Gases Released by Surface Flashover of Insulators

摘要

The gases released by surface flashovers on alumina ceramics, Pyrex glass, and quartz, using 20- mu s voltage pulses were investigated using an ion pumped metal vacuum system. Appreciable quantities of gas were measured (approximately 10 sup -6 torr-liters or 10 sup 13 molecules). The composition of this gas differed significantly from the background gas. The dominant species in the surface flashover gases were CO sub 2 , CO, and H sub 2 ; a modest amount of CH sub 4 was observed, along with lesser quantities of N sub 2 and H sub 2 O. The dominant gas in the system background was nitrogen, accompanied by (in decreasing amounts) H sub 2 , H sub 2 O, CO/CO sub 2 , Ar, CH sub 4 , and He. We concluded that the gas released by flashovers on the surface of the insulators was not absorbed system background gas, but was gas adsorbed during the handling and processing of the insulator. (ERA citation 12:040778)