Bogotá, 15/10/2015

Gas Discharge Physics. Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Álvaro Yesid Rodríguez Sepúlveda

Luis Eduardo Perdomo Orjuela

1. Geometry

Figure 1. (Left) Geometry for vertical arrangement; (Right) Geometry for horizontal arrangement

2. When lightning impulses 1.2 / 50 µs are applied must present a certain threshold for ionization discharge
occurs. This fact justifies the discharge can be established for the moments after the peak value of the
pulse, because, at the moment the peak value sufficient to trigger the complete ionization electrode
download instantly. The period until discharge breakdown flashover, Td for a particular waveform, can
be decomposed into the sum of three periods of time necessary to develop three physical phenomena.
These times are in order of appearance: the time of appearance to the corona, Ti, the time for the
propagation of streamers, Ts, and the time for propagation channel or channel driver behind leaders Tl.
These times depend on the form of wave applied[ CITATION Mat08 \l 9226 ][ CITATION Har87 \l
9226 ].
The Table 1 and Table 2, present the calculation of electric field which is a relation of voltage disruptive
and sphere gap spacing.
 Voltage, kV Peak Mean Electric Field [kV/mm] Voltage, kV Peak Mean Electric Field [kV/mm]
Sphere Negative Polarity Negative Polarity Positive Polarity Positive Polarity
Gap
Sphere Diametrer (cm) Sphere Diameter (cm) Sphere Diametrer (cm) Sphere Diameter (cm)
Spacing
(mm)
6,25 12,5 25 6,25 12,5 25 6,25 12,5 25 6,25 12,5 25

5 17,2 16,8 3,44 3,36 17,2 16,8 3,44 3,36

10 31,9 31,7 3,19 3,17 31,9 31,7 3,19 3,17

15 45,5 45,5 3,03 3,03 45,9 45,5 3,06 3,03

20 58,5 59 2,93 2,95 59 59 2,95 2,95

25 69,5 72,5 72,5 2,78 2,90 2,90 71 72,5 72,7 2,84 2,90 2,91

30 79,5 85 86 2,65 2,83 2,87 82 85,5 86 2,73 2,85 2,87

35 87,5 97 2,50 2,77 91,5 98 2,61 2,80

40 95 108 112 2,38 2,70 2,80 101 110 112 2,53 2,75 2,80

45 101 119 2,24 2,64 108 122 2,40 2,71

50 107 129 137 2,14 2,58 2,74 115 134 138 2,30 2,68 2,76

55 112 138 2,04 2,51 122 145 2,22 2,64

60 116 146 161 1,93 2,43 2,68 127 155 163 2,12 2,58 2,72

62,5 117 150 1,87 2,40 128 160 2,05 2,56

70 161 184 2,30 2,63 173 187 2,47 2,67

80 174 206 2,18 2,58 189 211 2,36 2,64

90 185 226 2,06 2,51 203 233 2,26 2,59

100 195 244 1,95 2,44 215 254 2,15 2,54

110 203 261 1,85 2,37 229 273 2,08 2,48

120 212 275 1,77 2,29 234 291 1,95 2,43

125 214 282 1,71 2,26 239 299 1,91 2,39

150 314 2,09 337 2,25

175 342 1,95 368 2,10

200 366 1,83 395 1,98

225 385 1,71 416 1,85

250 400 1,60 433 1,73

Table 1. Disruptive voltage peak, calculate of mean electric field to diameter sphere 6.25[cm] – 12.5[cm] – 25[cm]. Negative and positive
polarity

