First mode negative streamers along mineral oil-solid interfaces

Abstract

This document presents an experimental study on the propagation of first mode negative streamers along mineral oil-solid interfaces. Samples made of an oil impregnated kraft paper and a low-porosity paper made from cellulosic micro and nano fibrils, as well as different polymeric films (low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)) are used as the solid. A comparison of the length, charge and velocity of streamers for all different mineral oil-solid interfaces is reported. It is shown that streamers propagate longer and faster along mineral oil-solid interfaces with low surface roughness, low porosity and higher electrical permittivity than mineral oil. Those streamers show a quasi-continuous injection of charge in the early stage of their propagation. This quasi-continuous charge injection consists of a sequence of small charge steps separated by few tens of nanoseconds in between. In comparison, the streamers that propagate along surfaces with similar permittivity to the mineral oil have lower injection of charge and higher stopping voltage conditions than streamers propagating free in the liquid without any solid barrier.