An Experimental Study of Ionizing Air Terminal Performance

An experimental study of the performance of ionizing air terminals versus non-ionizing air terminals is reported. Radioactive sources were used to obtain ionization of the air surrounding the tip of the air terminals. The tests were conducted at the John Lapp High Voltage Laboratory at LeRoy, New York under conditions approximating the natural setting. The tests were performed in an outdoor area of the laboratory. Tests were made during both rain/fog and clear weather with the natural bias produced by the clouds above the testing area, and also under artificial bias. This arrangement permitted the study of the high relative humidity effects conducive to the successful functioning of the ionizing air terminals. Some tests were conducted at low humidity in sunny weather for the sake of comparison. All the tests were performed on a comparison basis in which a radioactive air terminal was compared directly with a non-radioactive air terminal. Both air terminals had exactly the same geometrical configuration in each test conducted. The standard (nonradioactive) air terminal chosen was the Franklin Rod. The tests results indicate a substantial superiority for the ionizing terminal when tested under realistic conditions. These results are in agreement with those obtained in field installations.