The Physical Experimental Modelling of the Formation Processes of Upward Discharges from Grounded Objects in the Artificial Thunderstorm Cell’s Electric Field

Nikolay Lysov; Alexander Temnikov; Leonid Chernensky; Alexander Orlov; Olga Belova; Tatiana Kivshar; Dmitry Kovalev; Garry Mirzabekyan; Natalia Lebedeva; Vadim Voevodin

doi:10.3390/atmos13081339

Atmosphere (Aug 2022)

The Physical Experimental Modelling of the Formation Processes of Upward Discharges from Grounded Objects in the Artificial Thunderstorm Cell’s Electric Field

Nikolay Lysov,
Alexander Temnikov,
Leonid Chernensky,
Alexander Orlov,
Olga Belova,
Tatiana Kivshar,
Dmitry Kovalev,
Garry Mirzabekyan,
Natalia Lebedeva,
Vadim Voevodin

Affiliations

Nikolay Lysov: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Alexander Temnikov: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Leonid Chernensky: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Alexander Orlov: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Olga Belova: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Tatiana Kivshar: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Dmitry Kovalev: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Garry Mirzabekyan: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Natalia Lebedeva: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia
Vadim Voevodin: Department of Electrophysics and High Voltage Technique, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, National Research University, 111250 Moscow, Russia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13081339
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 8
p. 1339

Abstract

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The results of the physical modelling of the formation processes of upward discharges from grounded objects in the artificial thunderstorm cell’s electric field are presented. We established the considerable influence of the electrode tip’s radius on the pulse streamer corona stem’s parameters and, subsequently, on the probability of the transformation of the impulse streamer corona first flash’s stem into a first stage of upward leader. We determined the diapason of the optimal tip radii for a lightning rod or lightning conductor, which allows for the most probable formation of the first impulse streamer corona, with the parameters providing the best conditions for the upward leader’s start, the purpose of which is the lowering of the probability of lightning striking the object under protection. A considerable difference between the electrical characteristics of the first impulse corona flash with and without the streamer–leader transition was established. It was shown that the amplitude of the streamer corona flash current impulse is considerable, but not the main defining factor of the streamer–leader transition. It is established that the charge value of the streamer corona first flash is not a threshold requirement for the formation of the upward leader from a ground object, but only defines the probability of the successful upward leader formation. Based on the analysis of the experimental data received, we suggest that there is a dependency between the probability of upward positive leader formation from the grounded objects and the charge value of the first pulse streamer corona flash for the rod (centered) and rope (elongated) lightning conductors and objects in the electric field of the thundercloud and downward lightning leader. The obtained results can be used for mathematical modelling of the formation processes of upward discharges from grounded objects in the artificial thunderstorm’s electric field, as in a natural thunderstorm situation.

Published in Atmosphere

ISSN: 2073-4433 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Meteorology. Climatology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere/

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