Influence of discharge polarity on streamer breakdown criterion of ambient air in a non-uniform electric field

Abstract

Abstract Streamer breakdown of atmospheric air with non-uniform dc electric field in a needle-to-plate electrode configuration is studied using a semi-analytic model and experimental measurements. A high voltage (either positive or negative) is applied to a hollow needle with 0.51 mm outer diameter and 0.25 mm inner diameter separated from a planar ground electrode by a gap distance of 0.1–1.4 cm. Breakdown voltages are recorded for both positive and negative discharge polarities. Empirical relations between the critical avalanche size for streamer breakdown and the gap distance are proposed. Using these empirical relations, a semi-analytic model based on Meek’s criterion for streamer breakdown is developed to accurately predict the measured breakdown voltages. It is found that for 380{\text{ Torr }}\;{\text{cm}}$?> p d > 380  Torr  cm (or d $?> > 0.5 cm at one atmosphere) streamer breakdown of ambient air occurs at a lower applied voltage for a positively biased needle compared to that with a negatively biased needle, referred as the polarity effect. For p d < 380  Torr  cm breakdown is attained at a lower applied voltage with a negatively biased needle compared to that with a positively biased needle, and breakdown mode transits from the polarity effect to the so called inverted polarity effect.