Flashover Mechanism of High Voltage Insulators

Abstract

The elementary phenomenon involved in flashover of high voltage insulators is the propagation of a discharge at the surface of an electrolyte. The study reveals two requirements: 1-Electrical conditions (applied voltage and discharge current) have to be fulfilled so that the discharge can be sustained by the power source throughout the elongation process. 2-A physical mechanism has to be shown which the discharge and leads to flashover when the required conditions are met.