2014 Annual Report Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena
Electron Swarm Parameters in Gas Mixtures of CF3I,
SF6, CO2 with N2 at Atmospheric Pressure
l l
Tomohiro Omori , Daisuke Shimizu , Takao Matsumot0 , Yasuji Izawa and Kiyoto Nishijima
Graduate School of Engineering
Power, High-Voltage and Discharge Plasma Laboratory
Fukuoka, Japan
tdI41001@cis.fukuoka-u.ac.jp
Abstract-This paper presents the insulation
characteristics of gas mixture containing CF 31 as an
alternative to SF 6 from the view point of electron swarm
parameters. The electron swarm parameters including
electron attachment and multiplication, electron drift
velocity and the effective ionization coefficient were
investigated both experimentally and numerically in gas
mixtures of CF 31, SF 6, CO2 with N2 at atmospheric
pressure. In the experiment, weakly-ionized plasma was
generated between a quasi-uniform field gap by pulse
laser irradiation in test gas, and the electron drift
velocity and the effective ionization coefficient were
estimated from the electron current waveforms at
various electric field strength. In addition, the measured
results were compared with numerical results calculated
by means of Monte Carlo Simulation. As a result, the
measured result of electron drift velocity was in good
agreement with calculated one. It was revealed that
dilute CF 31 in N2 had a strong electron attachment effect
as well or better to dilute SF 6 in N2 at atmospheric
pressure.
Keywords-SF6, CF3I, electron swarm, electron drift velocity,
effective ionization coefficien
l.INTRODUCTION
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas having excellent
electrically insulating ability has been widely used as a
gaseous insulating medium and an arc quenching medium in
the field of high voltage engineering and electrical power
applications. However, in these days, the emission of SF6 is
strictly regulated by Kyoto protocol since SF6 has very high
Global Warming Potential (GWP 23900). For this reason,
=
the substitute gas for SF6 has been investigated all over the
world. In a short term, the SF6 with environment friendly
gases can reduce the harmful influence on global climate.
Meanwhile, the long-term solution to the SF6 greenhouse
problem is to replace SF6 with an acceptable non
greenhouse gas as the insulating medium. However, even
after decades of research, there is still no perfect gas to
substitute SF6 with sufficient consideration about the
insulation strength, arcing performance, chemical stability
and liquefied temperature. According to the literature [1],
most of per-fluorocarbon (PFC) and hydro-fluorocarbons
(HFC) having higher insulation ability than, or comparable
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2 2 2
to SF6 also have high GWP or high boiling point. On the
other hand, if the environment friendly gas such as N2 and
CO2 were used to replace SF6, the size of the insulating
equipment become enormous because the dielectric strength
of these fluorine-free gases is substantially smaller than that
of SF6. In recent years, tri-fluoroiodomethane (CF3I) has
been researched as a potential high voltage insulator
medium. From the environmental point of view, CF3I has a
weak GWP of 1-5 against approximately 23900 for SF6.
CF3I is considered as a low environmental impact gas.
In this study, the insulation characteristics of gas mixture
containing CF3I as an alternative to SF6 from the view point
of electron swarm parameters. The electron swarm
parameters including electron attachment and multiplication,
electron drift velocity and the effective ionization
coefficient were investigated both experimentally and
numerically in gas mixtures of CF3I, SF6, CO2 with N2 at
atmospheric pressure.
2. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
2-1.Experimental Setup and Method
Fig.l shows a schematic representation of the
experimental setup. A rogowski-profile electrode was set
parallel to a plane electrode and the gap distance was fixed
to 25 illill The rogowski profile electrode was 130 mm (flat
.
face was 100 mm) diameter, while the plane electrode was
400 illill diameter. In this electrode configuration, a quasi­
uniform field gap was formed. The plane electrode was
grounded through a 50 Q or 2 kQ of current sensing resister.
Before the experiment, the turbo molecular pump and
the dry vacuum pump were used to evacuate the chamber.
After that, test gas was injected into the chamber at
atmospheric pressure of 760 Torr by 20 degrees conversion.
The test gases were CF3I(0.013%, 0.026%)1N2,
SF6(0.0l %)1N2• CO2(2%)1N2 mixed gas and N2 pure gas.
Positive DC high voltage was applied to the upper rogowski
electrode.
The pulse YAG laser (wavelength = 355 nm, output =
16 mJ, pulse width 5 nm) was irradiated 0.5 illill above the
=
lower plane electrode through a collecting lens made of
quartz (focal length = 8.0 cm). In this way, weakly-ionized
plasma was generated between a quasi-uniform field gap by
pulse laser irradiation in test gas at atmospheric pressure [1],
and the average drift velocity of electrons and the effective
ionization coefficient were estimated from the electron
130
current waveforms at various electric field strength EIP [V
i i
cm- Torr- ] [2]. The electron current waveforms and ion
current waveforms were measured by the son or 2k.Q of
current sensing resister, respectively.
z Electrons
In numerical analysis, drift velocity of electron and
G Laser
effective ionization coefficient were calculated by means of
MCS method [3]. The number of simulated initial electrons
was from 10,000 to 20,000. The experimental result was ions
compared to the calculated result.