Voltage, kV Peak Mean Electric Field [kV/mm] Voltage, kV Peak Mean Electric Field [kV/mm]
Sphere Negative Polarity Negative Polarity Positive Polarity Positive Polarity
Gap
Spacing Sphere diameter (cm) Sphere Diameter (cm) Sphere diameter (cm) Sphere Diameter (cm)
(mm)
50 75 100 150 200 50 75 100 150 200 50 75 100 150 200 50 75 100 150 200
2,7 13
50 138 138 2,76 138 2,76 2,76
6 8
2,6 20
75 202 203 2,71 202 2,69 2,69
9 2
100 263 265 266 266 266 2,6 2,65 2,66 2,6 2,66 26 265 266 266 266 2,63 2,65 2,6 2,66 2,66
 3 6 3 6
2,5 32
125 320 327 2,62 327 2,58 2,62
6 3
2,4 38 2,6
150 373 387 390 2,58 2,60 387 390 2,53 2,58
9 0 0
2,4 43
175 420 443 2,53 447 2,47 2,55
0 2
2,3 2,5 48 2,5
200 460 492 510 510 510 2,46 2,55 2,55 505 510 510 510 2,40 2,53 2,55 2,55
0 5 0 5
2,1 55 2,4
250 530 585 615 2,34 2,46 605 620 2,22 2,42
2 5 8
1,9 2,4 62 2,4
300 585 665 710 745 750 2,22 2,37 2,50 695 725 745 750 2,07 2,32 2,48 2,50
5 8 0 2
1,8 67 2,3
350 630 735 800 2,10 2,29 770 815 1,91 2,20
0 0 3
1,6 2,3 71 2,2
400 670 800 875 955 975 2,00 2,19 2,44 835 900 965 980 1,79 2,09 2,41 2,45
8 9 5 5
1,5 74 2,1
450 700 850 945 1,89 2,10 890 980 1,66 1,98
6 5 8
1,4 2,2 77 119 2,0
500 730 895 1010 1130 1180 1,79 2,02 2,36 940 1040 1150 1,55 1,88 2,30 2,38
6 6 5 0 8
2,1 138 1,9
600 970 1110 1280 1340 1,62 1,85 2,23 1020 1150 1310 1,70 2,18 2,30
3 0 2
102 1,9 155 1,7
700 1200 1390 1480 1,46 1,71 2,11 1070 1240 1430 1,53 2,04 2,21
5 9 0 7
104 1,9 162 1,7
750 1230 1440 1540 1,39 1,64 2,05 1090 1280 1480 1,45 1,97 2,16
0 2 0 1
1,8 169 1,6
800 1260 1490 1600 1,58 2,00 1310 1530 1,91 2,11
6 0 4
1,7 182 1,5
900 1320 1580 1720 1,47 1,91 1370 1630 1,81 2,02
6 0 2
1,6 193 1,4
1000 1360 1660 1840 1,36 1,84 1410 1720 1,72 1,93
6 0 1
1,5 203
1100 1730 1940 1,76 1790 1,63 1,85
7 0
1,5 212
1200 1800 2020 1,68 1860 1,55 1,77
0 0
1,4 220
1300 1870 2100 1,62 1930 1,48 1,69
4 0
1,3 228
1400 1920 2180 1,56 1980 1,41 1,63
7 0
1,3 235
1500 1960 2250 1,50 2020 1,35 1,57
1 0
241
1600 2320 1,45 1,51
0
247
1700 2370 1,39 1,45
0
251
1800 2410 1,34 1,39
0
255
1900 2460 1,29 1,34
0
259
2000 2490 1,25 1,30
0
Table 2. Disruptive voltage peak, calculate of mean electric field to diameter sphere 50[cm] – 75[cm] – 100[cm] – 150[cm] – 200[cm].

3. The Figure 2 and Figure 3 present the plot disruptive voltage peak (50 percent for impulse test) versus
spacing gap in a particular electrodes. The configuration of this electrodes correspond to spheres which
have different diameter and it is apply different polarity voltage to this ones.
It can be inferred of the Figure 2 and Figure 3, if it has a fixed radius sphere electrodes, it will be greater
the disruptive voltage apply to ones, when the spacing gap increase between electrodes.
It can be inferred of the Figure 2 and Figure 3, it is necessary a greater voltage apply to sphere electrode
in a positive configuration than negative.
 Voltage Peak Vs Spacing Gap
500
450
400
350
Voltage Peak [kV}

300
250
200
150
100
50
0 Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 12.5[cm] Negative
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 62.5 70 80 90 100 110 120 125 150 175 200 225 250
Sphere diameter 25[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] Positive
Spacing Gap [mm]
Sphere diameter 12.5[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 25[cm] Positive

Figure 2 Voltage peak versus spacing gap. Sphere diameter 6.26[cm] – 12.5[cm] - 25[cm]. Negative and Positive Polarity.

