Empirical Laws Governing Ice Surface Discharges

Empirical models allowing prediction of discharge inception and breakdown voltages, over a rod-plane gap in the presence of an ice surface, are proposed. These models are based on macroscopic parameters such as applied voltage, electrode geometry, temperature and freezing water conductivity, which are not arbitrary and can be easily determined. Calculated values were in good agreement with measurements. The models have been validated for positive impulse discharge in gaps electrode up to 70 mm, for lower and higher contaminated ice surfaces in temperatures range of -12°C to -2°C.