[TCML] HF breakdown of air gaps

[Bert Hickman]

Hi Dex,

Finding free web-accessible information is a bit difficult, but not 
impossible. Needle-needle gap breakdown tables are available for 
sinusoidal 60 Hz AC voltages, but these tables are seldom found in 
today's engineering and physics books. Unfortunately needle-plane 
(point-plane) gap information is not as common, but more commonly 
available rod-plane gap tables may be used for larger gaps with little 
error (at least for larger gaps). Here's a typical table (from the 
Cyclopedia of Applied Electricity, Volume 2 via Google Books) for 
needle-needle gaps between 00 sewing needles:

http://tinyurl.com/kp69cj
(You can preview the above at http://preview.tinyurl.com/kp69cj)

RF breakdown tends to be similar to perhaps 20% lower depending upon the 
applied frequency and gap spacing. A paper that discusses these effects 
in some depth can be found here:

http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/79724-RFcEsV/webviewable/79724.pdf

Ultimately, you will need to confirm results for your design. If you do 
make measurements, please share them with this community.

Bert
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Dex Dexter wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Can somebody tell me where on internet I can find tables for high frequency voltage breakdown of air gaps for:
> 1)Needle-needle gaps
> 2)Needle-plane gaps
> 
> 
> CW excitation above 100 kHz only.
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> Dex  
> 
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