Transport properties and dielectric strengths of gas mixtures for use in diffuse discharge opening switches
Gas mixtures for possible use in diffuse discharge switching applications require both high dielectric strength and specific transport properties in the conducting and the opening stages of the operation of the switch. In the conducting stage, the electron drift velocity must be large, and the electron loss processes (e.g., due to electron attachment and recombination) must be low so as to maximize the efficiency of the current gain in the discharge while maintaining low discharge impedance. In the opening stage, strong electron attachment along with high dielectric strength is required of the gas mixtures in order to extinguish the discharge as quickly as possible (and, thus, achieve a fast opening time) to prevent arcing occurring between the switch electrodes due to the high voltages induced across the switch in the opening phase. In this paper, we will present measurements of the electron drift velocity, attachment, diffusion and ionization coefficients, and high voltage dielectric strengths of several gas mixtures proposed as candidates for use in diffuse discharge switching applications. These include C/sub 3/F/sub 8//Ar, C/sub 3/F/sub 8//CH/sub 4/, C/sub 2/F/sub 6//Ar, C/sub 2/F/sub 6//CH/sub 4/, CF/sub 4//Ar, CF/sub 4//CH/sub 4/, CF/sub 3/OCF/sub 3//Ar, and CF/sub 3/OCF/sub 3//CH/sub 4/. For some of these mixtures, the above transport and dielectric strength measurements have been performed over the concentration range from 0 to 100% of the attaching gas in the nonattaching buffer gas.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6829684
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-840403-1; ON: DE84011444
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 4. international symposium on gaseous dielectrics, Knoxville, TN, USA, 29 Apr 1984; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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