A model for determining the unipolar ionic saturation current in parallel wire-cylinder electrodes during corona discharge

This paper presents a model for the determination of the ionic unipolar corona saturation current in parallel wire-cylinder electrodes in the air, based on the geometrical characteristics of the electric field lines distributing in the space surrounding the electrodes, under high voltage dc application. The distribution of the lengths of the electric field lines connecting the electrodes is determined by finite element analysis. Then the acquired data are treated theoretically in order to calculate the total saturation unipolar corona current limit for the aforementioned electrode arrangement. Experimental investigation has shown that corona current is closely related to the unipolar saturation current limits derived from the proposed model.