For a given electrode gap distance in uniform field a dielectric has the highest breakdown strength.

However, it is very difficult to realize a uniform field in practice. It is accomplished only for experimental purposes in research laboratories with tremendous effort and utmost care. The size of the electrodes may have to be increased extraordinarily large, whereas the slightest irregularity on the electrode surface may change the field characteristics in case of small gap distance. Between the two extreme field configurations explained above, another important type of field is classified as 'weakly nonuniform field'. Like in uniform field, in weakly nonuniform fields also no stable partial breakdown occur before the breakdown (Ui=Ub). Electrodes like concentric spheres and coaxial cylinders having a 'radial field' are typical examples of weakly nonuniform fields, if the concentric electrode dimensions are suitably designed. The exact value of , defining weakly nonuniform field, depends upon the particular dielectric and its physical conditions. Nevertheless, the main criterion must be fulfilled that no stable partial breakdown occur before the breakdown.

Degree of Uniformity of Electric Fields

The degree of uniformity introduced by Schwaiger in 1922 as a measure of the uniformity of a field, is defined as following

or

and are the peak values of the Mean and the Maximum field Intensities in a dielectric respectively. is the peak value of potential difference applied between the two electrodes at a distance 'd ' apart.

The value of also represents the degree of utilization of the dielectric in between two electrodes. A higher value of represents better utilization of the insulating properties of a dielectric. Thus , a dimensionless quantity enables a comparison of the uniformity of field configuration formed between different electrodes. Table 3.1 gives the values of for typical fields. The value of lies between, 0 1 Table 3.1

Field Classification Electrode Configuration

Uniform Parallel plates

Weakly nonuniform Concentric cylinders

Extremely nonuniform Needle-plane

0.25

<< 0.01

Knowledge of the value for serves as a ready reference, an important information for insulation design in equipment. For determining the exact magnitude of maximum electric stress, numerical estimation techniques have to be applied for the shapes of electrodes used in the equipment. Schwaiger also introduced 'p', a geometrical characteristics for an electrode configuration and established that it is possible to represent as a function of 'p',

where r is the radius of curvature of the sharpest electrode and d the shortest gap distance between the two electrodes under consideration. For some common and practical electrode configurations, the equation (1.6) is represented graphically in Figure 2.2 in double logarithmic scale. These are known as 'Schwaiger curves'.

Fig 2.2 Schwaiger curves for spherical, cylindrical and curved electrode field configurations. For a fixed value of 'p', the following important basic relations of dependency of are observed from these curves,

fields between cylindrical electrode systems; cylinder-cylinder (3) , cylinder - plane (4) , concentric cylinders (5) etc., have a higher value of , that is , they are more uniform than the fields in spherical electrode systems; sphere - sphere (6) , sphere plane (7) , concentric spheres (8) , etc., a symmetrical electrode system, for example, sphere - sphere or cylinder - cylinder, has a higher value of than the corresponding unsymmetrical system, that is sphere plane or cylinder - plane systems. the field between two similar electrodes, cylinders or spheres, placed adjacent to each other is more uniform or has a higher value of than when the electrodes are placed coaxial or concentric.

Recap In this lecture you have learnt the following Types of Electric Fields Schwaiger Factor, a measure for the degree of utilization of dielectrics Congratulations, you have finished Lecture 3. To view the next lecture select it from the left hand side menu of the page