The Amplitude-Time Characteristics of Electrical Breakdown in Long Air Gaps of a Point-to-Plane Double-Electrode Discharge System by a Switching Aperiodic High-Voltage Pulse

The paper presents the results of calculations and experiments to determine the primary amplitude and time characteristics of electrical breakdown in long air gaps in a point-to-plane double-electrode discharge system (DEDS) by a standard switching aperiodic high-voltage pulse of the time configuration, Tm/Тp ≈ 200 μs/1990 μs, of positive polarity. Approximate calculation relations are obtained to find the breakdown time, Td, breakdown (discharge) voltage, Ud, and breakdown strength, Ed of a strong electric field for this DEDS, averaged over a minimum length of lmin ≥ 1 m of these gaps. The proposed engineering approach to determining the values of Td, Ud, and Ed is based on the results of an approximate calculation in a long air gap of a point-to-plane DEDS of a sharply inhomogeneous strong electromagnetic field that produces a spherical zone with a radius ri of active impact ionization of its atmospheric air by electrons. This occurs near the lower sharp edge of the upper potential electrode point of the DEDS, wherefrom a positive discharge leader develops towards the lower grounded electrode plane of the DEDS.