DC breakdown voltage characteristics of saturated liquid helium in the presence of metallic particles

This paper deals with the breakdown voltage characteristics of saturated liquid helium in the presence of a needle-shaped or spherical metallic particle to obtain insulation design data for pool-cooled, low-temperature superconducting coils and to find the predominant factor affecting the breakdown voltage of liquid helium at a given state. The results show the following. (1) The generation of bubbles at the instant of collision of a particle with an electrode is caused mainly by the kinetic energy released from the moving particle to the liquid helium, while the electrostatic energy accompanying the microdischarge between the particle and the electrode has a lesser effect on it. (2) The lowest breakdown voltage at different particle conditions appears in the case of a free needle particle. The low breakdown voltage is caused by the bubble triggered by the particle collision, the high electric field at the tip of the needle particle, and the rich initial electrons supplied by the microdischarge.     

DC pre-breakdown phenomena and breakdown characteristics in thepresence of conducting particles in liquid nitrogen

DC pre-breakdown phenomena and breakdown characteristics in the presence of free conducting particles in liquid nitrogen are studied experimentally. The results show that a microdischarge occurs when a charged particle is approaching an oppositely charged electrode. An intense microdischarge can trigger a complete breakdown of the gap. The breakdown voltage of a uniform field gap with a free metallic particle of mm size might be reduced well below that of a point-to-plane gap without a particle in liquid nitrogen. Heavy contamination by a metallic powder produces a large reduction in the breakdown voltage with a horizontal spacer surface. However carbon powder is less hazardous compared to metallic powder     

Theoretical and experimental studies for spherical free-conducting particle behavior between nonparallel plane electrodes with AC voltages in air

This paper deals with free-conducting particle motion and particle-triggered breakdown in AC electric fields between nonparallel plane electrodes in atmospheric air. Spherical particle motion was investigated theoretically and experimentally under AC voltages with various frequencies, considering the effect of the electrical gradient force and the dependence of the Coulomb force magnitude on the distance between a particle and an electrode. The result shows that when the Coulomb force acting on a bouncing particle changes its direction periodically under AC voltage whose frequency is around commercial power frequency, the electrical gradient force can become effective in initiating particle motion toward decreasing electrode gap regions, causing the particle to trigger breakdown. Moreover, it was found that the direction in which a particle advances horizontally is greatly influenced by microdischarge occurrence when the particle bounces very near to the grounded electrode under high-frequency AC voltage, and that when a particle bounces on an electrode, particle-triggered breakdown voltage is decreased by the effect of microdischarge.     

Generation, growth and collapse of bubbles on collision of particle with electrode in DC electrically stressed liquid helium

The paper deals with the bubble formation process in the presence of a free conducting particle in liquid helium to understand the electrical insulation environment in pool cooled superconducting devices under particle contaminated conditions. Experiments were conducted with DC stressed parallel plane electrodes containing a free spherical metallic particle of 1 mm radius in saturated normal and saturated superfluid helium. Experimental results show that a single bubble is always generated at the moment of particle collision with the electrode and the bubble behavior depends strongly on the state of the liquid helium. The bubble expanding and shrinking processes were analyzed on the basis of energy balance among released electrostatic and kinetic energies of the particle at the moment of particle collision with the electrode, kinetic energy of liquid driven by bubble growth, work done on environmental pressure and internal energy of the bubble gas. The analysis shows a fairly good agreement with experiments.     

Static and dynamic breakdown characteristics of liquid helium forinsulation design of superconducting power equipment

In this paper, we investigated quench-induced dynamic breakdown characteristics of liquid helium (LHe) under both non-uniform and uniform electric field. Experimental results for various quench conditions revealed that the dynamic breakdown voltage of LHe increased with decreasing the effective post-quench thermal energy density and with increasing the gap length and pressure, because of the suppression of thermal bubble disturbance in LHe. All of the experimental data enabled us to establish the 3-dimensionally systematized diagram of dynamic breakdown voltage of LHe as a function of effective post-quench thermal energy density, gap length and pressure     

Conducting particle motion and particle-initiated breakdown in dcelectric field between diverging conducting plates in atmospheric air

