Resistance of Spark Channels

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science 2006-10, Vol.34 (5), p.1610-1619
• Main Authors: Montano, R., Becerra, M., Cooray, V., Rahman, M., Liyanage, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Applied sciences; Channels; Current measurement; Decay; Discharge model; Discharges; Dynamics; Electric currents; Electric discharges; Electric power; Electric resistance; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical resistance measurement; Engineering Science with specialization in Atmospheric Discharges; Exact sciences and technology; gas discharge; Gas industry; High voltage or high current generators; High-current and high-voltage technology: power systems; power transmission lines and cables (including superconducting cables); Lightning; Marx generators; Mathematical models; Other gas discharges; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma devices; Power electronics, power supplies; Power electronics; power supply circuits; Sparks; Switches; Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot atmosfäriska urladdningar; Temporal logic; Various equipment and components; Voltage; Waveforms
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2006.883350

A study undertaken to measure the resistance of spark channels in air with two different current waveforms is presented. In one experiment, the spark was created by a Marx generator. In this case, the gap length was maintained at 12.8 cm, and the current flowing through the spark had a peak current lying in the range of 0.2-2.2 kA. The decay time of the current was larger than 100 mus. In the other experiment, the spark was created by a current generator. In that experiment, the gap length was maintained at 1 cm, and the current flowing through the spark had peak-current amplitudes in the range of 35-48 kA. The decay time of the current was larger than 500 mus. The results show that the resistance of spark channels initially decreases, reaches a minimum value, and then recovers as the current in the spark gap decreases. The minimum resistance of the spark channel decreases with an increasing peak current. The results are compared with various theories that attempt to predict the temporal variation of the resistance of spark channels. The comparison shows that further developments in the existing theoretical models are needed in order to reproduce with better accuracy the dynamic behavior of the channel resistance