Suitability of LN2 impregnated open-cell foam as electric insulant for superconducting power equipment

Abstract

The suitability of an open-cell foam is investigated for the application as electric insulant in superconducting power equipment. The tested foam is made from melamine resin, a thermoset plastic from the aminoplastics group; it is a mechanical very flexible material with excellence compatibility to high and low temperature. The aim of these investigations was to test the aptitude of the liquid nitrogen impregnated open-cell foam with respect to the dielectric properties and the electric strength under different conditions. In this paper the results of permittivity measurements and ramp voltage tests are discussed and an outlook for future applications is given. The tests showed excellence mechanical and thermal characteristics for the application in LN2 vessels. The ACBV of the LN2 impregnated foam was 50 % less than the ACBV of pure LN2. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.