[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: pure water capacitor?
On Wed, 16 Feb 2000 12:30:03 -0700, you wrote:
>Original Poster: Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>
>
>I know using water as a cap dielectric has been discussed in the past.
>They say that the water would have to be ultra pure. However, it would
>quickly (like seconds) get filled with ions and contaminates once any power
>was applied (or metal were just placed in it). I also think it may be an
>insulator at 1 volt but put 20kV across it and you may find it has an early
>electrical breakdown. Not the worlds greatest high voltage insulation
>material ;-)) I think the "infinite breakdown" the book mentioned may have
>had details...
>
>If water worked as a high voltage insulator, I can think of about a million
>oil bath and ceramic insulation applications it could replace. Since it is
>used practically nowhere (SHIVA uses it I think???), I assume there is some
>big problem.
How about putting an insulating coating on the plates, to prevent
contamination? Teflon coated cooking trays perhaps?
I have seen water used for cooling a HV system - the London Science
museum has an old radio transmitter which uses water cooling, with
rubber sections in the piping for insulation.