time, we observed the discharge profile variation with residual gas pressure and quantitatively analyzed its characteristics, using an image processing technique. Based on the analysis, we found that the dependency of the discharge inception voltage and the length of the discharge path on the residual gas pressure under non-uniform field conditions agreed well with that previously obtained for uniform field conditions     

Vacuum electrical breakdown characteristics and surface condition of Ti electrodes with oxidation conditions

Outgassing from an electrode surface is regarded as a major factor leading to electrical breakdowns in vacuum. Recently oxidation treatment at 200/spl deg/C was reported as an effective means of reducing Ti outgassing. In this paper, we report our measurement and comparison of the electrical breakdown characteristics of Ti electrodes with different oxidation conditions (without oxidation, oxidation at 200/spl deg/C, oxidation at 450/spl deg/C). In addition, we analyzed electrode surfaces before and after breakdown experiments in situ with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Before oxidation, we machined the electrode's surfaces to the roughness of 0.8 /spl mu/m Rmax with diamond turning. Breakdown experiments demonstrated that the breakdown field is highest at the first application of voltage to electrodes with oxidized at 200/spl deg/C. Before breakdown experiment, surface analysis revealed that all the sample electrodes had a large amount of carbon originating from the hydrocarbons of contaminants, and after the experiments, they revealed that the carbons had disappeared. To obtain breakdown characteristics of electrodes with smoother surfaces, we conducted experiments on electrodes with a surface roughness of 0.05 /spl mu/m Ra. For these electrodes, the breakdown field was higher at first breakdown; the repetitions required to achieve saturated breakdown fields were significantly fewer, and the amount of carbon on electrode surfaces before breakdown was less.     

引起真空灭弧室击穿的面积效应的统计描述

以存在于电极表面的击穿弱点为基础,在考虑了击穿弱点在电极表面的分布后,分别对均匀场和不均匀场两种情况下,真空灭弧室绝缘击穿的统计特性进行了分析,定量地给出了电极面积的变化对击穿概率的影响、即所谓的面积效应,导出了击穿累积概率随电极面积而变化的关系。     

憎水性表面水珠的电场计算及放电研究

用ANSYS有限元分析软件对不均匀电场(针-板电极)中憎水性表面分离水珠的电场进行了计算,比较了无水珠、单个水珠以及多个水珠存在时憎水性表面沿面电场分布的变化情况,计算出水珠存在引起固、液、气三重介质连接点处的畸变,且水珠的存在对强场区电场的畸变作用更显著。同时在实验室中进行了模拟试验,用10000帧/s的高速数字摄影仪对整个放电过程进行了全程捕捉。结果表明,人工布液方式下憎水性表面分离水珠的放电是存在明显熄灭重燃现象并由两端向中间发展并沿水珠顶部贯通的细小电弧连接所致。     

Changes of Cu electrode surface conditions and prebreakdown current characteristics caused by repetitive breakdowns in a vacuum

To clarify factors influencing the conditioning effect produced by repetitive breakdowns of a vacuum gap, changes of electrode surface conditions before and after 500 breakdowns caused by impulse voltage application were investigated. Changes of prebreakdown current characteristics were also investigated. The electrode material was copper. The electrode surfaces were analyzed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis revealed that the electrode surfaces were completely cleaned by repetitive breakdowns. Prebreakdown characteristics were classified into three patterns: (1) displacement current alone, (2) field emission current as well as displacement current, (3) explosive current increase. Patterns (1) and (4) were observed mainly in the early stage of repetitive breakdowns, while pattern (2) was found in the later stage. It has been concluded that the breakdown mechanism changes during conditioning by repetitive breakdowns. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 133(1): 11‐18, 2000     

Influence of electrode area on the conditioning effect in vacuum

Using three types of copper electrodes with different surface areas, experiments were performed to investigate the influence of electrode area on the conditioning effect,which is a characteristic of dielectric breakdown in vacuum gaps. The conditioning process varied with electrode area: the smaller the electrode area, the sooner conditioning ended. Breakdown voltages after completion of conditioning also depended on electrode area: the smaller the electrode area, the higher the breakdown voltage     

