Investigation of the mechanisms leading to the electrical breakdown of a triggered water gap

Saniei, M. and MacGregor, S.J. and Fouracre, R.A.; (2003) Investigation of the mechanisms leading to the electrical breakdown of a triggered water gap. In: Proceedings from the Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena Conference, 2003. IEEE, GBR, pp. 734-737. ISBN 0-7803-7910-1 (https://doi.org/10.1109/CEIDP.2003.1254958)

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Abstract

The breakdown of a triggered, plane-parallel electrode system with water dielectric has been investigated. The gap was triggered by a discharge initiated at an electrically isolated trigger pin, positioned in the center of one of the electrodes, using a 500 ns voltage pulse. A 5000 fps CCD-camera monitored events occurring in the gap during such a discharge and the intensity variations of a laser beam transmitted through the electrode gap was also monitored. The results indicate the initiation, expansion and collapse of a gas bubble generated at the trigger electrode. The subsequent application of a voltage between the plane electrodes results in the complete breakdown of the gap due to the trigger discharge. The effect of a delay time between the trigger pulse and the application of the main gap voltage was consistent with the growth and collapse of the trigger-initiated bubble.