Triggered vacuum gap for initiating electric arcs in vacuum

Gupta, A and Rau, RSN (1972) Triggered vacuum gap for initiating electric arcs in vacuum. In: Journal of Physics E: Scientific Instruments, 5 (5). pp. 415-416.

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Abstract

Describes a simple triggered vacuum gap developed for initiating electric arcs in vacuum which uses the property that the voltage required to breakdown a gap in vacuum in the presence of a solid insulating material is considerably less than the voltage required in the absence of such material. In this triggered vacuum gap a solid insulating material is used in the angular space between the main cathode and the concentric trigger electrode forming the auxiliary gap. Different materials like epoxy resin, Teflon (PTFE) and mica have been used. The trigger voltage was found to vary in the range 560-1840 V. The results with epoxy and Teflon were unsatisfactory because the trigger voltages showed wide scatter and the auxiliary gap was soon bridged by metal particles eroded from the electrodes. Though the trigger voltages required with mica were relatively high, consistent triggering could be obtained for a large number of trials before the auxiliary gap was bridged. This was probably due to better thermal stability of mica as compared with either epoxy or Teflon.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Physics E: Scientific Instruments
Publisher:	Institute of Physics
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Institute of Physics.
Department/Centre:	Division of Electrical Sciences > High Voltage Engineering (merged with EE)
Date Deposited:	22 Jun 2010 08:39
Last Modified:	20 Oct 2011 05:49
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/28598

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