Spazmodica Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I perform functional tests on turbine auxiliary power units (APUs) and accessories. I am acquiring equipment for specific tests and I have an adjustable spark gap with ball tips that I want to use for testing ignition exciters. My problem is that the OEM specifies voltage setting points of their spark gap and I do not have any scale on mine, just a distance that I can measure. The exciters I test are rated at 18kV. The test specifies 15kV and 24kV points. I may need to go higher and/or lower with units I will be testing from other engine models. Does anyone have a table or reference formula for setting a spark gap for a specific DC voltage in air? I know that there must be adjustments for humidity, but I have calibrated humidity meters and a barometer if needed. -Dan The Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT2095 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 2 things, can`t you write back to the original electrons manufacturer and request more data (if not That specific data that you need). and shouldn`t this callibration be taken under max compression rather than at 101kpa? I can`t really help with your problem in the main, only present ideas that May help. I fall off the map past spark plugs and magnetos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BhavinB Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 how about using Paschen's Curve? http://www.duniway.com/images/pdf/pg/Paschen-Curve.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlux/hv/paschen.htm is another source, giving Paschen's law with the dependence on gap distance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spazmodica Posted February 15, 2008 Author Share Posted February 15, 2008 Honeywell is our OEM and talking to them is like you trying to call the engineer who designed your transmission asking about clutch plate materials. Definitely David & Goliath. Thanks for the info. Many more parts to the problem than I thought. I'll be making sparks next week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
physicsstuff Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 I perform functional tests on turbine auxiliary power units (APUs) and accessories. I am acquiring equipment for specific tests and I have an adjustable spark gap with ball tips that I want to use for testing ignition exciters. My problem is that the OEM specifies voltage setting points of their spark gap and I do not have any scale on mine, just a distance that I can measure. The exciters I test are rated at 18kV. The test specifies 15kV and 24kV points. I may need to go higher and/or lower with units I will be testing from other engine models. Does anyone have a table or reference formula for setting a spark gap for a specific DC voltage in air? I know that there must be adjustments for humidity, but I have calibrated humidity meters and a barometer if needed. -Dan The Man You can find spark distances P E-55 61st edition of Handbook of Physics & Chemistry. Partial list below: PKv needle points(in) 5cm spheres 5 0.42 .15 10 0.85 .29 20 1.75 .60 40 3.81 1.30 80 11.1 3.26 100 15.5 4.77 200 35.7 300 54.7 Maybe find data in Radio Amateurs Handbook (any old addition) Have fun... physicsstuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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