Breakdown voltage of electrode arrangements in vacuum circuit breakers

The prediction of HV strength of electrode arrangements in vacuum is complex. A comparison of experimental results from different labs is quite difficult, because they are influenced by a wide range of parameters like electrode material, surface finish, surface area, conditioning state of the surface and the geometry of the electrode arrangement. The aim of this work is to find an empirical relation between the breakdown voltage and different electrodes parameters. Shielding arrangements and main contacts of vacuum tubes are of particular interest. For this purpose, models of contacts and shield electrodes made of stainless steel are stressed with lightning impulse voltage. Several methods of surface finishing are applied to obtain reproducible conditions. The experimental results and deliberations for an empirical approach are presented. In addition the results are related to numerical field calculations.