The influence of dielectric surface charge distribution upon the partial discharge behavior in short air gaps

A two-dimensional breakdown model based upon the continuity equations for electrons and ions and the Poisson equation is employed to examine the influence of surface charges upon the partial discharge behavior of a short metallic-dielectric plane-parallel electrode gap of 0.05 cm in an air-like mixture at atmospheric pressure. The form of charge distribution at the dielectric electrode surface is found to significantly affect a number of important discharge parameters, such as the uniformity of the electric field, the charge density and its radial distribution within the gap, as well as the discharge propagation time.