Optimal high-voltage energization of corona-electrostaticseparators

The selection of the high-voltage supply can play an important role in the optimization of electrostatic separation processes. This paper aims to evaluate the influence of the main high-voltage parameters (waveform, polarity, level) on the efficiency of electrostatic separation, in the case of insulation-metal granular mixtures. A roll-type laboratory high-tension separator was employed for the experimental study, and the tests were carried out with samples of granular materials taken from the technological flowsheet of a recycling plant for electric wire scraps. The oscillograms of the voltage and of the current across the separator proved to be of great use for studying the transition from corona to spark discharges. The experiments, performed under various operating conditions (roll speed, roll radius, high-voltage level, interelectrode distance), show the existence of a strong interdependence between these parameters, the frequency of spark discharges, and the efficiency of the separation process. The reported results suggest that monitoring the frequency of the spark discharges could be of use for controlling the optimum operating voltage for a given electrostatic separation application. Although the full-wave rectifier allows for lower operating voltages than the half-wave rectifier, its general effectiveness in electrostatic separation processes is superior. Good insulation-metal electrostatic separation can be achieved at either positive or negative polarity of the high-voltage supply, but negative electrode energization is recommended for most industrial applications     

Corona as a Means of Minimizing the Electric Current Surge from a DC High-Voltage Terminal

It is often necessary to reduce the total energy released by an accidental spark discharge from a dc high-voltage terminal. The paper presents the results obtained with two experimental setups designed to investigate the effects of inserting a corona element in series with such terminals. The spark discharge onto a 23-cm diameter spherical probe was measured for the same terminal voltage with and without the corona element. Depending on the capacitances of the high-voltage circuit and of the corona element, and on the corona current-voltage characteristics, the reduction of the spark energy may reach one order of magnitude or more.     

Robust design of electrostatic separation processes

The aim of this paper is to analyze the robustness of the electrostatic separation process control. The objective was to reduce variation in the process outcome by finding operating conditions (high-voltage level, roll speed), under which uncontrollable variation in the noise factors (granule size, composition of the material to be separated) has minimal impact on the quantity (and the quality) of the recovered products. The experiments were carried out on a laboratory roll-type electrostatic separator, provided with a corona electrode and a tubular electrode, both connected to a dc high-voltage supply. The samples of processed material were prepared from genuine chopped electric wire wastes (granule size >1 mm and <5 mm) containing various proportions of copper and PVC. The design and noise factors were combined into one single experimental design, based on Taguchi's approach, and a regression model of the process was fitted. The impact of the noise factors could be estimated, as well as the interactions between the design and noise factors. The conditions of industry application of Taguchi's methodology are discussed, as well as the possibility of adapting it to other electrostatic processes.     

Charging and discharging of insulating particles on the surface of a grounded electrode

The aim of the present paper is to analyze the corona charging of millimeter-size insulating disks, as well as their discharging when they are no longer exposed to the action of an external electric field. The experiments were carried out on a roll-type electrostatic laboratory separator, equipped with a wire-type corona electrode, simulating the actual charging/discharging conditions in an industrial unit. Disks of various sizes were charged on the surface of the roll electrode, then the high voltage supplied to the corona electrode was turned off and the particles were collected in a Faraday pail, connected to an electrometer. The charge measurements were performed at various time intervals from high-voltage turn-off. In this way, the charge decay could be recorded and the discharge process fully characterized. The measured data show that the discharge process depends on the nature, size, and shape of the particles, as well as on the contact conditions between the particles and the grounded roll electrode. These data could guide the design of the electrostatic separation experiments that precede any new industrial application of this technology.     