Voltage Peak Vs Spacing Gap

3000

2500

2000
Voltage Peak [kV]

1500

1000

500

0
50 10
0
15
0
20
0
30
0
40
0
50
0
70
0
80
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 12 14 16 18 20

SpacinGap [mm]

Sphere diameter 50[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 75[cm] Negative

Sphere diameter 100[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 150[cm] Negative
Sphere diameter 200[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 50[cm] Positive
Sphere diameter 75[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 100[cm] Positive
Sphere diamter 150[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 200[cm] Positive

Figure 3. Voltage peak versus spacing gap. Sphere diameter 50[cm] – 75[cm] - 100[cm] – 150[cm] – 200[cm]. Negative and Positive
Polarity.

4. Corona effect, it got its start when the voltage U(t) reaches a certain value Ui depends on the geometry,
electrode spacing and slope of the voltage waveform U(t). For lightning impulse and no-homogeneous
electric fields, corona voltage is very small since the inception voltage corona is much lower than the
 breakdown voltage and the voltage applied, in addition, it has an initial steep.[ CITATION Har87 \l
9226 ][ CITATION IEC06 \l 9226 ]
It can be inferred of the Figure 4and Figure 5, less diameter on the sphere electrodes, less electric field is
needed to case disruption on insulation when the spacing gap is fixed. This is because there is a greater
concentration of field in a less area in the electrode.

Mean Electric Field Vs Spacing Gap

4.00
3.50
Mean Electric Field [kV/mm]

3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 62.5 70 80 90 100 110 120 125 150 175 200 225 250

Spacing Gap [mm]

Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 12.5[cm] Negative

Sphere diameter 25[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] Positive
Sphere diameter 12.5[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 25[cm] Positive

Figure 4. Electric field versus Spacing Gap. Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] – 12.5[cm] – 25[cm]. Negative and positive polarity.
Figure 5. Electric field versus Spacing Mean Electric
Gap. Sphere diameter Field
50[cm] –Vs Spacing
75[cm] – 100[cm]Gap
– 150[cm] – 200[cm]. Negative and positive
polarity.
3.00
Mean Electric Field [kV/mm]
2.50
5. The development time of the streamers, Ts begins when ends Ti, that is to say when the corona
2.00starts. Its duration can be evaluated assuming that 1 / Ts is almost directly proportional to E /
discharge
E50 where
1.50
E is the average value of electric field to the applied voltage peak value U, and E50 is the
average value of electric field to the voltage flashover probability of 50 percent.[ CITATION Mat08 \l
9226 ][ 1.00
CITATION IEE91 \l 9226 ][ CITATION Har87 \l 9226 ]
In other to determinate the maximum electric field which is produced by the electrodes when is applied
0.50 voltage, was implemented in COMSOL a model. The normal electric field between those
the disrupted
spheres and the value close to the sphere which applied the impulse, permitted obtain de maximum
0.00
value. The Error:
1 2 3Reference
4 5 6 source
7 8 9not10found,Table
11 12 13 4,Table 5 and Table 6 present the values.
Sapcing Gap [mm]

Sphere diameter 50[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 75[cm] Negative

