Dielectric Greater than Water Needed

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I don't mean to interrupted but you don't necessarily need a an insulator with a higher dielectric value than water. The capacitance equations tells us the thinner the material, the higher the over all capacitance so you could use a material with a lower dielectric constant as long as it was thin enough it would result in a larger capacitance than the water so the field would then be applied to the water.

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I don't mean to interrupted but you don't necessarily need a an insulator with a higher dielectric value than water. The capacitance equations tells us the thinner the material, the higher the over all capacitance so you could use a material with a lower dielectric constant as long as it was thin enough it would result in a larger capacitance than the water so the field would then be applied to the water.

Excellent point.  Which still brings up self healing oxides for example.   A stainless material where one if it's components creates a suitable oxide dielectric.

TS

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OR... increase the size of the water gap?