This paper deals with the analysis of spherical conducting particle motion as well as particle initiated breakdown in electric fields between diverging conducting plates with dc voltage in atmospheric air. Motion of spherical particle was estimated by solving the motion equation numerically, and the results agreed well with the experimental ones. It was found that when the particle is placed on the horizontal electrode surface where the electric field is nearly equal to the lifting field, the particle progresses towards a higher electric field region by the effect of Coulomb force and electrical gradient force. This is true for a nonspherical conducting particle. The obtained results for particle motion suggest that much attention should be paid in the design of GIS particle traps to forces acting on the particle directly towards the higher electric field region. Moreover, the particle-initiated breakdown is discussed on the basis of the experimental and theoretical results. It was found that one of the reasons for reduction of the breakdown voltage is the effect of microdischarge between the particle and an oppositely charged electrode     

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.     

Pressurizing and sub-cooling effects on electrical breakdown of LN2 in modeled HTS coils

Pressurizing and sub-cooling of liquid nitrogen are considered to have advantageous aspects in electrical insulation and the critical current in high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils. This paper deals with experimental studies on bubble behavior and partial breakdown (PBD) characteristics in a simulated electrode system of HTS coils immersed in pressurized liquid nitrogen, following our previous reports with saturated liquid nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The tested electrode system consists of a coaxial coil layer to a cylindrical electrode with an insulation barrier and spacers. A heater is mounted inside the coil electrode to generate boiling which appears on quenched superconducting coils. Liquid nitrogen is pressurized to 0.2 MPa under constant temperature of ~77 K. The experimental results show that the partial discharge (PD) voltage is affected markedly by the bubble behavior which depends on the applied pressure to liquid nitrogen. Pressurization suppresses bubble growth in the insulation space and increases the inception voltage of PD. The charge quantity associated with a single PD at a given applied voltage increases with the applied pressure, and deterioration of solid insulation such as spacers and barriers is accelerated compared to that at atmospheric pressure if the PBD occurred     

均匀电场重频脉冲作用下的水中气泡击穿

均匀电场重频脉冲作用下处理室放电问题是高压脉冲电场(pulsed electric field,PEF)技术遇到的难题.目前现有水中空气泡的击穿研究无法说明这种平均电场强度较低(＜70kV/cm)的情况下的击穿现象.为了解决这一问题,设计了金属平板电极与水溶液电极间的气体击穿实验,利用等效实验研究了有水溶液电极的大气压...     

Dielectric breakdown characteristics of cryogenic nitrogen gasabove liquid nitrogen

We measured the DC dielectric breakdown characteristics of cryogenic nitrogen gas above a liquid nitrogen surface for needle-to-plane and sphere-to-plane electrode configurations. Experimental results revealed that the DC breakdown voltage of cryogenic nitrogen gas increased, as the distance from the gap axis to the liquid nitrogen surface diminished, i.e. as the liquid nitrogen surface got closer to the gap. The breakdown voltage proved to be enhanced not only by the temperature drop of nitrogen gas due to the existence of liquid nitrogen, but also by an effect of vapor mist arising from vaporization of liquid nitrogen. For the quasi-uniform electrode configuration, the relation between breakdown voltage and the gas density times the gap spacing agreed well with the Paschen curve for nitrogen with both the temperature falling and the vapor-mist density considered. For the nonuniform needle electrode, positive breakdown voltage was higher than negative one; the polarity effect was interpreted in terms of the electric field relaxation at the tip of the positive needle resulting from partial discharges observed only for the positive needle     

Deterioration characteristics of insulating spacer model in repeating impulse voltage

To discuss the UHV GIS test voltage, the deterioration characteristics of the GIS insulating spacer model were studied by repeating lightning or switching impulse voltage. The deterioration factor indicating the decrease of lightning or switching impulse breakdown voltage applied up to 1000 times was found to be 35.7/45.5. The relationship between the partial discharge inception voltage and the breakdown voltage after 1000 impulse applications was also studied. It was found that the partial discharge inception voltage increases despite a decrease in breakdown voltage due to the impulse voltage. In addition, to elucidate the deterioration phenomenon, a study was made of the breakdown characteristics of models with various boundary conditions between the electrode and epoxy resin, as well as the relationship between the boundary conditions. Microdischarge was also studied. The results of the investigation suggest that the deterioration by repeating voltage is caused by microdischarge due to electric field intensification on microprotrusions of the electrode surface.     

