New techniques to evaluate the incendivity of insulators

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• 作者：Charles Buhler ; Carlos Calle ; J.S. Clements ; Steven Trigwell ; Mindy Ritz
• 关键词：Incendivity ; Safety and hazards ; Incendiary behavior ; Brush discharges ; Insulators ; Flammable atmospheres
• 刊名：Journal of Electrostatics
• 出版年：2009
• 出版时间：May 2009
• 年：2009
• 卷：67
• 期：2-3
• 页码：285-290
• 全文大小：471 K

文摘

New techniques for evaluating the incendiary behavior of insulators is presented. The onset of incendive brush discharges in air is evaluated using standard spark probe techniques for the case simulating approaches of an electrically grounded sphere to a charged insulator in the presence of a flammable atmosphere. However, this standard technique is unsuitable for the case of brush discharges that may occur during the charging–separation process for two insulator materials. We present experimental techniques to evaluate this hazard in the presence of a flammable atmosphere which is ideally suited to measure the incendiary nature of micro-discharges upon separation, a measurement never before performed. Other measurement techniques unique to this study include: surface potential measurements of insulators before, during and after contact and separation, as well as methods to verify fieldmeter calibrations using a charge insulator surface opposed to standard high voltage plates.