Effect of Moving Speed of Charged Metallic Spherical Electrode on Electrostatic Discharge

In this investigation, the nature of the electrostatic discharge (ESD) that occurs when a charged object moves toward a stationary grounded object is experimentally clarified. The spark lengths, discharge currents, and induced voltages in a magnetic probe were measured when a charged metallic spherical electrode connected to a 422 pF capacitor approached a stationary grounded object, which was the current target, for different moving speeds of the charged metallic spherical electrode in a range of 1 mm/s to 100 mm/s. The charge voltages of the capacitor were +6.5 kV and +10 kV. Based on the results, the average gap length shortened with the speed of the spherical electrode. The average peak values of the discharge current and the induced voltage were likely to increase with the speed of the spherical electrode. The average rise times of the discharge current and the induced voltage were likely to drop with the speed of the spherical electrode. The relation between the spark length and the discharge current due to the ESD can be explained qualitatively by using an equation derived from the spark resistance formula proposed by Rompe and Weizel.     

Charge-Decay Characteristics of Granular Materials Forming Monolayers at the Surface of Grounded Electrodes

Laboratory studies and in-field observations have shown that the charge-decay characteristics of the granular materials at the surface of the grounded roll electrode significantly influence the outcome of the electrostatic separation process. This paper validates an indirect method of charge-decay characterization, based on the measurement of the electrical potential at the surface of a monolayer of granular insulating material. The study was performed on three materials–-polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and rubber–-extracted from chopped electric wire wastes. The granules (characteristic size in the range 1–4 mm) were disposed on the surface of a grounded plate electrode (layer area: 100 mm $ times$ 100 mm; electrode area: 200 mm $ times$ 200 mm). A wire-type corona electrode, energized from a dc high-voltage supply, was employed for charging the granules. The potential due to the charge at the surface of the granular layer was measured with the capacitive probe of an electrostatic voltmeter connected to a personal computer. Data acquisition and processing were done using the LabView environment. The influence of particles characteristics and of ambient factors was studied. The findings enabled a more accurate modeling of discharging phenomena that affect the performances of electrostatic separators. The method can be easily adopted in electrostatic discharge studies for material characterization.      

Erosion of spark gap of square-wave high-voltage source for ozonegeneration

A high-voltage source generating a fast rising square-wave voltage has been developed for a high-efficiency ozone generator. The voltage source incorporates a rotating spark gap switch. The lifetime of the voltage source is determined by erosion of the spark gap switch. In order to obtain a long lifetime, various electrode materials have been experimentally tested. Sintered tungsten with thorium dioxide had the smallest erosion rate among the materials tested in the experiment. Using this material as the switch, the high-voltage source was constructed to operate an ozone generator with an ozone generating rate of 20 g/h. The erosion rate of the switching materials was measured for a period of two months of continuous operation of the ozone generator     

Calorimetric measurements of optical signals in electrostaticdischarge studies

A method based on calorimetry and an instrument are described for the absolute measurement of the energy contained in optical radiation, especially in the optical signatures of electrostatic discharge. The optical emission of a spark gap, comprised of two stainless-steel spheres, was collected by an optical condenser system and focused on the calorimeter sensor. The system was calibrated using a set of light-emitting diodes and tested using either single-pulse discharge or a continuously operating optical source. The calorimeter system detectivity, in terms of output voltage related to the input energy, was determined to be 4.3 × 10⁷ V·J^-1 and its detection limit was 2.3 × 10^-13 J. The system has application for nonintrusive characterization of optical emissions associated with discharge events     

10kV重复频率方波脉冲源的研制

为进行绝缘材料在快前沿高压脉冲作用下的局部放电和绝缘老化的试验研究,研制了1台最高输出电压为10kV的重复频率高压方波脉冲发生器。该方波发生器采用可调直流高压电源和储能电容器作为能源系统,利用半导体固态开关作为主放电开关控制脉冲宽度和重复频率,通过脉冲放电回路在负载上形成所需的电压脉冲。其半导体固态开关采用具有低耦合电容的紧凑型快速高压金属氧化层半导体场效应晶体管(MOSFET)开关,通过复杂可编程逻辑控制器(CPLD)可编程逻辑电路实现开关通断控制。实测结果表明,该脉冲源可以产生脉冲上升沿约为80ns、最小脉冲宽度为320ns的高压准方波脉冲,最高输出幅值达到±10kV,脉冲重复频率的可调范围为1～3kHz,性能指标满足绝缘材料的局部放电以及绝缘老化试验的要求。     

