Prebreakdown Current and Sparking Potential in a Nonuniform Electric Field with a Crossed Magnetic Field

Govinda Raju, GR and Rajapandiyan, S (1976) Prebreakdown Current and Sparking Potential in a Nonuniform Electric Field with a Crossed Magnetic Field. In: IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation, EI-11 (1). pp. 1-8.

PDF Prebreakdown_Current.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Prebreakdown currents in a coaxial cylindrical geometry in nitrogen have been measured with and without a crossed magnetic field. The range of parameters used in the investigation are 2.6 ÿ p ÿ 14.5 torr, 50 ÿ (E/p) ÿ 420 V cm-1 torr-1, and 43.0 ÿ H/p ÿ 1185 Oe torr-1 (p is the pressure, E is the electric field, and H is the magnetic field). The initial photoelectric current is obtained by allowing photons produced in an auxiliary glow discharge to strike the cathode. Ions and electrons produced in the auxiliary discharge are prevented from reaching the main gap by suitable shielding. By modifying the Rice equation for back diffusion, the measured ionization current multiplication without a crossed magnetic field is compared with the multiplication predicted by the Townsend growth equation for nonuniform electric fields. It is observed that over the range of 50 Ã�¿ (E/P)max Ã�¿ 250 [(E/P)max is the value of E/p at the central electrode of the coaxial system] measured and calculated multiplication of current agree with each other. With a crossed magnetic field the prebreakdown currents have been measured and compared with the theoretically calculated currents using the equivalent pressure concept. Agreement between the calculated and measured currents is not satisfactory, and this has been attributed more to the uncertainty in the collision frequency data available than nonuniformity of the electric field. Sparking potentials have been measured with and without a crossed magnetic field.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation
Publisher:	IEEE
Additional Information:	Copyright 1976 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.
Department/Centre:	Division of Electrical Sciences > High Voltage Engineering (merged with EE)
Date Deposited:	05 Jan 2012 05:15
Last Modified:	05 Jan 2012 05:15
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/43052

Actions (login required)

View Item