Simulations of the initiation and propagation of streamers in electrical discharges inside water at 3 mm length gap

Abstract

This work is devoted to the modeling of streamer discharge, propagation in liquid dielectrics (water) gap using the bubble theory. This of the electrical discharge (streamer) propagating within a dielectric liquid subjected to a divergent electric field, using finite element method (in two dimensions). Solution of Laplace's equation governs the voltage and electric field distributions within the configuration, the electrode configuration a point (pin) - plane configuration, the plasma channels were followed, step to step. The results show that, the electrical discharge (streamer) indicates the breakdown voltage required for a 3mm atmospheric pressure dielectric liquid gap as 13 kV. Also, the electric potential and field distributions shown agreement with the streamer growth, according to the simulation development time.

Keywords

• Streamer discharge, plasma channels, dielectric discharge, pre-breakdown, discharge simulation