Open AccessUnderstanding Surface Flashover in Helium Gas Cooled High Temperature Superconducting Devices
Author(s) -
Aws Al-Taie,
Peter Cheetham,
C. H. Kim,
C. Park,
Lukas Graber,
Sastry Pamidi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/756/1/012011
Subject(s) - arc flash , materials science , voltage , composite material , dielectric strength , dielectric , helium , high voltage , electrical engineering , insulator (electricity) , optoelectronics , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Surface flashover voltage on solid insulators in gas cooled superconducting power devices is studied. The relationship between the surface flashover voltage and the dielectric strength of the gas media is established. Analysis of the data on surface flashover voltage measurements on cylindrical samples made of high-pressure fiberglass laminate (G10) in three different gas media with varying dielectric strength and pressure showed a positive correlation between the surface flashover voltage and the dielectric strength of the gas both at room temperature and 77 K. The positive relationship, however, is not linear. The results suggest that using gas media with higher dielectric strength, employing higher pressure, and lowering temperature in HTS power devices leads to higher surface flashover voltages and higher operating voltages because surface flashover is usually the limiting voltage in devices that use solid support structures and possess voltage gradients.