测量高压差分探头1 MHz共模抑制比窄带放大器的研制

为了完整测量高压差分探头共模抑制比性能,需测量其50Hz~1MHz频率处的共模抑制比值。由于标准信号源的输出电平能力随着输出频率的升高而不断减小,1MHz时仅为20V左右,经过差分探头的衰减及共模抑制作用,使差分探头1MHz时共模输出信号电平极小,无法利用示波器进行测量。故研制了一台中心频率为1MHz的窄带放大器,该窄带放大器由低噪声高带宽放大单元和谐振选频单元组成,试验结果表明了其在输入电平50μV~1mV范围内的增益线性度优于±0.5dB,适用于差分探头1MHz频率处共模抑制比的测量。     

High-voltage electrode position: a key factor of electrostatic separation efficiency

Industry application of electrostatic separation technologies still faces a major difficulty: good results can be obtained only by adequate control of a multitude of operating parameters. The aim of the present paper is to analyze a key factor of electrostatic separation efficiency: the position of the high-voltage electrodes. Experiments were performed with two types of granular materials: chopped electric wire wastes and foundry sands. The electrostatic separator employed for the tests was provided with a wire-type corona electrode, associated - in some experiments - with a tubular-type electrostatic electrode, at various angular and radial positions, with respect to a rotating roll electrode connected to the ground. The experimental data are discussed in relation to the results of the numerical analysis of the electric field, carried out with a charge simulation program. They show that the outcome of the separation process (i.e., the weight percentage of the conductor and nonconductor fractions, as well as the purity of the recovered materials) depends on the configuration of the electrode system. The position of the electrodes affects both the particles charging conditions on the surface of the roll electrode, and the trajectories of the charged particles in the high-intensity electric field of the separator. Some recommendations could be formulated for the industrial application of the electrostatic separation technology.     

Zero-current Switching Series Resonant High-voltage DC-DC Converter with Series-connected Primary Windings of Center-tapped Transformer

Abstract—This article proposes a novel zero-current switching series resonant inverter-fed voltage multiplier based high-voltage DC-DC converter. The series resonant inverter in the proposed topology has two power switches (insulated-gate bipolar transistors), two resonant capacitors, and only one high-voltage transformer with center-tapped primary windings. The power switches are connected in the form of a half-bridge network. The leakage inductances of the transformer's primary windings together with resonant capacitors form two series resonant circuits. The series resonant circuits are fed alternately by operating power switches with an interleaved half-switching cycle. The secondary winding of the high-voltage transformer is connected to a voltage multiplier circuit to rectify and boost the voltage. The converter operates in discontinuous conduction mode, and its output voltage is regulated by pulse-frequency modulation. Therefore, all the power switches turn ON and OFF at the zero-current switching condition. The main features of the proposed converter are lower power loss, less cost, and smaller size compared to previously proposed series resonant high-voltage DC-DC converters. The experimental results of a 130-W prototype of the proposed converter are presented both for dynamic and steady-state operation. The results confirm the excellent operation and performance of the converter.     

脉冲功率装置中电容分压器的设计和应用

为了测量脉冲功率装置形成线和传输线的电压,设计和标定了自积分电容分压器和V-dot探测器。在电容分压器结构设计中,重点叙述了降低结构电感、削弱局部高电场以及保持灵敏度一致的方法。电容分压器采用在线标定,标定用电阻分压器安装在电容分压器相对于轴线对称的位置,以减小对探头位置电场分布的影响。对阳加速器水传输线、脉冲形成线和PTS单路样机中储探测器的标定和实验结果表明:无论是自积分电容分压器还是V-dot探测器,只要取值合适,同时在结构设计中注意分布参数的控制,就都可以响应前沿为几十ns至接近μs量级的信号。     

发电机直流耐压试验异常现象的分析与防范措施

在对内蒙古京泰发电有限公司2号机组300 MW发电机进行直流耐压试验时,发现发电机有接地放电异常现象,经分析并与其他电厂同类问题进行比较,确定放电现象是由于中性点连接铜排与出线罩绝缘距离不足造成的.对此采用专用耐压绝缘胶皮并配合环氧树脂板绝缘材料覆盖在中性点连接铜排上以加强绝缘的措施进行处理.同时建议试验时要注意排除空气湿度的影响,改进后试验结果满足要求.     