Sphere diameter 100[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 150[cm] Negative
Sphere diameter 200[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 50[cm] Positive
Sphere diameter 75[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 100[cm] Positive
Sphere diameter 150[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 200[cm] Positive
 Maximun Electric Field [MV/m]
Sphere Gap
Sphere Diameter (cm)
Spacing Maximun Electric Field [MV/m]
Sphere Gap(mm) 6,25 12,5 25
Sphere Diameter (cm)
Spacing Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal
(mm) 6,25 12,5 25
5 3,72 3,65 3,67 3,64    
Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal
10 3,72 3,48 3,43 3,37    
5 3,72 3,69 3,67 3,64    
15 3,58 3,49 3,4 3,26    
10 3,72 3,55 3,43 3,4    
20 3,59 3,56 3,55 3,31    
15 3,61 3,58 3,4 3,27    
25 3,74 3,74 3,39 3,31 3,13 3,1
20 3,62 3,62 3,55 3,31    
30 3,79 3,79 3,31 3,33 3,21 3,1
25 3,82 3,85 3,39 3,31 3,14 3,11
35 3,76 3,89 3,31 3,43    
30 3,91 3,94 3,33 3,35 3,21 3,1
40 3,83 4 3,44 3,43 3,37 3,13
35 3,93 4,04 3,34 3,36    
45 4,14 4,08 3,32 3,41    
40 4,07 4,2 3,5 3,44 3,37 3,13
50 3,98 4,14 3,52 3,51 3,21 3,13
45 4,43 4,38 3,41 3,46    
55 4,13 4,21 3,4 3,53    
50 4,28 4,48 3,66 3,62 3,23 3,15
60 4,17 4,24 3,45 3,56 3,14 3,14
55 4,5 4,59 3,57 3,68    
62,5 4,15 4,28 3,39 3,58    
60 4,57 4,68 3,67 3,75 3,18 3,18
70     3,5 3,66 3,14 3,16
62,5 4,54 4,67 3,61 3,77    
80     3,81 3,69 3,28 3,25
70     3,76 3,88 3,19 3,21
90     3,7 3,76 3,16 3,28
80     4,14 3,99 3,36 3,33
100     3,81 3,78 3,33 3,31
90     4,06 4,12 3,25 3,38
110     3,7 3,86 3,21 3,34
100     4,2 4,15 3,47 3,42
120     3,68 3,92 3,25 3,35
110     4,18 4,31 3,36 3,48
125     3,92 3,89 3,18 3,36
120     4,06 4,34 3,44 3,53
150         3,3 3,43
125     4,37 4,34 3,38 3,53
175         3,33 3,46
150         3,54 3,67
200         3,58 3,57
175         3,58 3,74
225         3,54 3,59
200         3,86 3,85
250         3,66 3,68
        3,83 3,88
225Table 3. Maximum electric field versus spacing gap. Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] – 12[cm] – 25[cm]. Negative polarity
250         3,96 3,98
Table 4. Maximum electric field versus spacing gap. Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] – 12[cm] – 25[cm]. Positive polarity
 Max Electric Field [MV/m]
Sphere
Sphere Diameter (cm)
Gap
Spacing 50 75 100 150 200
(mm)
Horizonta Horizonta Horizonta Horizonta
Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical Horizontal
l l l l
50 2,97 2,95 2,99 2,83            
75 3,19 3,01 2,9 2,89            
100 3,14 2,99 2,95 2,9 2,86 2,84 2,89 2,84 2,91 2,87
125 3 3,01 3,15 2,93            
150 3,06 3,07 3,02 2,92 3,15 2,89        
175 3,15 3,08 3,03 2,95            
200 3,19 3,13 2,97 2,92 2,97 2,89 2,84 2,85 2,74 2,73
250 3,23 3,15 3,01 3,02 2,92 2,88        
300 3,24 3,16 3,16 3,02 2,87 2,89 2,91 2,81 2,96 2,78
350 3,34 3,26 3,06 3,05 2,96 2,99   2,85    
400 3,46 3,2 3,08 3,09 3,21 2,99 2,84 2,86 2,82 2,75
