Application Cases

Dielectric technology is a commonly used bioanalytical method widely applied in the field of biology. It leverages the relationship between the migration rate of substances in an electric field and their charge, size, and shape to achieve the separation and purification of biological macromolecules.

Dielectric elastomers, used in dielectric experiments, are a novel type of material in China. Their driving technology remains immature and requires high driving voltages, but the driving frequency often falls below 50 Hz, which fails to meet testing requirements. Therefore, high-voltage amplifiers are needed to provide the higher voltages required for such applications. The ATA-7030 high-voltage amplifier, with a maximum output voltage of 6 kVp-p (±3 kVp), offers the high voltage necessary for these applications.

In this article, Aigtek has compiled past customer cases to create a comprehensive collection of the applications of the ATA-7030 high-voltage amplifier in dielectric research. We hope this will be helpful to engineers and researchers in the field.

Case 1: Application of ATA-7030 High-Voltage Amplifier in the Study of Nonlinear Characteristics of Oil-Paper Insulation Dielectric Response

Experiment Overview:

The most critical aspects of time-domain and frequency-domain dielectric response testing are the generation of excitation voltage and the collection of response current. It is essential to ensure the accuracy and fidelity of the input and output waveforms and to confirm that the effective signals are not obscured by electromagnetic interference in the environment. In this experiment, a LabVIEW test program outputs digital waveforms, which are converted via digital-to-analog conversion to generate analog waveforms. The analog excitation voltage signal is amplified by a high-voltage amplifier and applied to the insulation under test. The resulting current signal is effectively amplified and filtered, and both the voltage and current signals are synchronously collected via analog-to-digital conversion into a computer. Dielectric response parameters are calculated in LabVIEW based on the fundamental working principles.

Case 2: Application of ATA-7030 High-Voltage Amplifier in Dielectrophoresis Sorting

Experiment Overview:

In a non-uniform electric field, positive and negative charges induced on the surface of a dielectric are located in positions with varying field strengths. When the resultant force exceeds a certain threshold, the dielectric is pulled toward the direction of the stronger electric field. This experiment is based on a droplet sorting system structure utilizing dielectrophoresis. FEP tubing and flow resistance are used to generate droplets via flow focusing. After generation, the droplets flow toward outlet 2, which has lower flow resistance. When a high-voltage square wave pulse is applied to the positive electrode, the droplets are pulled toward outlet 1, which has higher flow resistance, under the influence of dielectrophoretic force. Sorting is achieved using dielectrophoretic force, with no additional flow resistance applied at the chip outlet. Instead, the difference in flow resistance is formed solely by the variation in channel lengths on the chip.

Case 3: Application of ATA-7030 Voltage Amplifier in Dielectric Elastomer Robots

Experiment Overview:

This experiment involves applying high voltage to the driving part of the robot to observe its motion during one voltage cycle, with the goal of creating a biomimetic soft robot capable of running using dielectric elastomer actuators. The experimental system includes a signal generator to produce an excitation signal with a frequency of 3 Hz and a square waveform, and a high-voltage amplifier—the Aigtek ATA-7030—to amplify the signal to 5.5 kV. The voltage is applied to the robot's rear section to drive its motion, and a high-speed camera captures the robot's movement images.

Figure: Specifications of the ATA-7030 High-Voltage Amplifier