20kO 4kO
=50cm Rogowski Fig.2. Electron swarm model (G=25[mm],Z=20[mm])
r'I�_------c:r---.,....tjJ Electrode
Voltage
Divider Condenser

YAG

E
c2" 2
>
DOS
�
� 0
�
C)

-2 '--'--'---'---'-'----'
Test Gas
-0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
Fig.l . Experimental setup
Time t [p s]

Fig.3. Electron current waveform with N2 mixed gas by laser measurement

method (E/P=30.8[Vcm-1Ton--1], G=25[mm],Z=20[mm])
2-2. Laser Measurement Method

Fig.2 shows a schematic representation of the electrode 3. EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
gap and the laser irradiation position. Produced electrons OF ELECTRON SWARM PARAMETER
move from laser irradiation position Zo to Rogowski
3-1. Electron Attachment Effect
electrode G (gap distance 25 mm) with a length of travel
=

time tde' The electron drift velocity Vde was derived from tde Fig.4 shows the electron current waveforms at different
and travel distance Z ( G - Zo) as shown in the following 1 1
= electric field strength EIP [Vcm- Torr- ] in pure N2 (a),
equation. CF3I(0.013%)/N2 (b) and SF6(0.01%)/N2 (c). In each gas
Z
condition, EIP was increased just before sparkover occur.
vde= ­ (2.1) From these figure, it can be seen that the characteristic of
tde electron multiplication greatly changed by adding a very
small amount of electronegative gas in N2. In the case of
tde is derived from current waveform as indicated in Fig.3 CF3I1N2, electron attachment was occurred at EIP 26.1 [V =

The equation of electron current is derived by means of 1 i

cm- Torr- ].
least-square approach of current value for each instant of
time between tde.

(2.2)

Additionally, effective ionization coefficient was deduced

by the expansion of "(2.2)".

ii v
=
(2.3)

where v is ionization frequency which means a degree of -0.1 o 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
leaning of the electronic current for the time, P is Time t [p s]
atmospheric pressure converted at 293 K.
(a) pure No (G=25[mm],Z=20[mm])

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 3.3 Effective Ionization Coefficient
16 -33.4[Vcm:: . Torr::
: : : : :
----:---- � ---- t_ ----:---- � --- -33.2[Vcm Fig.6 shows experimentally measured effective ionization
:;: -32.7[Vcm-· 1
• Torr
I I I I I Torr-1
312 ---...:----�----�----:...---�--- -31.7[Vcm-1 • Torr-1 coefficient and numerically calculated one as a function of
---t---i----r---t---l---
: : : : : -30.8[Vcm-1 •
-- 2�.1[VCIn-1 •
, ,
Torr-1
�on-I
EIP in pure N2, CF3I(O.013%, O.026%)/N2' SF6(O.Ol %)/N2
§ 8 ___ -.1____ ..1 ____ L ____L ___ _ J _ .1 ____L ___ J____ .1 ____
and CO2(2% )/N2. As experimental results, the critical
I I I I I I I I I
<2
"
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
----t-----t----j-----t---- -
I
I
-
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
----t-----1-----t----
electric field strength (ElPhmit increased when dilute CF3I
" and SF6 was mixed with N2. Typicall�, (E/P)lirnit of pure N2
:> I I I I I I I I

