Electron-molecule collision cross sections needed for breakdown electric field calculations of hot dissociated SF6

Abstract

The critical electric fields of hot SF6 are calculated for large temperature and pressure ranges (300 K to 3000 K from 1 bar to several bars). Calculations are based on a multi-term electron Boltzmann equation solution which needs the knowledge of electron-gas collision cross sections for ten SF6 dissociation products. The collision cross sections are fitted using an electron-swarm unfolding technique. These critical fields are then used to predict the circuit breaker behaviours during the SF6 recovery phase.