The Compact Tesla Transformer for Testing Pin Insulator

This present work proposed the compact Tesla transformer which could generate voltage up to 155 kV
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with variable frequency between 120-430 kHz. Its size was 1.40 m in length and 0.35 m in width. This Tesla transformer set consisted of a 220V/15 kV transformer, a quenching gap, a capacitor which can withstand the voltage up to 36 kV
_p
and windings used air as insulator. The capacitance was 44 nF which made of polypropylene capacitors. The energy from the storage capacitance was transferred to the primary winding through the quenching gap made of stainless paddle driven by motor while the energy from primary winding to the secondary winding was transferred by magnetic field through air core by wrapping the secondary winding in the PVC pipe. This caused much smaller gap clearance between primary and secondary windings. The output frequency depended on the capacitance of the test object which was usually less than 50 pF. This Tesla transformer was used to test the puncture of pin insulator.