The behaviour and interaction of monopolar current plumes from points on discharge electrodes in air

Some devices such as electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) have electrodes for producing corona discharge in air. Corona discharge in air is also a common but unwanted phenomenon in high-voltage equipment and distribution systems. The measurements presented in this paper are for monopolar corona from discharge electrodes suspended between parallel earthed plates (such as those found in an ESP). A corona discharge electrode injects charge into air through a field-driven electron avalanche mechanism in the region of partial breakdown surrounding the high-voltage electrodes. The injection is space-charge limited resulting in an approximately fixed field at the electrode at voltages above corona inception.