Control of corona characteristics with third electrode and bias voltage

A novel corona control system consisting of a point-to-plate air gap with a cylindrical third electrode has been proposed. Negative and positive coronas from a point-to-plate air gap with a cylindrical third electrode set up close to the corona point of the needle have been investigated with emphasis on the role of the cylindrical third electrode, the bias voltage amplitude and polarity. It was found that the point-to-plate air gap with the cylindrical third electrode had a negative resistance characteristic on its I-V characteristic for negative polarity discharge, which is very different from the same electrode system without the third electrode. Discharge characteristics of the needle point, such as the corona onset voltage and the corona activity, could be controlled by adjusting the field intensity of the corona point by changing the corona point height from the third electrode and varying the bias voltage amplitude and polarity of the third electrode