The electrostatic fields and potentials generated by the flow of liquid through plastic pipes

Abstract

The Carruthers and Marsh model for the potentials generated by liquid flow through plastic pipes is extended to include pipes that are surrounded by an earthed conductive medium. Experimental measurements show that both the original and extended models predict approximately the correct potentials for their respective conditions of application. The models are then used to examine the conditions under which pipes may be punctured by electrostatic discharges in two practical applications.