Dielectric loaded fluids for high voltage switching

Abstract

This disclosure relates to methods and systems to reduce high voltage breakdown jitters in liquid dielectric switches. In particular, dielectric liquids have been produced that contain a suspension of nanoparticles and a surfactant to reduce the breakdown jitter. In one embodiment, the suspended nanoparticles are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) nanoparticles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dielectric to reduce jitter in a high voltage spark gap between an anode and a cathode comprising:
 a pressurized dielectric fluid having a first dielectric constant;   a plurality of nanoparticles having a second dielectric constant, where the ratio of the second dielectric constant to the first dielectric constant is approximately 3 to 1 or greater; and,   a surfactant.   
     
     
         2 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the high voltage spark gap is a component of a high voltage switch. 
     
     
         3 . The dielectric of  claim 2  wherein the high voltage switch is selected from a group consisting of a laser-triggered switch, an electrically triggered trigatron, an electric substation switch, or a self-break switch. 
     
     
         4 . The dielectric of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric fluid is selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbon-based oil, a silicon-based oil, and water. 
     
     
         5 . The dielectric of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the plurality of nanoparticles is selected to induce a specific breakdown characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric fluid is a polyolefin having a chemical formula of C 16 H 32  or a hydrocarbon-based coolant fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric fluid is 1-Hexadecene. 
     
     
         8 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric fluid is a coolant fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The dielectric of  claim 8  wherein the coolant fluid is a military-grade synthetic hydrocarbon-based fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric fluid is any dielectric liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of nanoparticles comprises barium strontium titanate (BST) nanoparticles. 
     
     
         12 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of nanoparticles has a dielectric constant that ranges form to 20 to 6000. 
     
     
         13 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of nanoparticles comprises any material having a high dielectric constant. 
     
     
         14 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of nanoparticles has uniform compositions and uniform dielectric constants. 
     
     
         15 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of nanoparticles has mixed compositions and mixed dielectric constants. 
     
     
         16 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of nanoparticles has mixed compositions or mixed dielectric constants. 
     
     
         17 . The dielectric of  claim 1  wherein the surfactant is a polar additive. 
     
     
         18 . The dielectric of  claim 17  wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of oleic acid, alkylbenzene-sulfonic acid, phosphate ester, or other surfactants that are suitable for use in a spark gap. 
     
     
         19 . The dielectric of  claim 2  wherein a trigger for the high voltage switch is a microwave pulse trigger or a series injection trigger. 
     
     
         20 . The dielectric of  claim 2  wherein the high voltage switch includes a Marx-generator circuit that rings a peaking capacitor through a linear inductor.