Rationale for the Choice of Design Parameters of Cylindrical Electric-Field Sensors that Increase the Sensitivity of the Sensor

A rational choice of design parameters of cylindrical electric-field sensors is carried out to substantially increase the sensitivity. A dependence of the sensor sensitivity on radius R, length h, and angular size θ₀ of its sensitive elements is determined. An analysis of this dependence shows that it is not expedient to increase the sensitivity of the sensor using an increase in its radius R and angular size θ₀ of the sensitive elements, since such parameters are limited by the design dimensions. In particular, an increase in the radius of the sensor aimed at an increase in the sensitivity leads to an unacceptable increase in its size. An increase in angular size θ₀ of the sensitive element is possible only up to optimal values of 58° or 60°. At such values of θ₀, the sensors have errors of σ = ±0.2 and –1%, respectively, in a spatial measurement range of 0 ≤ a ≤ 0.5. The analysis of the dependence of the sensor sensitivity on its design parameters made it possible to single out only one design parameter for a smooth or stepwise increase in the sensor sensitivity. This parameter is length h of the sensitive element of the sensor. In this regard, a telescopic change in length h of the cylindrical base of the sensor and its sensitive elements was used to increase the sensitivity of the cylindrical electric-field sensor, which was implemented in the new design of the sensor. Thus, the study made it possible to create a single-coordinate inductance sensor of the electric field strength of a cylindrical type with the possibility for a smooth or stepwise increase in its sensitivity.