Theoretical Considerations of Water-Dielectric Breakdown Initiation for Long Charging Times.

摘要

There are potential Naval directed energy applications that will require power amplifications from the pulsed power train on the order of 10,000 times. Traditional pulsed power trains often use separate components to form an energy store and a pulse forming line (PFL). However, mass and volume restraints for Naval applications require integration of these two functions into one, compact device. water and water-based dielectrics are the materials of choice for the PFL that will provide the energy storage. The most important improvement needed for PFL's is increasing the electrical breakdown strength of water. This paper describes phenomena needed for a model of electrical breakdown initiation in water under long- term electrical stress. Dielectric saturation in the electric double layer, field-enhanced dissociation of the water molecule, field-enhanced ionic mobilities, field enhanced oxidation and reduction of the water molecule at electrodes, oxides patches on the electrodes, organic contaminants, surface contours and material phases are included in this survey. The goal is to be able to predict corrective treatments or procedures that increase the breakdown strength of water.