Motor Applied Voltage in Argon atmosphere

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AmeL

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I was told that the max applied voltage to a motor running in the Argon atmosphere is 260V, and that is listed in NFPA70.
Can somebody please point me to the right Article that states so.
Thanks

I am talking about the Vacuum Furnace ( turbo treater ) that uses Argon gas for cooling cycle.
 
I do not believe you will find this information in the NEC.

Check out the NFPA 86. Go to section 5.10.4.3 for this specific requirement.
 
mdshunk said:
I thought argon was darned near inert. That's why they use it as a sheilding gas for many welding processes.
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Inert in that it doesn't burn, but it does have 1/3 the dielectric strength of air (which is mainly Nitrogen).
That's why they use it as a shielding gas for many welding processes. :wink:
Lower dielectric = less insulating = more risk of flashover.
Argon also has 2/3 the thermal conductivity of air, so motors will not cool as easily either.
 
If you read the NFPA 86 section I posted above, it also states, "argon gas or other ionizing gases."

Apparently, argon is in a class of gases that readily ionize?
 
Argon is chemically inert* (doesn't form compounds with anything), but it does ionize fairly easily, which is why if finds use in 'neon' and florescent tubes.

Insert gases include helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. None of them would be counted as good insulators.
 
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