Aircraft Wing-Tip Corona Magnitude Model and Computer Simulation in Atmospheric Electric Field

This study mainly focuses on the magnitude of aircrafts corona current in ambient electric field. Using methods of moments establishes the distorted field computation model for aircraft net charge and ambient field around aircrafts which makes it much convenient to apply. The magnitude of corona current at the wing tip is calculated by space-charge-limited method. The plasma and ion transition region are assumed to be a semi-sphere, whose exterior boundary is determined by the wind speed. Fitting the field distribution in the semi-sphere and taking it into Poissonpsilas equation for electrostatics, the calculation model is established. Simulations on a real UAV are made to validate these methods and draw a conclusion that the magnitude of corona current in ambient fields is almost proportional to the component of and the variation of flight speed can increase the current proportionally.