Definition of Metal oxide varistors

Metal oxide varistors is a voltage limiting protection devices. Utilizing nonlinear characteristics Metal oxide varistors, when an overvoltage occurs between the two poles of the metal oxide varistors application, the metal oxide varistors application voltage can be clamped to a relatively fixed voltage value, in order to achieve protection of the post-stage circuit. The main parameters of Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV)s are: Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) voltage, flow capacity, junction capacitance and response time.Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) response time is ns level, faster than the air discharge, slightly slower than the TVS tube, generally used in electronic circuit overvoltage protection response speed to meet the requirements. When the junction capacitance Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) is generally on the order of hundreds to thousands of Pf range, and in many cases should not be applied directly to the protection of high-frequency signal lines, the application of the AC circuit protection, as it will greatly increase the drain junction capacitance current protection circuit is designed to take full account. Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) flow capacity is large, but smaller than the gas discharge tube.
mov metal oxide varistor referred VSR, it is a kind of non-linear voltage-sensitive semiconductor overvoltage protection device. It is used in the circuit text symbol "RV" or "R" represents, the picture is the circuit graphic symbols.
"mov metal oxide varistor" is a noun in mainland China, meaning "within a certain range of the resistance value of the current and voltage with the voltage change," or that "the resistance value of the voltage-sensitive" resistor. mov metal oxide varistor resistive material is a semiconductor, so it is a variety of semiconductor resistor. Now extensive use of "zinc oxide" varistor, its main material of divalent element and hexavalent elemental oxygen posed. So from a material point of view, the zinc oxide varistor is a kind of "Ⅱ-Ⅵ family-oxide semiconductor."
In China Taiwan, varistors are named according to their use, known as the "surge absorber." Varistor according to their use is sometimes also referred to as "electric shocks (surge) suppressor (absorber)."

Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV)

an Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) is designed to conduct significant power for very short durations (about 8 to 20 microseconds), such as caused by lightning strikes, it typically does not have the capacity to conduct sustained energy. Under normal utility voltage conditions, this is not a problem. However, certain types of faults on the utility power grid can result in sustained over-voltage conditions. Examples include a loss of a neutral conductor or shorted lines on the high voltage system. Application of sustained over-voltage to a mov metal oxide varistor can cause high dissipation, potentially resulting in the MOV device catching fire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has documented many cases of catastrophic fires that have been caused by MOV devices in surge suppressors, and has issued bulletins on the issue.

metal oxide varistor application

MOVs are specified according to the voltage range that they can tolerate without damage. Other important parameters are the metal oxide varistor application energy rating in joules, operating voltage, response time, maximum current, and breakdown (clamping) voltage. Energy rating is often defined using standardized transients such as 8/20 microseconds or 10/1000 microseconds, where 8 microseconds is the transient's front time and 20 microseconds is the time to half value.
Response time
The response time of the varistors is not standardized. The sub-nanosecond MOV response claim is based on the material's intrinsic response time, but will be slowed down by other factors such as the inductance of component leads and the mounting method. That response time is also qualified as insignificant when compared to a transient having an 8 μs rise-time, thereby allowing ample time for the device to slowly turn-on. When subjected to a very fast, <1 ns rise-time transient, response times for the MOV are in the 40–60 ns range.
Capacitance

The Applications of High voltage varistor

To protect telecommunication lines, transient suppression devices such as 3 mil carbon blocks (IEEE C62.32), ultra-low capacitance varistor metal oxide , and avalanche diodes are used. For higher frequencies, such as radio communication equipment, a gas discharge tube (GDT) may be utilized.[citation needed] A typical surge protector power strip is built using xatge MOV . Low-cost versions may use only one varistor, from the hot (live, active) to the neutral conductor. A better protector contains at least three varistors; one across each of the three pairs of conductors. In the United States, a power strip protector should have an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1449 3rd edition approval so that catastrophic MOV failure does not create a fire hazard.

metal oxide varistor application

In general, the primary case of varistor breakdown is localized heating caused as an effect of thermal runaway. metal oxide varistor application is to a lack of conformity in individual grain-boundary junctions, which leads to the failure of dominant current paths under thermal stress. If the energy in a transient pulse (normally measured in joules)MOV Block is too high, the device may melt, burn, vaporize, or otherwise be damaged or destroyed. This (catastrophic) failure occurs when "Absolute Maximum Ratings" in manufacturer's data-sheet are significantly exceeded.

Electrical characteristics of varistor metal oxide

A varistor metal oxide remains non-conductive as a shunt-mode device during normal operation when the voltage across it remains well below its "clamping voltage", thus varistors are typically used for suppressing line voltage surges. However, a polymer arrester may not be able to successfully limit a very large surge from an event like a lightning strike where the energy involved is many orders of magnitude greater than it can handle. Follow-through current resulting from a strike may generate excessive current that completely destroys the varistor.

Lesser surges still degrade it, however. Degradation is defined by manufacturer's life-expectancy charts that relate current, time and number of transient pulses. The main parameter affecting varistor life expectancy is its energy (Joule) rating. As the energy rating increases, its life expectancy typically increases exponentially, the number of transient pulses that it can accommodate increases and the "clamping voltage" it provides during each transient decreases. The probability of catastrophic failure can be reduced by increasing the rating, either by using a single varistor of higher rating or by connecting more devices in parallel. A varistor is typically deemed to be fully degraded when its "clamping voltage" has changed by 10%. In this condition it is not visibly damaged and it remains functional (no catastrophic failure).

Porcelain housed arrester

Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) current-voltage characteristics for zinc oxide (ZnO) and silicon carbide (SiC) devices
The most common type of varistor is the metal-oxide varistor (MOV). This type contains a ceramic mass of zinc oxide grains, in a matrix of other metal oxides (such as small amounts of bismuth, cobalt, manganese) sandwiched between two metal plates (the electrodes). The boundary between each grain and its neighbour forms a diode junction,Porcelain housed arrester allows current to flow in only one direction.

The mass of randomly oriented grains is electrically equivalent to a network of back-to-back diode pairs, each pair in parallel with many other pairs. When a small or moderate voltage is applied across the electrodes, only a tiny current flows, caused by reverse leakage through the diode junctions. When a large voltage is applied, the diode junction breaks down due to a combination of thermionic emission and electron tunneling, and a large current flows. The result of this behaviour is a highly nonlinear current-voltage characteristic, in which the MOV has a high resistance at low voltages and a low resistance at high voltages.