Advanced Dielectric Insulation Techniques for High Voltage Pulsed Power Systems

High voltage systems require extreme levels of insulation - to prevent arcing and corona. Therefore, reliable high voltage design typically requires large containers to provide room for such insulator interfaces. Our proposal is to “bring in the walls” by designing a conformal blanket of laminated insulating material, which can safely and reliably withstand very high potential drops over small gaps. Our proposed solution is to use solid dielectrics in a laminate of thin films, with controlled grading of the film boundaries to produce a High Voltage Protective Blanket. We do not propose embarking on a materials development effort in this SBIR – we plan to engineer a solution to make the most of available materials. In this way, we can substantially increase the acceptable gradients in high voltage systems for moderate cost – enabling a new generation of compactness and reliability to high voltage engineering. BENEFIT: Compact, reliable electrical insulating materials will have significant impacts on the size and weight of future military systems, including Directed Energy, High Power Microwave, Radar, and Laser systems. This insulating technology will allow these systems to be smaller and lighter, enhancing their deployability on airborne, space, and transportable platforms. Similarly, the use of this compact insulating materials designed in this SBIR will significantly reduce the size and weight of commercial systems utilizing high voltage, including medical accelerators for cancer treatment, food processing, materials modification, and semiconductor implantation.