� 4 ----:----i----t----
I I I I
- J -- ----i-----i----t----
I I I

1:1
"
I I
___ -1____ _ .... I I
....
I
___I- ___ -l____ ____
gas was approximately 26.0[Vcm- Torr-I], whereas the
I I I I I

8 , , (EIP)lirnit of CF3I(O.013%)/N2 and SF6(O.Ol %) mixed gas

I I I I

0
was approximately 32.0[Vcm·ITorr·I]. Furthermore, in both
-0.1 o 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 mixed gases, electron multiplication is difficult to occur at
Time t [,u s] EIP > O. Additionally, both mixed gas presented a strong
electron attachment effect at EIP < O.
(b) CF3I(O.013%)1N2 (G=25[mm].Z=20[mm])

E 8
<2
"
"
:>
� 4
1:1
�
a 0 ___ L ______

-0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 o 10 20 30 40

TiTre t ll1 sJ EIP [VClll'Torr"j

(c) SF6(O.OI %)1N2 (G=25[mm].Z=20[mm])

Fig.5. Compared measurement with numerical analysis of electron drift
Fig.4. Electron current wavefOlm in each EIP [V cm·1Ton··1j velocity of mixed gas in atmospheric pressure

Additionally, in the case of SFdN2, electron attachment was

1 l 0.004 rF----'F""----".....,-,,--,-,
occurred at EIP 2804 [V cm· Torr- l From this, it was
=
'� o
revealed that both SF6 and CF3I have a strong electron s- 0.003
"
v

attachment effect. At below these values of EIP, the drift = 0.002

velocity and the effective ionization coefficient could not be e:
j 0.001
measured because almost all laser-produced electrons I�
changed to negative ions by the electron attachment.
Furthermore, it was found that the sparkover voltage in �.� ·0.001
SF6(O.Ol %)/N2 mixed gas was higher than that of
CF3I(O.013%)1N2 however drastic electron multiplication
.� 0.002
o

occurred in SF6(O.Ol %)/N2 mixed gas at EIP > 31.7[V cm­ .� ·0.003
ITorr-ll
:n -0.004 '--�_--l.._�__'__.......J.<.....J._'_
�_-'
_
o 10 20 30 40

3.2 Drift Velocity of Electron Fig.6. Effect of the electronegative gas of the mixed gas in N2 to give the
effective ionization coefficient
Fig.5 shows experimentally measured Vde and numerically
calculated Vde as a function of EIP in pure N2,
In this time, however the measured result of effective
CF3I(O.0l3%,O.026%)1N2, SF6(O.Ol %)1N2 and CO2(2%)IN2.
ionization coefficient was not in good agreement with
The measured Vde was in good agreement with calculated
7 calculated one; the characteristics for the change of EIP
Vde- It was found from Fig.5 that Vde was approximately 10
l were consistent with each other. We guess one of the
[cmls] at E/P 30[V cm-ITorr· ] in gas mixtures of dilute
=
reasons is the effect of space charge is not considered in
CF3I, SF6, CO2 with N2. As presented in Figo4, strong
conducted MCS. Since electric field distribution is disturbed
electron attachment effect appeared by adding very small
by space charge, the presence of space charge make
amount of electronegative SF6 and CF3I gas in N2. Due to
breakdown streamer and sparkover more likely. In the next
this strong electron attachment effect, the drift velocity and
chapter, the ion swarm (space charge) parameter was
the effective ionization coefficient could not measure at
discussed.
lower EIP because almost all electrons attached and change
to negative ions.

