Non-uniformity effects of static electric field on corona-stabilized breakdown in SF6

Breakdown of sulfur hexafluoride, SF6, is studied experimentally and theoretically within the corona stabilized pressure region for non-uniform electric field gaps with different degrees of field inhomogeneity. Numerically computed space-charge values confirmed that the space-charge development is higher in gaps having higher field non-uniformity and is the cause of large breakdown voltage levels above corona inception levels.