Circuit Breaker Components

Capacitor
Resistors
Diodes
Switches

Capacitors--Specs
10KVDC
10uF
Small Size
Three sources
Plastic Capacitors Inc (USA)
Hi Volt Corporation (Ireland)
High Energy Corporation (USA)



Capacitors
Size is a function of Capacitance
Smaller capacitance, smaller volume



Possible to use smaller cap?
10uF gives a spike of 12kV for about
200msec
1uF gives a spike of 14kV for about
100msec
Is this acceptable?
Try simulations with 5uF
Capacitor Comparison
Plastic Caps Hi Volt High Energy
materials Sealed military can,
Solder-seal terminals
Tinplate case,
Ceramic terminals
Enamel finish
Plated steel, epoxy
finish
Impregnant Mineral oil Mineral oil Mineral oil
Applications Storage/dischage, high
current low repetiton
Arc and spark
suppression,
Voltage smoothing
Filters
Cap Comparison (cont)
Tolerances of 10%
Temperature ranges 55C to 85C
Prices (based on purchase of 100-150 units)
Plastic Caps range from $112 for 1uF to $493
for 10uF
Hi Volt prices at 70 fro 1uF and 4uF

Resistors--specs

1k resistance
10 Amps
10kVDC
10A*10kV=100kW!
100kW*1sec=27.77kWh
27.22kWh/3.6*10^6=7.7*10^-6 Joules


Resistorswhat I found
Most resistors very small or very large
Most resistors rated in KW range are very
large size and impractical for our purposes
High voltage resistors are rated for low
wattage and high energy
Ex.
Kanthal Globar 106AS resistor
15kV, 35A, 13W, 1900J

Resistors
Actual resistance value still undecided
Actual ratings not entirely clear, i.e. what
power ratings and energy ratings will
suffice for this application.
Wait until design is more firm, test resistors
in lab

Resistors (cont)
Manufacturers
Kanthal Globar
Resistors designed for short pulses
$43-$73 range per resistor (based on small order)
Sizes from 2-6 in length
Nicrom Ticino
Power resistors
$55-$75 range
2-6 length
Tepro
Will build to our specs, 400mm in length



What we have
Capacitors
No problem
Switches
Will use vacuum switches for now
Looking into GTO
Diodes
Again, no problem

Diodes
Need 10A, 10kV Vrrm
Found 10-20A, 1000-1600Vrrm
Can cascade in series
International Rectifier
Two types
Plastic casing, $1.26-$1.68ea
Metal casing $3.72-$3.84ea
Both about 1.25 in length
Neither immersable in transformer oil
Switches
Possible options
Vacuum switches
Durable, long lasting
Require continuous signal while closed
3.25 long, 0.65 wide
GTO switches
Turn on signal, turn off signal, but no continuous
current

Whats next?
Build a low-voltage prototype
What we have
IGBT switches
Logic switch controller
What we need
Low voltage capacitor, resistors, diodes