450 3,37 3,25 3,15 3,09 2,92 3        
500 3,43 3,29 3,46 3,14 2,97 3,02 2,86 2,9 2,77 2,74
600     3,29 3,21 2,96 3,07 2,98 2,84 2,74 2,78
700     3,26 3,21 3,18 3,11 2,84 2,88 2,8 2,78
750     3,29 3,19 3,02 3,09 2,78 2,85 2,75 2,74
800         3,09 3,11 2,82 2,9 2,83 2,73
900         3,03 3,14 2,89 2,88 2,73 2,74
1000         3,13 3,16 3,17 2,94 2,83 2,71
1100             3,15 2,98 2,75 2,75
1200             3 3,01 2,93 2,77
1300             3,01 3,03 2,91 2,78
1400             3,01 3,04 2,81 2,79
1500             3,05 3,05 2,79 2,86
1600                 2,87 2,86
1700                 2,9 2,86
1800                 2,82 2,87
1900                 2,84 2,87
2000                 2,8 2,86
Table 5. Maximum electric field versus spacing gap. Sphere diameter 50[cm] – 75[cm] – 100[cm] – 150[cm] – 200[cm]. Negative
polarity.
 Max Electric Field [MV/m]
Sphere
Sphere Diameter (cm)
Gap
Spacing 50 75 100 150 200
(mm)
Horizonta Horizonta Horizonta Horizonta
Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical Horizontal
l l l l
50 2,97 2,95 2,99 2,95            
75 3,19 3,01 2,9 2,88            
100 3,14 2,99 2,95 2,96 2,86 2,84 2,89 2,84 2,91 2,87
125 3 3,04 3,15 2,94            
150 3,06 3,13 3,02 2,94 3,15 2,91        
175 3,15 3,19 3,03 2,98            
200 3,19 3,24 2,97 3,02 2,97 2,92 2,84 2,85 2,74 2,73
250 3,23 3,3 3,01 3,14 2,92 2,91        
300 3,24 3,36 3,16 3,15 2,87 2,99 2,91 2,81 2,96 2,78
350 3,34 3,45 3,06 3,18 2,96 3,04        
400 3,46 3,44 3,08 3,2 3,21 3,06 2,84 2,9 2,82 2,77
450 3,37 3,5 3,15 3,2 2,92 3,09        
500 3,43 3,52 3,46 3,27 2,97 3,09 2,86 2,89 2,77 2,81
600     3,29 3,35 2,96 3,12 2,98 2,97 2,74 2,86
700     3,26 3,33 3,18 3,2 2,84 2,95 2,8 2,85
750     3,29 3,33 3,02 3,18 2,78 2,98 2,75 2,87
800         3,09 3,21 2,82 2,94 2,83 2,86
900         3,03 3,24 2,89 3,01 2,73 2,89
1000         3,13 3,22 3,17 3,03 2,83 2,84
1100             3,15 3,05 2,75 2,87
1200             3 3,08 2,93 2,92
1300             3,01 3,11 2,91 2,92
1400             3,01 3,11 2,81 2,94
1500             3,05 3,13 2,79 2,97
1600                 2,87 2,96
1700                 2,9 2,96
1800                 2,82 2,99
1900                 2,84 2,98
2000                 2,8 2,97
Table 6. Maximum electric field versus spacing gap. Sphere diameter 50[cm] – 75[cm] – 100[cm] – 150[cm] – 200[cm]. Positive
polarity.
 6. Utilization factor is an expression which evaluate a mean electric field respect a maximum electric field.
If the reason between this two fields is close to unity, it possible to conclude that the electric field is a
homogeneous field.
The Figure 7, and Figure 6 presents the utilization factor for small spheres and the Figure 9 and Figure 8
for big spheres it is possible to infer whatever be the field and the disruptive voltage apply, when the
distance increase between this two electrodes, less homogeneous is the field. However this effect in the
horizontal arrangement is more representative than the vertical arrangement.

