On the Pitfalls of Charge Simulation Technique in Field Calculations

This paper is aimed at investigating the charge simulation technique for field calculation when applied to a positive conductor-to-plane geometry, where the electric field at the conductor surface is controlled via a floating (shield) wire positioned parallel and underneath the conductor. With positively-stressed conductor, the wire picks up a positive potential determined by its location with respect to the stressed conductor and shields the conductor. Subsequently, the onset voltage of corona on the stressed conductor increases by the presence of the floating wire. However, the calculated electric field at the conductor surfaces increases and the corona onset voltage decreases with the presence of the floating wire. This does not conform to the mentioned shielding effect and is considered a pitfall of charge simulation technique. The analysis of such pitfall will be the core of the present paper