Lumped circuit model for transient arc discharges

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.341284· OSTI ID:7065381

Robiscoe, R T; Kadish, A; Maier, II, W B

Electrical breakdown of highly charged insulating systems can result in an arc discharge, i.e., a sudden, intense pulse of current. We model such arcs by a simple circuit: the discharge of a capacitor C (related to the initial charge reservoir) through a series inductor L and resistor R. For R = V*/chemically bondI/sub a/chemically bond, where V* is a positive constant and I/sub a/ is the arc current, an essentially arbitrary dependence for L = L(I/sub a/), a constant capacitance, and a circuit starting voltage V/sub 0/, we establish four remarkable results for the subsequent arc discharge: (1) no discharge occurs at all unless chemically bondV/sub 0/chemically bond>V*; (2) if n is the largest non-negative integer for which chemically bondV/sub 0/chemically bondgreater than or equal to(2n+1)V*, then the arc current will reverse sign precisely n times and will decline in amplitude by 2V* at each extreme; (3) the discharge stops abruptly at a final voltage V/sub f/ = (-1)/sup n//sup +1/(V/sub 0/-(n+1)2V* sgn V/sub 0/); (4) maxima and minima in I/sub a/ occur at voltages V = +- V*. Results (1) and (3) provide the threshold condition and finite final potential necessary for any realistic arc discharge theory, while result (2) suggests an experiment to look for a finite number of current oscillations in a highly driven arc. Result (4) suggests an experimental method for determining V*.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717
• OSTI ID: 7065381
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 64:9; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640410* -- Fluid Physics-- General Fluid Dynamics
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BREAKDOWN
CAPACITANCE
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIVALENT CIRCUITS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCALING LAWS