Utilization Factor n
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 62.5 70 80 90 100 110 120 125 150 175 200 225 250

Spacing Gap [mm]

Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] Negative Sphere diamter 12.5[cm] Negative

Sphere diameter 25[cm] Negative Shpere diameter 6.25[cm] Positive
Sphere diamter 12.5[cm] Positive Sphere diamter 25[cm] Positive

Figure 6. Utilization factor. Utilization factor. Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] – 12[cm] – 25[cm]. Negative and positive polarity for vertical
arrangement.

Utilization Factor n
1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 62.5 70 80 90 100 110 120 125 150 175 200 225 250

Spacing Gap [mm]

Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] Negative Sphere diamter 12.5[cm] Negative

Sphere diameter 25[cm] Negative Shpere diameter 6.25[cm] Positive
Sphere diamter 12.5[cm] Positive Sphere diamter 25[cm] Positive

Figure 7. Utilization factor. Sphere diameter 6.25[cm] – 12[cm] – 25[cm]. Negative and positive polarity for horizontal arrangement.
 Utilization Factor n
1.00
0.90
0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
50 10
0
15
0
20
0
30
0
40
0
50
0
70
0
80
0 0 0 00 0 0 00 00 0 0
10 12 14 16 18 20

Sphere diameter 50[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 75[cm] Negative

Sphere diameter 100[cm] Negative Sphere diamter 150[cm] Negative
Sphere diameter 200[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 50[cm] Positive
Sphere diameter 75[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 100[cm] Positive
Sphere diameter 150[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 200[cm] Positive

Figure 8. Utilization factor. Sphere diameter 50[cm] – 75[cm] – 100[cm] – 150[cm] – 200[cm]. Negative and positive polarity for vertical
arrangement.

Utilization Factor n
1.20

1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 00 00 00 0
10 15 20 30 40 50 70 80 10 12 14 16 18 20
0

Sphere diameter 50[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 75[cm] Negative

Sphere diameter 100[cm] Negative Sphere diamter 150[cm] Negative
Sphere diameter 200[cm] Negative Sphere diameter 50[cm] Positive
Sphere diameter 75[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 100[cm] Positive
Sphere diameter 150[cm] Positive Sphere diameter 200[cm] Positive

Figure 9. Utilization factor. Sphere diameter 50[cm] – 75[cm] – 100[cm] – 150[cm] – 200[cm]. Negative and positive polarity for
horizontal arrangement.
 7. Finally, in a particular case Figure 10 , which sphere diameter is 200 [cm], spacing gap 0.1 [m] and the
disruptive voltage apply is 266 [kV], the maximum value of electric field is 2.91 [MV/m] in the vertical
arrangement and 2.87 [MV/m] in the horizontal arrangement.

Figure 10. Electric field produced by sphere radius 200[cm] in 3D COMSOL. Spacing gap 0.1 m and disruptive voltage applied 266 kV.

In a particular case Figure 11, which sphere diameter is 200 [cm], spacing gap 2 [m] and the disruptive voltage
apply is 2.59 [MV], the maximum value of electric field is 2.8 [MV/m] in the vertical arrangement and 2.97
[MV/m] in the horizontal arrangement.

Figure 11. Electric field produced by sphere radius 200[cm] in 3D COMSOL. Spacing gap 2 m and disruptive voltage applied 2.59 MV.
REFERENCES

[1] J. Matínez Velasco, «Sobretensiones en redes eléctricas,» de Coordinación de aislamiento en redes eléctricas de alta tensión, Madrid, McGraw Hill -
Interamericana de España, SAU, 2008, pp. 35-108.

[2] G. Harper, Estudio de sobretensiones transitorias en sistemas eléctricos y coordinación de aislameinto, Ciudad de México: Limusa, 1987.

[3] IEC 60071-1 Insulation coordination - Part 1: Definitions, principles and rules, Switzerland: International Electrotechnical Commission, 2006.

[4] IEEE C62.41 Recommended practice on surge voltage in low voltage AC power circuits, New York: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers, Inc, 1991.