The Application of a Small-Volume Neon-Filled Tube in Overvoltage Protection

To validate the performance of a small-volume neon-filled tube in overvoltage protection, the characterization of the neon-filled tube at
$p = 6.6$
mbar and with 1-cm
$^{3}$
volume was performed. The characterization was performed using the mean value of electrical breakdown time delay
$\overline t_{d} $
data as a function of relaxation period
$\tau $
, applied voltage
$U_{w} $
, and discharge current
$I_{g} $
. On the basis of
$\overline t_{d} $
data as a function of
$\tau $
, it was shown that after discharge, the gas full recovery appears for
$\tau \approx 7~\textrm {ms}$
. The increase in the applied voltage in the case of full gas recovery leads to the decrease in
$\overline t_{d} $
and for
$U_{w} \ge 130~\textrm {V}$
,
$\overline t_{d} \approx \textrm {constant.}$
This proves the tubes efficient usage in overvoltage protection for applied voltages higher than 130 V. The increase in discharge current leads to the decrease in
$\overline t_{d} $
in a considered
${\tau }$
interval. Other important processes that occur in discharge and afterglow, which are responsible for the initiation of electrical breakdown in neon-filled tube, were also analyzed.