Gaseous electrical discharge characteristics in air and nitrogen at cryogenic temperature

In designing superconducting electrical power apparatus, the knowledge of cryogenic gas and liquid insulation characteristics is essential. The authors have studied the discharge characteristics of relatively long-gap configurations in air and nitrogen at a cryogenic temperature. A sphere-to-sphere electrode with a gap length of 20 to 150 mm is used for measurements in uniform electric field. The breakdown voltage characteristics basically obey Paschen's law at cryogenic temperature for 50 Hz, AC, DC and lightning impulse voltage applications. A rod-to-plane electrode with a gap length of 20 to 330 mm is used for measurements in nonuniform electric field. In air at cryogenic temperature and nitrogen gas at both room and cryogenic temperature, streamer-like corona discharge appears near the tip of the rod electrode before the breakdown, and the breakdown voltage increases linearly with gap length. In air at room temperature thin film-like corona discharge, however, appears near the tip of the rod electrode before breakdown, and the breakdown voltage becomes higher than the other case. In order to examine the variation of corona discharge characteristics, some additional experiments are conducted. As a result, it becomes clear that thin film-like glow corona discharge appears when electronegative gas is contained and sufficient electrons are supplied from the cathode.     

Dynamic breakdown characteristics of liquid helium induced by aquench of superconducting wire and coil

For practical insulation design of superconducting power apparatus, it is necessary to take into account an inherent phenomenon known as quench, the transition from the superconducting to the normal state. We investigated quench-induced dynamic breakdown and prebreakdown characteristics of liquid helium (LHe). Experimental results revealed that the quench of the superconductor drastically reduced the breakdown voltage of LHe in the thermal bubble disturbance. Moreover, dynamic breakdown characteristics in a quasi-uniform field using a superconducting coil were investigated. The results revealed that the breakdown was induced in the quench-initiated region where the largest thermal energy was generated     

Effect of a thin insulation film on thermal bubble‐triggered breakdown phenomena in liquid nitrogen

The effect of a thin insulation film on breakdown phenomena in liquid nitrogen in the presence of thermally induced bubbles is investigated with a cylinder‐to‐plane electrode. Bubbles were produced by a heater mounted in the cylinder, which is partially covered with an insulation film. The results show that the film's effect on the breakdown voltage is insignificant until a pore is formed on the film by a previous breakdown, but it becomes substantial after pore formation. The reduction rate in breakdown voltage after the pore formation depends on the gap length and heater power. The minimum breakdown voltage drops to the magnitude of the breakdown voltage in the gaseous phase at normal boiling temperature. The breakdown mechanism is discussed on the basis of bubble observation and numerical calculation of suspended‐bubble motion. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electgr Eng Jpn, 127(4): 18–28, 1999     

Influence of liquid temperature and electrode size on insulated breakdown characteristics in saturated superfluid helium

The dc breakdown strength and pulsed breakdown time lag of saturated superfluid liquid helium (HeII) at 1.4 and 1.85 K are measured over a wide range of electrode sizes and applied field strengths. The results of the measurements are statistically analyzed by using Weibull distribution functions. It is found that the area effect is dominant for dc and pulsed breakdown rather than the volume effect as in the case of liquid helium of 4.2 K (HeI). The shape parameter in the Weibull distribution function for dc breakdown strengths of HeII is smaller than that of HeI. As a result, dc breakdown in superfluid helium can take place in a wider electrode area than in normal liquid helium, while no remarkable differences in breakdown areas are observed between 1.85 and 1.4 K. On the other hand, the statistical time lag in HeII becomes shorter with a decrease in temperature. According to the Fowler‐Nordheim theory, it is suggested that a higher electron mobility in HeII may increase the field‐emitted electron kinetic energy to trigger liquid breakdown with a higher probability. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 128(3): 16–23, 1999     

Particle-initiated breakdown in a quasi-uniform field intransformer oil

The breakdown voltage induced by single metallic cylinders of millimeter lengths in a quasi-uniform AC field are reported. A particular electrode arrangement, including forced oil circulation, has been designed in order to avoid particle ejection out of the gap. Breakdown occurred in the range 25 to 80 kV/cm depending on the particle dimensions, and always when the particle was in contact with the positive electrode. These breakdown levels are clearly lower than those measured with a fixed particle subjected to a positive step voltage. All these measurements were sensitive to the influence of carbon contaminants, especially under step impulse voltage. As concerns free particles, the breakdown is thought to be controlled in our experimental conditions by the initiation of positive streamers. Calculations showed that the initiation field at the particle tip is not constant but mainly depends on the particle diameter     

