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Re: Golka's Wendover "secret" gap

Original poster: "D.C. Cox" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>



Hydrogen is present in water vapor which, being hygroscopic, may be present in small amounts in the containment vessel. SF6 breaks down under heavy electrical discharge to Sulfur and Flouine gas. Flourine combines with the H2 to form hydroflouric acid H2F --- used in industrial processes to etch glass. --- and probably your lungs.

Dr. Resonance


Could someone say what SF6 is and what is the toxic byproduct??? Also, what happens if one gets a whiff???

Gerry R

Original poster: "Mike" <induction@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Phil,
I'm glad you got to address this directly with Bob, he had described how dangerous the stuff was in this service and it's toxic nature after arcing through it, thought some people not used to working with it in the quest for better quenching might not take the needed safety measures and he did not want to see any body get hurt. He also described reactions of when somebody did get a whiff. From this, I had concluded and therefore wrote, in reply, " I guess he did not want a liability problem."
As the other responders brought forward the SF6 issue but also very strongly and clearly pointed out the dangers of SF6, even down to the chemical sequence of the hazard steps and why, I was at least satisfied that as much warning information was going out about the material as what it was.
So, on one hand, not happy but bound that I could not reveal the gap contents, on the other, glad to see that with other external to here postings of what it was, they included much needed warnings about the contents.
I am glad he's released the information; Having to hold back information from the list and those following the history of this interesting coil has not been comfortable.
Mike


----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2005 11:38 AM
Subject: Golka's Wendover "secret" gap


Original poster: FIFTYGUY@xxxxxxx
Folks-

Previously, I had asked about the gap Golka used at Wendover, which is labelled as "secret" on the old diagram. We got this response from his current colleague, Mike:

> He had a very fast quench there which
> he developed but he will not release it. I know what it is but have to
> respect his wishes; That was conditional to my posting the other info.
> It is very dangerous not contained and even post contained, once
arcs > have
> happened through the contents it becomes poison. I guess he did
not want > a
> liability problem.
    Terry replied to this:


> If it was a SF6 style gap thing, it was well described in > the
TCBA news... Since I forgot which issue, maybe the
> secret is still safe ;-))

> Sounds like some others already pretty much new all about
> it... Of course, if Bob made little tweeks or anything
> "special" to get it to work (especially at those super
>power levels), those secrets are still safe ;-))

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to talk with Golka in person. I asked him about the "secret" gap. He said it was SF6, at 45 psi (I presume "gauge" pressure). Recirculation/replacement of the gas is essential at these power levels, no matter what gas you choose to use.
WRT it being "secret": I asked permission to publicly pass on the info. He said the configuration was secret at one time, because he was trying to sell a system to Disney. He explained how corporate Disney screwed him over, and since the project fell through, there was no more reason to keep it secret. So the gap has probably been previously well-detailed.
I don't think he was concerned about liability issues, although he did stress that the SF6 did rapidly break down into horribly toxic stuff in that service (of course!).

-Phil LaBudde