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Re: [TCML] fluid quenched rotary spark gap



Sulfur hexafluoride is a heavy insulating gas used in many high voltage insulating applications, including circuit breakers and accelerator power supplies. I was just looking at the warning labels on some transformers from Fermilab that detailed possible breakdown products from arc events in a SF6 tank.

SF6 is expensive, and not commonly available. When exposed to arcs, in the presence of contaminant water vapor, it breaks down into unpleasant degradation products which include fluorine gas, HF, H2S, SO3, and others. Not things I would like to mess with.

I recall that one of the big coil builders who has been mentioned on this list made a very high power gap that ran in an SF6 filled box. I don't know how much additional benefit the SF6 provided over just running the huge gap in air.

Dave


On 4/9/2014 2:12 PM, Yurtle Turtle wrote:
Is sodium hex what is used in medium voltage (up to 25 kV) breaker 'bottles"? If so, a static gap minght be a better approach in this. We used breakers at work up to 25 kV as breakers and switches, as it quenches arcing to protect the electrodes. The bottles can be purchased ready made, so no need for fabrication. They rarely see several operations per day, so I don't know how they'd perform at 120 bps.

________________________________
  From: Phil Tuck <pip@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: 'Tesla Coil Mailing List' <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 3:41 AM
Subject: Re: [TCML] fluid quenched rotary spark gap
Never tried, but I would imagine the drag from the fluid would be excessive
and the motor size needed would make things impracticable. When modifying to
synchronous, the motor looses quite a lot of power in the conversion. I can
see the motor burning out if you're not careful.
A better approach would be a gas filled box. Sulphur hexafluoride is an
excellent insulator and is heavier than air so if it leaks you know where it's gone.

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