Current-voltage characteristics of a high-current pulsed discharge in air

Author

Akiyama, H. ; Kristiansen, M. ; Krompholz, H. ; Maas, B.

Volume

16

Issue

2

fYear

1988

fDate

4/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

312

Lastpage

316

Abstract

The time-dependent arc voltage and resistance of a high-current pulsed discharge in air are obtained accurately by solving the circuit equation using the measured values of the current and breakdown voltage. Unipolar critically damped or overdamped pulsed discharges, with rise times of about 0.7 μ and peak currents in excess of 20 kA, are investigated. These discharges are characterized by four phases: initial phase, quasistationary phase, transient phase, and relaxation phase. The quasistationary phase occurs between the time of the current maximum and twice this time. The transient phase, which occurs after the quasistationary phase, corresponds to a negative slope of the V-I characteristic. The variable parameters were electrode separation, and gas pressure. The minimum arc resistance, at peak current, was about 50 mΩ

Keywords

arcs (electric); plasma transport processes; V-I characteristic; air; breakdown voltage; circuit equation; current voltage characteristics; electrode separation; gas pressure; high-current pulsed discharge; initial phase; minimum arc resistance; overdamped pulsed discharges; peak currents; quasistationary phase; relaxation phase; resistance; rise times; time-dependent arc voltage; transient phase; unipolar critically damped discharge; variable parameters; Current measurement; Current-voltage characteristics; Electrical resistance measurement; Electrodes; Equations; Helium; Pulse circuits; Pulse measurements; Spark gaps; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.3830

Filename

3830