FEM-FCT Based Dynamic Simulation of Trichel Pulse Corona Discharge in Point-Plane Configuration

Abstract

In this thesis, a new two-dimensional numerical solver is presented for the dynamic simulation of the Trichel pulse regime of negative corona discharge in point-plane configuration. The goal of this thesis is to simulate the corona discharge phenomenon and to improve the existing models so that the results have an acceptable compatibility with the experimentally obtained data. The numerical technique used in this thesis is a combination of Finite Element Method (FEM) and Flux Corrected Transport (FCT). These techniques are proved to be the best techniques, presented so far for solving the nonlinear hyperbolic equations that simulate corona discharge phenomenon.\nThe simulation begins with the single-species corona discharge model and thedifferent steps of the numerical technique are tested for this simplified model. The ability of the technique to model the expected physical behaviour of ions and electric field is investigated. Then, the technique is applied to a more complicated model of corona discharge, a three-specie model, in which three ionic species exist in the air gap: electrons, and positive and negative oxygen ions. Avalanche ionization, electron attachment and ionic recombination are the three ionic reactions which this model includes.\nThe macroscopic parameters i.e., the average corona current and the Trichelpulses period are calculated and compared with the available experimental data. The technique proves to be compatible with the available experimental results. Finally, the effects of different parameters on the Trichel pulse characteristics are investigated. The results are further compared against the available experimental data for the effect of pressure on Trichel pulse characteristics and are reported to be compatible.