High Voltage Feedthroughs from Allectra

High voltage electrical feedthroughs are used extensively in high vacuum and UHV conditions. They enable the transmission of high voltages into and out of hermetically-sealed chambers without presenting a point of potential pressure loss due to the ingress of atmospheric gases.

In this blog post, we will explore the high voltage feedthroughs available from Allectra in more detail. First, though, we will outline their importance.

Power-Feedthroughs

Importance of High Voltage Feedthroughs

High vacuum conditions extend from roughly 10-5 millibar (mbar) – 10-9 mbar. This pressure regime is achieved by evacuating a chamber to all but residual gaseous molecules. Collisions between these molecules and the walls of the vacuum chamber dominate the pressure regime, requiring a series of pumps to effectively evacuate the chamber. A rough, vacuum pump is used to exhaust the bulk of the gases. However, at the onset of the high vacuum regime, a different pump is required to evacuate residual molecules once they have entered the pump aperture.

Ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions are even more severe, extending above 10-9 mbar in almost entirely dry conditions. This pressure range is on an order of trillionths of the atmosphere. While water molecules persist in high vacuum processes, it is primarily hydrogen (H2) that remains in UHV conditions due to the high mobility and lightness of the gas. This requires specialist UHV pumps and bakeout to achieve high purity vacuum conditions of greater than 10-9 mbar.

Achieving high vacuum and UHV conditions is an energy-intensive process that requires the backing of multiple pumps and hermetically-sealed processing chambers. High voltage feedthroughs are required to adjust process conditions in real time without compromising the integrity of the vacuum.

The designs of high voltage feedthroughs vary significantly depending on the chamber architecture and application requirements.

Allectra provides a wide choice of high voltage feedthroughs for high vacuum and UHV processing, including:

  • Coaxial, Safe High Voltage (SHV) Feedthroughs with an option of either recessed or exposed ceramic on the vacuum side and a choice of either 5/6 kilovolt (KV) signals. The SVH10 is rated for 10KV while the SHV20 is rated for 20KV.
  • MIL-C-5015-compliant MS Circular Socket high voltage feedthroughs with multiway pins, offered with either 7.5, 10, 23, or 40A per pin.
  • Power Glove high voltage feedthroughs with sockets and air-side cables. There are numerous design options available for our Power Glove feedthroughs, with voltage capacities of 5, 10, 20, and 40KV. Options for multiple pins and various flange types also improve product applicability.

If you would like to learn more about the high voltage feedthroughs available from Allectra, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.