Thermal bubble breakdown in liquid nitrogen under nonuniform fields

The electrical forces acting on thermally induced bubbles in nonuniform field gaps with/without fins and the correlation between bubble behavior and dielectric characteristics in liquid nitrogen are studied. The results show that the gradient force and Maxwell stress strongly affect the bubble dynamics and bubble shape in the gap. Especially the pronounced gradient force near the fin tip reduces the growth of bubble there. These electrical forces acting on the bubble result in a lesser effect of thermal bubble on the breakdown voltage if the fins are formed to guide a bubble trapped in the groove from a higher field region to a lower one     

Pulsed HV vacuum breakdown of polished, powder coated, and e-beam treated large area stainless steel electrodes with 0.5 to 7 mm gaps

An investigation of the HV vacuum breakdown between polished, powder coated, and e-beam treated 304L and 316L stainless steel electrodes is described. Tests were performed with 160 ns, 1-cos(/spl omega/t), and 260 ns flat-top voltage pulses of up to 500 kV. The high voltage hold-off for the 160 ns pulse was /spl sim/130 kV/mm for 2 mm gaps for 80-mm diameter polished stainless steel electrodes, and 15% lower for 120-mm polished and e-beam treated electrodes. The longer 260 ns pulse gave 15% lower hold-off for 80-mm electrodes. These electrodes showed voltage hold-off that scaled as the square root of the gap between 0.5 and 7 mm. This total voltage effect has been interpreted in the past as due to accelerated particles. We analyze our data in terms of this mechanism and show that only nanoparticles of molecular size could be responsible. We also discuss how ions or background gas could affect the breakdown thresholds but existing models do not predict square root dependence. We test how extremely fine powers affect hold-off and show that contaminated surfaces have relatively constant reduced breakdown E-fields that intersect the clean-electrode voltage-dependent breakdown at critical gaps defined by the type and quantity of contamination. The hold-off was /spl sim/55 and 65 kV/mm with copper powder on the cathode and anode for 2 to 6.5 mm gaps, respectively, and /spl sim/95 and 75 kV/mm for talc powder on the cathode and anode for gaps <3.5 and 6.5 mm. Optical diagnostics show no difference in the light emission from clean and contaminated electrode breakdown arcs.     

Partial and complete electrical breakdown in simulated hightemperature superconducting coils

The partial breakdown (PBD) and complete breakdown (BD) phenomena in a composite insulation system of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) and liquid nitrogen are investigated to find the PBD and BD characteristics in high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils at quench. The electrode system used is made from a coaxial spiral coil-to-cylindrical electrode with an insulation barrier and spacers, and is immersed in liquid nitrogen. A heater is mounted inside the coil electrode to generate boiling which occurs on quenched superconducting coils. The experimental results show that (1) the polarity of PBD initiation under 60 Hz ac applied voltage depends on the width l_c of the cooling channel, (2) PBD appears through a gas bubble locked between the coil and concentric insulation barrier due to the electrical gradient and the spacer, (3) breakdown voltages are affected severely by the risetime of the applied voltage and the current amplitude associated with PBD, (4) two kinds of BD mechanisms are found depending on the shape of the spacer, length of cooling channel and heater power     

组合空气间隙交流击穿电压计算方法研究

典型空气间隙的击穿电压特性是外绝缘设计的重要依据,为研究电位悬浮体对空气间隙击穿电压的影响,文中以简化的组合间隙放电模型为研究对象,实验研究了悬浮导体长度和高压电极形状对组合空气间隙击穿电压的影响特性和变化曲线。基于实验数据和观测到的放电现象,文中在考虑子间隙的击穿顺序和流注通道压降的基础上,建立了组合间隙击穿电压的计算模型。利用该模型对含有电位悬浮导体的组合间隙击穿电压进行了计算,结果表明,文中提出的计算模型得到的击穿电压计算值和实验数据相比,相对误差小于5%,说明该方法对于计算含有电位悬浮导体的组合空气间隙击穿电压具有一定的适用性。