ns脉冲电场发生器的研制及应用

为了研究ns脉冲电场诱导肿瘤细胞的凋亡效应,结合开关电源技术和脉冲功率技术,研制了一套多参数大范围独立可调的ns脉冲电场发生器。该发生器由高压直流电源、脉冲形成电路和辅助电路3部分组成,输出的脉冲幅值0～1.2kV内连续可调,重复频率1Hz～10kHz内连续可调,脉冲宽度分100、200、600和1000ns4级可调,脉冲个数可以任意预置,上升时间<30ns,并具有显示和保护功能。实验室调试和医学细胞实验结果表明,该发生器调节方便、性能稳定,能够有效诱导人肝癌细胞凋亡,为ns脉冲电场诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的机理和阈值参数选择规律的深入研究奠定了基础。     

OPGW在门型架引下的安全隐患及防范措施

为了探讨OPGW在进站门型架引下线部分经常发生纤芯中断事故的内在原因,通过对典型案例的现场勘察和模拟间隙放电进行仿真试验,并应用过电压理论分析论证,得出当OPGW与门型架金属构件间隙足够少时,在雷电或电力系统过电压的作用下,将可能导致OPGW与门架金属构件之间放电,从而击穿熔断纤芯,造成通信中断事故。提出了OPGW在进站门型架的上、下端加装接地线,中间部分与金属构件进行有效绝缘,以确保电力系统通信安全畅通的防范措施。     

高压单芯电缆并联运行时金属护层的联接方式分析

随着经济的发展和用电量的不断增加,同相多根单芯电缆并联供电方式多有采用。高压单芯电缆的金属护套联接方式是电缆敷设时必须注意的问题。目前单、双回路电缆线路感应电压及金属护套环流已有计算,但多根电缆并联使用时的金属护套联接方式还未见讨论。文章研究结果显示并联电缆的护层环流在其护层相联时有可能达到单独处理时的2倍多。因此,电缆并联运行时,不应将金属护套相联再进行交叉互联,而应该分别作交叉互联。     

水中脉冲电晕放电的声学特性研究

为研究水中脉冲电晕放电的声学特性,由水听器测量了放电产生的压力信号,在以放电电极为圆心、电极到水听器的距离为半径的球面对压力信号积分,得到放电的声能和放电的声效率;利用快速傅立叶变换(FFT)得到同轴电极下电晕放电的频谱分布;比较尖—尖电极下电弧放电晕放电的频谱发现电晕放电声信号的主频比电弧放电的高。     

一种适合宽范围输出的三电平DC/DC变换器

提出了一种宽电压范围输出的三电平DC/DC变换器,其包含两组并联的主桥臂和辅助桥臂以及级联形式连接的主变压器和辅助变压器。该变换器具有低压低功率和高压高功率两种工作模式,其中低压模式下辅助桥臂不开通以降低电路损耗,高压模式下辅助桥臂开通以提高输出电压。与传统电路相比,变压器具有更低的变比,分析了传统拓扑的损耗,并比较了新拓扑与传统拓扑在不同输出模式下的效率,得出新拓扑在低压模式下具有更高效率的结论。研制了一台2 000 W的原理样机,实验数据表明,在低压模式下新拓扑的效率仍可高达94%,较传统拓扑提升了3%,验证了理论分析的正确性。     

复合材料杆塔杆板连接点局部放电优化措施研究

为改善复合材料杆塔上的杆板连接点在污秽条件下存在的局部放电现象,通过有限元仿真分析金属板连接点和复合板连接点的电流畸变情况,提出改进连接点电流密度分布的措施。并搭建红外观测、可见光、泄漏电流和电压的多参量人工污秽试验同步观测平台以验证优化措施的改善效果。试验表明改进后的并联圆形复合板和金属套连接形式可以有效降低复合板连接点和金属板连接点的电流密度畸变程度,进而抑制连接点的局部温升和干带形成。