Corona and Breakdown Voltage in Helium-Oxygen Atmospheres
- 1 September 1970
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation
- Vol. EI-5 (3) , 79-83
- https://doi.org/10.1109/tei.1970.299100
Abstract
Helium-oxygen mixtures are being considered for use in low-pressure (3.5 to 7.5 psia) compartments of manned spacecraft. Electrical wires, cabling, and components will be required to operate in these low-pressure compartments. During extra-vehicular maneuvers the pressure could decrease to that of space vacuum. During the depressurization and pressurization periods, corona and voltage breakdown will be a significant problem. This paper provides corona and voltage-breakdown data for electrical system components operating in these possible spacecraft environments. The breakdown voltage in pure helium, pure oxygen, and helium-oxygen mixtures is presented as measured between 5-cm-diameter parallel plates at various pressures and spacings at a frequency of 400 Hz and a temperature of 23°C. In addition, the corona onset voltages of twisted and spaced-parallel Teflon-insulated wires and wired connector contacts are presented.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Medical Considerations in the Selection of Space Cabin AtmospheresPublished by Springer Nature ,1966
- Electrical CoronasPublished by University of California Press ,1965
- Corona Measurement and InterpretationTransactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Part III: Power Apparatus and Systems, 1957