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 4. ION SWARM PARAMETER [cms-I], whereas ion drift velocity was approximately
4 5 I
10 _10 [cms- ]. From the comparison of these drift velocity,
At first we describe about derivation method of ion
it was found that drift velocity of electron was faster in the 2
swarm parameter. Drift velocity of ions become slower than
or 3 orders of magnitude than that of ion.
electron because ions heavier than electron. In the
experiment, positive and negative ion current waveforms
were measured by 2kQ of current sensing resister.
5. SUMMARY
Drift velocities of positive ion Vd+ and negative ion Vd_ can
be derived as follows respectively: In this work, the electron swarm parameters of CF3I, SF6,
Z
C02/N2 mixed gas and N2 pure gas were studied to evaluate
(4.1) these insulation performance. From this study, the following
conclusions have been deduced.
• Dilute CF3I in N2 had a strong electron attachment effect
(4.2)
as well or better to dilute SF6 in N2 at atmospheric
pressure.
where Z ( G - Zo) is distance between laser irradiation
=
• The measured result of electron drift velocity was in
position Zo and electrode attainment G, additionally travel good agreement with calculated one. It did not depend
times of positive ion td+ and negative ion td are shown in
- on the small amount of mixed gas with N2. Electron drift
velocity was approximately 107 [cm/s] at EIP
Fig.7. In the case of pure N2 gas, only Vd+ is obtained
30 [V =

because there are no negative ions. 1 l

cm- Torr- ] in gas mixtures of dilute CF3I, SF6, CO2 with
N2·
20
�-
• The critical electric field strength (EIPhrnit increased
----- �---- - -

:? 15 when dilute CF3I and SF6 was mixed with N2. The
3
measured result of effective ionization coefficient was
E 10 not in good agreement with calculated one; the
<8
"
>
'"
characteristics for the change of EIP were consistent
" with each other.
c
"
5 • N2 gas containing small amount of electronegative gas
u
had little effect on drift velocity of positive and negative
5 ion. Electron drift velocity was faster in the 2 or 3 orders
- o 100 200 300 400 of magnitude than that of ion.
Time t[1l s]
The measurement of electron swarm parameter by using
Fig.7. Ton current wavefOlm of CF3T(1.0%)!N2 mixed gas (E/P=9.47[Vcm' laser produced plasma is found to be useful for evaluation of
'Torr"], G=25[mm], Z=5.0[mmJ)
insulation strength of gas at atmospheric pressure, or
decision of critical electric field (E/Phrnit in gas.
::::
:::::
..� ---- REFERENCES
.�
_ .� -----
---'? ---- [1] Y. Deng, D. Xiao, J. Jiang, S. Qin, L..Zhu, "Electron Swarm
�
�
Parameters in Binary Gas Mixtures of CF3T with Xe, He, N2 and CO2
from Boltzmann Equation Analysis", Proc. of 20th international
------
------ Positive ion drift velocity
... N2
conference on gas discharges and their applications (2014)
• N2/CF,I (0.5%) [2] Y. Tzawa, T.Sato, J,Yang and K. Nishijima "Effects of Gaseous
• N,ICF3! (1.0%)
Composition and Laser-Control Perfomance on the DC-Sparkover
Negative ion dtift velocity Characteristics in Atmospheric Air", TEE] Trans. Vol.I 19 ,No.6,
- N,ICF3! (0.5%)
3 ! ! ! ! -N,ICF3!(1.0%)
pp.884-890 (1999)
10
o 10 20 30 40 [3] Lal A.Pinnaduwage and Panos G.Datskos : "Novel Technique for
EIP rVcrn"Ton-"l Real-time Monitoring f Electron Attachment to Laser-excited
Molecules", J.Chem.Phys, Vol.l 04, No.21, pp.8382-8392 (1996)
Fig.8. Positive and negative ion drift velocity compared
[4] H.Tagashi, "Gas discharge simulation technique", Gas discharge
CF31(0.5%,1.0%)/N2 mixed gas with N2 pure gas.(E/P=9.47[Vcm'Torr' J) simulation technique study Technical Committee, nstitute of
Electrical Engineers Technical Report(part II), No.140 (1982)

Fig.S shows that comparison of drift velocities of

positive and negative ion in CF3I(O.5%,l .O%)1N2 mixed gas
with those in N2 pure gas. From this figure, it can be seen
that N2 gas containing small amount of electronegative gas
had little effect on drift velocity of positive and negative ion.
Moreover, drift velocity of electron was approximately 107

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