Calculate Dielectric Strength Breakdown Voltage

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the dielectric strength breakdown voltage for a capacitor formed by two parallel plates with a voltage of 12 volts applied. The formula used for capacitance is C = ε₀εᵣA/D, where ε₀ is the permittivity constant, εᵣ is the relative permittivity, A is the area, and D is the distance between the plates. The dielectric strength is expressed in volts per meter (V/M), and the user seeks to determine the minimum dielectric strength without specific fluid information. The calculations involve deriving the electric field strength using E = V/D and comparing results with tabulated dielectric strength values.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of capacitance and its formula C = ε₀εᵣA/D
  • Knowledge of dielectric strength and its significance in electrical engineering
  • Familiarity with electric field calculations using E = V/D
  • Basic concepts of relative permittivity and its role in dielectric materials
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of Barium Titanate as a dielectric material
  • Learn about different methods for measuring dielectric strength in various fluids
  • Explore the impact of plate area and distance on capacitance and dielectric strength
  • Investigate the relationship between electric field strength and breakdown voltage in capacitors
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, physics students, and anyone involved in capacitor design or dielectric material analysis will benefit from this discussion.

theman408
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I know it has to do something with the Breakdown voltage but I've looked everywhere on my book and i have no idea how to calculate it.
 
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i would reallly like to know, without this i can't do my problem.

this is all i need.
 
theman408 said:
i would reallly like to know, without this i can't do my problem.

this is all i need.

What is the problem exactly?
 
It's two parallell plates which 12 volts are applied, i already calculated the capacitance with the Area and distance between the plates. Now i must calculate it's dielectric strength.
 
theman408 said:
already calculated the capacitance with the Area and distance between the plates. Now i must calculate it's dielectric strength.

The capacitance depends on the area, dielectric strength and distance. How did you find C with only two?
 
Sorry, forgot to specify. i used the formula of

C= eoerS/D

where Eo is the permitivity constant, Er is the relative permitivity which was given in the exercise, S is the area of the surface and D is the distance between the plates.

The Problem is which is the min. dielectric strength that it has.
 
theman408 said:
Sorry, forgot to specify. i used the formula of

C= eoerS/D

where Eo is the permitivity constant, Er is the relative permitivity which was given in the exercise, S is the area of the surface and D is the distance between the plates.

The Problem is which is the min. dielectric strength that it has.

but the dielectric strength depends on the fluid between the plates. The dielectric strength which is given by e0er
 
What would the min. value?

would i have to calculate a new er?
 
and it doesn't specify the fluid, which is kinda of the point, for us to calculate it without looking at the table.
 
  • #10
theman408 said:
and it doesn't specify the fluid, which is kinda of the point, for us to calculate it without looking at the table.

What you are doing sort of looks counter-intuitive to me.

C=\frac{\epsilon_0 \epsilon_r A}{d}

you used that to get C, yes I get that. You know, A,d,ε0 and εr. You find C.


What you are asking is to get ε (or ε0εr) for the same C, A and d. You will just get back what you used above. Am I missing something :confused:? Does A,d or A change?
 
  • #11
Exactly that's the formula but what I am asked to calculate is the min. dielectric strength V/M.

They give us Er which i looked up on a table and it's the Dielectric constant of Barium titanate.
 
  • #12
theman408 said:
Exactly that's the formula but what I am asked to calculate is the min. dielectric strength V/M.

V/M ? as in volt per metre as units? If that is the case then those units mean you need to find the electric field strength. Which is simply E=V/d
 
  • #13
Yep, it's positive right?
 
  • #14
theman408 said:
Yep, it's positive right?

I would think so.
 
  • #15
The table in the back of my book that gives the different dielectric strengths it's unit is expressed x10^6 V/M and with that formula it only gives me kv/m.
 
  • #16
theman408 said:
The table in the back of my book that gives the different dielectric strengths it's unit is expressed x10^6 V/M and with that formula it only gives me kv/m.

What is the distance between the plates?
 
  • #17
2x10^-3 m
 
  • #18
theman408 said:
2x10^-3 m

Well the dielectric strength gives the maximum electric field that can be applied before breakdown occurs. I doubt 12V is the maximum voltage, but that would be how to find it.
 
  • #19
Im in the crossroads in using this formula E= Q/EoArea that yields 7.2 x10^6 V/M or E= V/D that yields 6 kv/M

A= 1m^2
Q= 63.72 uC
D= 2mm
V= 12 V

all the dielectric strength values in the table appear in x10^6 V/M
 

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