The total voltage-current effect for porous electrodes

A new explanation of the `total voltage effect' is offered. It is based on the mechanism of vacuum breakdown proposed earlier. According to this mechanism, the vacuum breakdown at an electric field of 10 MV/m is caused by the ionisation process in the gas desorbed from the pores and cracks in the negative electrode surface. It has been found that the larger the distance between the electrodes, the deeper the electric field of constant strength reaches into the pores. The total current effect is explained to occur due to the same process     

Surface charges on alumina in vacuum with varying surface roughness and electric field distribution

We investigated the charging characteristics of alumina in vacuum with varying surface roughness, and the electric field distribution. The charging on the alumina surface in vacuum is, in general, strongly influenced by field electron emission (FEE) and secondary electron emission avalanche (SEEA). We varied the surface roughness and the electric field distribution on the alumina surface in order to control the FEE and the SEEA. Under these conditions, we measured the 2-dimensional distribution of surface charging potential on the alumina surface. From the measurement results, we quantitatively discussed charge polarity and charge density on the surface for various types of electric field distributions. Finally, we successfully propose a concept of a charging control technique on the alumina insulator in vacuum for the improvement of electrical insulation performance on the alumina surface.     

72.5kV真空灭弧室电位和电场分布研究

为分析72.5 kV真空灭弧室的电位分布和电场分布及其影响因素,建立了其轴对称有限元分析模型,计算了其电位分布和电场分布,研究了真空击穿的面积效应,并分析了主屏蔽罩的结构尺寸及多个屏蔽罩对真空灭弧室内部电场分布的影响。结果表明:真空灭弧室动静触头之间、触头和屏蔽罩之间的电位变化比较显著,灭弧室内部电场分布不均匀;随着触头间隙距离、触头半径及倒角部分曲率半径的增大,触头表面有效面积将增大,而灭弧室内部最大场强将有所减小;增大主屏蔽罩的半径和长度,可以使屏蔽罩两端的场强有所减小,在真空灭弧室内安装多个屏蔽罩,可以改善内部电场分布。计算结果可为高电压等级真空灭弧室的优化设计提供参考。     

球-球电极气液两相体直流击穿现象的研究

研究了空气和雾组成的气液混合两相体在球-球电极中的直流击穿电压。实验结果表明:"!电极上的水滴会使击穿电压降低,在准均匀和非均匀电场中,降低的比例差别不大;随着喷雾量的增加,降低的比例增加;"#空气中的雾会使击穿电压提高,在准均匀电场中(间隙较小时),提高的比例较大,而且随着雾量的加大,提高的比例增加;在非均匀电场中(间隙较大),提高不明显。     

The effect of pulsed electron-beam treatment of electrodes onvacuum breakdown

A method for preliminary treatment of electrodes by a microsecond low-energy intense electron beam is proposed. It has been demonstrated that such a beam melts off the electrode surface and cleans the surface layers from impurities and dissolved gases. In combination with subsequent conditioning of the vacuum gap with low-current pulsed discharges, high breakdown electric fields can be attained     

真空中典型沿面绝缘结构的电场分析

在高电压作用下,由复合绝缘介质构成的沿面绝缘结构的耐电强度远低于其绝缘材料自身的击穿场强,这一现象与其电场的分布特点密切相关。笔者针对真空中平行平板、平面和棒-板电极系统等多种典型沿面绝缘结构的电场分布进行了仿真计算,探讨了电极-介质结合处的间隙、圆台形绝缘子的圆锥角角度、平面电极的高度以及绝缘子介电常数等因素对电场分布的影响。仿真结果表明,接触间隙的存在导致局部电场的加强和电场方向的变化,间隙宽度越大、高度越小,间隙处电场畸变越大;圆锥角越大,绝缘子的介电常数越大,场强畸变也越大。该分析结果有利于真空中沿面绝缘结构的设计。     

Insulation optimization by electrode contour modification based onbreakdown area/volume effects

This paper shows how to determine the electrode contour with the best insulation performance on the basis of an area effect and a volume effect in the breakdown field strength. Previous electric field optimization techniques have provided us only with an optimum electric field distribution, For the design of power apparatus insulation, we have to consider the dielectric breakdown characteristics rather than the electric field distribution. As a first step, we developed a new optimization technique which enables us to obtain an optimum electrode contour with the highest breakdown strength while taking into account the area and volume effects of breakdown strength of insulating media. From the results, we have confirmed that the proposed optimization method improved the breakdown voltage more than did the electric field optimization. This leads to an effective insulation design of electric power apparatus