Flashover along a Water Column

The flashover voltage and current of a water column, which provides a suitable resistive surface for discharge propagation, have been calculated considering the heating and constriction of the column. Theoretical predictions are compared with experimental results obtained under dc applied voltage for: jet lengths of 2 ⩽ L ⩽ 5 cm, initial unit length resistances of 3 ⩽ r
₀
⩽35 kΩ/cm, and a rate of flow γ = 12.5 ml/s. It has been found that the flashover voltages of a given water jet arepredictable, on the average, to within 4-9 percent at positive and negative polarities.