Distributed parameter model for computing energy dissipation in brush-type electrostatic discharges

A distributed parameter model has been developed for estimating energy dissipation and charge transfer in electrostatic discharges from thin insulating sheets backed by a ground plane. The sheets are represented as an array of discretized elements; each assigned a capacitance and an initial surface charge. Simulations were performed by means of an equivalent two-dimensional network of resistors, capacitors, and spark gaps. Time evolution of the system was determined by ordinary circuit equations and the physics governing the breakdown of air in the gaps. The model also generates “simulated Lichtenberg figures”, providing insight into the mechanism governing the complex breakdown patterns that form across insulating surfaces when these discharges occur. Experiments to assess the validity of the model are discussed. Simulation results provided by the model were found to be in good agreement with those obtained experimentally.