From: Paul
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2001 12:23:09 +0100
Subject: Re: [TSSP] Direct Voltage Measurement of Topload Voltage for TSSP
Hi Terry, There's a problem with it - the E field gradient close to the 0.125" inner conductor considerably exceeds the oil breakdown threshold: Within the coax, E(r) = Q/(2 * pi * epsilon * r * L) = C * V/(2 * pi * epsilon * r * L) volts/metre where a <= r <= b, and L is the length 0.122m so setting r to the inner conductor radius a, r = a = 0.125 * 0.0254 = 3.175e-3 E(a) = 5e-12 * 500e3/(2 * pi * 2.2 * 8.854e-12 * 3.175e-3 * 0.122) = 52.7 MV/m = 1339 kV/inch Working the other way, the minimum radius for the inner of a 5pF coax cap at 500kV terminal voltage would be 200e3 * 39.37 = E(a_min) = 5e-12 * 500e3/(2 * pi * 2.2 * 8.854e-12 * a_min * len) so a_min * len = 5e-12 * 500e3/(2 * pi * 2.2 * 8.854e-12 * 200e3 * 39.37) = 2.6e-3 For a length 0.122m that gives a min radius of 2.1 cm, giving a 20cm radius to the outer. There might be a similar problem with the top rim of the outer electrode, which might need to be rolled over to form a nicely radiused lip. The coaxial capacitor is appealing because of its inherent insensitivity to anything but the voltage on its input terminal. Perhaps a co-linear cascade of coaxial segments forming a stack of series connected caps? The dimensions would be a lot more favourable, but it would be quite hard to make I think. Cheers, -- Paul Nicholson, Manchester, UK. --
Maintainer Paul Nicholson, paul@abelian.demon.co.uk.