Streamer propagation in small gaps of synthetic ester and mineral oil under lightning impulse

This paper describes experimental studies on streamer propagation in synthetic ester and mineral oil under lightning impulse voltage. These studies are concentrated around the small electrode gaps (15 and 20 mm) of the point-plane electrode arrangement. The spatial shapes of the developing streamers, oscillograms of light emitted and propagation velocities were analyzed and compared. Two streamer propagation modes were observed during the studies performed. Slow 2nd mode streamers developed below the so-called acceleration voltage while fast 3rd mode streamers developed at acceleration voltage and above. Independently of the liquid used the registered streamers shapes corresponding to a given voltage polarity were identical. Concerning the light oscillograms, higher frequencies of light pulses were observed in the case of synthetic ester. A significant difference between both the considered liquids was however noticed in the threshold value of the testing voltage at which the 3rd mode streamers appeared. Fast positive streamers started to develop in synthetic ester at lower testing voltage (of about 26 kV for 20 mm gap and 20 kV for 15 mm gap) than in the case of mineral oil. For negative polarity of lightning impulse, within the applied testing voltages, 3rd mode streamers were observed only in synthetic ester. For both electrode gaps acceleration voltage for negative polarity was 2.2 of estimated inception voltage. This allowed forming the conclusion that synthetic esters have a lower ability of preventing the development of fast and energetic streamers, even at small (15 and 20 mm) electrode gaps.