Implementation of a cathode directed streamer model in Air under different voltage stresses

Abstract

To find a viable alternative to SF6 with growing climate change regulations, proper evaluation of alternatives such as compressed air ought to be done. For medium voltage applications, the withstand voltage is used as the dimensioning criteria and this is dependent on the initiation and propagation of streamers which are precursors to electrical breakdown. For design optimization, a thorough understanding of the initiation and propagation mechanisms of such electrical discharges under different stresses, pressure etc. ought to be studied experimentally and numerically also via a predictive model. Most of the numerical studies have so far been done via homemade codes as streamer models are not readily available in commercial software because of the complexity and non-linearity of such computations. Recently, with the increased robustness of the plasma module of the commercial finite element software, COMSOL(tm) Multiphysics, streamer discharge models can be developed with reasonable accuracy. In this paper, an implementation and validation approach is presented for streamer evolution in air for different voltage stresses. Results of simulations for short gaps ($\le$ 5 mm) under Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP) conditions have been presented, analyzed and compared with some classical papers to evaluate the suitability of such a model for further studies of non-thermal electrical discharges. Index Terms-medium voltage, streamer discharges, eco-friendly gas, numerical models.