Electrostatic Field Simulation Study of Nanoparticles Suspended in Synthetic Insulating Oil

Electrostatic field simulations have been performed to investigate the effect of barium strontium titanate (BST) nanoparticle suspensions on electric fields within synthetic oil dielectrics. We predict that by physically integrating nanoparticles of high dielectric constants into the breakdown regime, the self-break jitter in rep-rate oil switches might be reduced. The simulations show that the nanoparticle suspensions generate nonlinear and random electric field enhancements within the oil dielectric and also on the electrode surfaces. The BST nanoparticles have been modeled as perfect spheres which have an approximate dielectric constant of 2000. The oil in the simulation was given a dielectric constant of 2.33 and the electrodes are modeled as perfect electrical conductors with no field enhancements. A comparison is made between simulated electric fields on the surface of the cathode with increasing nanoparticle concentration, radius, and distance from cathode. Effects on capacitance with increasing nanoparticle concentration and radii are also investigated. All electrostatic simulations were performed with CST EM Studio. Preliminary experimental electric field breakdown data are included to validate simulation results.