The dynamic expansion of leader discharge channels under positive voltage impulse with different rise times in long air gap: Experimental observation and simulation results

Abstract

In this paper, we observe the dynamic expansion process of positive leader channels under impulses with different rise times in a 1-m air gap using a Mach-Zehnder interferometry and a high-speed video camera. The thermal parameters describing the leader channel under a lightning and switching impulse are obtained through an analysis of interference fringes. The influences of different voltage waveforms on the dynamic expansion of leader channels are obtained. Firstly, the expansion rates of the channel radius are higher for shorter rise times. The average expansion rates are 72.30 ± 9.54, 28.09 ± 5.05, and 14.38 ± 3.02 m/s for the rise times of 1.2, 40, and 100 μs and the crest value of 425 kV for a 0.5-cm-diameter cone electrode; moreover, the temperatures at the centre of the leader channels are 5000–7000 K, 4000–6000 K, and 3000–4500 K, respectively. Secondly, the high-temperature region is larger for the shorter rise times. A numerical model was used to study the expansion of the leader channels, and the simulation results for the leader channel diameters showed good consistency with the experimental measurements. The continuous energy injection results in an over-pressure process in the leader channels and ultimately in their expansion. For a 1.2/50 μs waveform, the vibrational-translational relaxation (QVT) and the thermal dissociation (QD), which dominate the energy flow, are about one order of magnitude greater than that in a 100/2500 μs waveform. The convection loss and the ionization mechanism during the expansion process are also discussed.