Surface discharge along solid dielectrics in atmospheric air

This paper intends to contribute to the understanding of the propagation of surface discharges along an insulating surface under impulse voltage in atmospheric air. A concentric cylinder system has been used that allows to generate surface discharges propagating up to length of 0.6 m. A PE tube is mounted on the cylindrical conductor as an insulating layer. The HV is applied to the inner conductor. The discharge is initiated by a needle that is placed directly on the insulating surface. Impulse voltages and discharge currents are measured. The experimentally measured data serve as a basis for a simplified model to describe the surface discharge.