Can Different Electrodes Affect Air's Dielectric Strength Values?

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SUMMARY

The dielectric strength of air is indeed a property of the material, but it can yield multiple values depending on the configuration of the electrodes used in testing. Different electrode heads create varying electric field distributions, which directly affect the breakdown voltage measured in kilovolts per millimeter (kV/mm). Additionally, factors such as pressure and temperature also influence the dielectric strength, confirming that multiple values can arise from different experimental setups.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of dielectric strength and its measurement in kV/mm
  • Knowledge of electric field configurations and their impact on breakdown voltage
  • Familiarity with the effects of pressure and temperature on dielectric properties
  • Experience with testing setups involving different electrode types
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of electrode geometry on electric field distribution
  • Study the relationship between pressure, temperature, and dielectric strength in gases
  • Explore methods for measuring dielectric strength in various materials
  • Investigate the effects of different electrode materials on breakdown voltage
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, physicists, and researchers involved in high-voltage applications or studying dielectric materials will benefit from this discussion.

Physicist3
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Hi,

Am I correct in thinking that for a medium such as air, the dielectric strength is a property of the material and as such has a single value for that material? The reason I ask is because I have been testing the breakdown of air between different types of electrodes and because the breakdown is different for different electrode heads, I will end up with multiple values of dielectric strength (kV/mm). Is this possible?
 
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Physicist3 said:
Hi,

Am I correct in thinking that for a medium such as air, the dielectric strength is a property of the material and as such has a single value for that material? The reason I ask is because I have been testing the breakdown of air between different types of electrodes and because the breakdown is different for different electrode heads, I will end up with multiple values of dielectric strength (kV/mm). Is this possible?
  1. Yes, but even for uniform E-fields it is also a function of pressure and temperature.
  2. Yes, it is possible becouse for different types of electrode heads the field configuration in the gap isn't same
 
So if all three electrode types were tested in the same location (same pressure and temp), the difference in breakdown voltages observed would be because of the distribution of the electric field which differs with each electrode type?
 
Yup
 

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