SACHIN BHATKARIYA B.Tech 3rd year 6th Sem.

09mubee070, B

Content

Paschens law Streamer Mechanism Comparison b/w streamer and townsend

Paschens Law

Sustained Townsend discharge leads to spark then arc (flashover). Formulated mathematically by Paschen, (see p 52) The flashover voltage is a function of the product of the gas pressure and the gap length for an uniform field Implications in practice: Altitude effect Compressed gases Vacuum contactors
Approximation for curve:

10000

1000
Breakdown Voltage (kV)

100

10

1 0.001 0.01 0.1 0.1 pressure x gap length (cm bar) Empirical Formula (Eq. 3.11) Paschen Equation ( Eq. 3.10) 1 10 100

Vc 6.72 pd 24.36 pd

31.1 25.5

U d 6.72 pd 24.36 pd

Townsend

Streamer

Paschens Law
+ + + -

a) Low pressure (few collisions: low ionization)

b) High pressure (low kinetic energy: low ionization)

c) Medium pressure ( optimal: high ionization)

Low gas density - more kinetic energy gained but less collisions High gas density more collisions but less energy gained

Streamer discharges

A self-sustaining discharge can develop from a single avalanche Space charge (ions) distort and enhance field Photons cause further avalanches in high field regions Streamer discharges occur if n 5 .108 Occurs for non-uniform long gaps and at high pressures

GASES FLASHOVER - STREAMER MECHANISM MEDIUM GAPS (> 5 Bar.mm)

Cathode (-)

Photons

E - Field

Anode (+)

Avalanche with x = 20

Asymmetrical, non uniform gaps: The polarity Effect

Region of high field strength near the sharp point, in both cases Avalanches are formed in these regions, leaving a positive space charge in this region. In the case of the positive tip the space charge has the same polarity as the electrode and assists in increaing the field. In the case of the negative tip the space charge opposes the polarity of the tip. A lower flashover voltage is thus obtained for the positive tip, compared to the negative one.

Comparison of Townsend vs. Streamer Mechanism