High Voltage Surge Protection by a Varistor-Filled Air Gap

Yang, Pin; Gomez, Carolina A.; Andrews, Samantha; Sorenson, Josef D.; Chen, Ken S.

doi:10.1111/jace.17661

High Voltage Surge Protection by a Varistor-Filled Air Gap

Journal Article · Mon Dec 28 23:00:00 EST 2020 · Journal of the American Ceramic Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.17661· OSTI ID:1765759

^[1]; Gomez, Carolina A. ^[1]; Andrews, Samantha ^[1]; Sorenson, Josef D. ^[1]; Chen, Ken S. ^[1]

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The electric discharge across a varistor granule filled air gap under a fast-rising voltage pulse was investigated for surge protection applications. The effects of temperature and pressure on the arc and the electrical conduction were analyzed by the characteristic changes in voltage waveforms triggered by a fast-rising high voltage pulse. In addition to the gap size, experimental results show that competing mechanisms among arc conduction, conduction through the varistor granule network, thermionic emission from Joule heating at granule-to-granule contact points, and the magnitude of the switching voltage dictate the maximum surge protection voltage for the filled air gap. Experimental evidence indicated that accumulated degradation was created at small contact points between varistor granules by repetitive assaults from longer duration, high voltage pulses. The uniqueness of using varistor over other dielectric granules in an air gap for surge protection is identified and discussed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 1765759

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1769903

Report Number(s):: SAND--2021-0234J; 693258

Journal Information:: Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 104; ISSN 0002-7820

Publisher:: American Ceramic SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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breakdown
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High Voltage Surge Protection by a Varistor-Filled Air Gap

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