Study on the Effect of Helium on the Dielectric Strength of Medium-Voltage Vacuum Interrupters

Paweł Węgierek, Michał Lech, Damian Kostyła and Czesław Kozak
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Paweł Węgierek: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38A, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Michał Lech: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38A, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Damian Kostyła: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38A, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Czesław Kozak: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38A, 20-618 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of the dielectric strength of disconnecting vacuum interrupters operating on air and helium. The breakdown voltage U d was measured in the pressure range from 8.0 × 10 −4 Pa to 3.0 × 10 1 Pa for air and from 8.0 × 10 −4 Pa to 7.0 × 10 2 Pa for helium, while varying the interelectrode distance from 1.0 to 5.0 mm. Dedicated laboratory workstations were used to determine the actual pressure values in the vacuum interrupters tested and to precisely measure and record the dielectric strength results of the test object. It was found that the helium-filled vacuum interrupter maintains its full dielectric strength in significantly larger pressure ranges, while the air-filled vacuum interrupter loses its insulating properties. Thus, it is possible to make vacuum interrupters based on the working medium associated with pure helium, with larger working pressure ratings. Under such conditions, it is easier to maintain the tightness of the device and to limit cut-off currents and overvoltages associated with vacuum switchgear.

Keywords: vacuum breakdown; vacuum technology; vacuum interrupter; helium; switchgear (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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