Determining the mode of high voltage breakdowns in vacuum devices
Abstract
Photography, recording of the voltage waveform, and monitoring of the X-ray output were used to investigate breakdown in vacuum. Results indicate that breakdowns may be divided into two types: vacuum (interelectrode) breakdown - characterized by a diffuse moderately bright discharge, a relatively slow and smooth voltage collapse and a large burst of X-rays; and surface (insulator) flashover - characterized by a bright discharge with a very bright filamentary core, a relatively fast and noisy voltage collapse, and no X-ray burst. Thus, the results indicate that useful information concerning the type of breakdown in a vacuum device can be obtained by monitoring the voltage (current) waveforms and the X-ray output.
- Publication:
-
Unknown
- Pub Date:
- 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979dmhv.rept.....M
- Keywords:
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- Electrical Faults;
- Failure Modes;
- High Voltages;
- Vacuum Apparatus;
- Electric Discharges;
- Waveforms;
- X Rays;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering