Hybrid Fluid Model for Calculating Electron Transport in Air in Strong Electric Fields

Abstract

The hybrid fluid model for calculating electron transport in air is presented. Within the model, the transport of electrons with energies less than 300 eV is calculated based on the drift-diffusion equation, and in the high-energy range, it is calculated using a set of multigroup equations for the first two moments of the electron distribution function: the balance equations for concentrations and electron flux densities. The hybrid model presented is intended to be used for numerical simulations of electric discharge processes in air proceeding with the participation of runaway electrons. The results of numerical simulations of electron transport in air in homogeneous and inhomogeneous electric fields, which were performed using the hybrid model, were compared with the corresponding results of simulations obtained using the Monte Carlo method.