BREAKDOWN

PHENOMENON OF GASES

Introduction
In electrical power system, all three medias, solid, liquid and gas are used for
insulating purpose.
Out of them, solids have highest breakdown strength and gases have lowest.
To study the breakdown mechanism of gases, a detailed study of ionization process
and various proposed mechanism is required.

Collision process

Elastic collision
Inelastic collision

Ionization by collision

The process of liberating an electron from a gas molecule with simultaneous

production of a positive ion is called ionization
In this process a free electron collides with a neutral gas molecule and gives rise to
a new electron and a positive ion.

Fig.1

Photo-ionization
It occurs when the amount of radiation energy absorbed by an atom or
molecule exceeds its ionization potential.

Radiation can be absorbed by

i) excitation of the atom to a higher energy state
ii) continuous absorption by direct excitation of the atom or dissociation of
diatomic molecule or direct ionization, etc.
Ionization occurs when

Radiation of wavelength 1250 angstrom is capable of causing photoionization of almost all gases.

Secondary ionization

Electron emission due to positive ion impact when positive ions produced by
ionization collisions travel to cathode, bombard the metal cathode and its kinetic
energy and ionization energy gives rise to production of secondary electron if the
sum of them is greater than twice the work function of the metal
Electron emission due to photons photons of UV ray of suitable frequency can
cause electrons to emit from cathode for the critical condition
..
Threshold Frequency is given by
Excess energy goes partly as kinetic energy of the emitted electron and partly to
heat the electrode surface, if frequency is greater than threshold.
Electron emission due to metastable and neutral atoms -

Townsends current growth equation

Refering to fig 1
= electrons emitted from cathode
= average number of ionizing collisions by electrons per cm travel in direction of field
At a distance x from cathode, number of electrons be

is Townsends first ionization coefficient, function of gas pressure P and E/P.

Current growth in presence of

secondary process

By the secondary ionization processes, secondary electrons are produced.

Secondary ionization coefficient = net number of secondary electrons produced
by incident positive ion, photon or metastable particle (
).

Townsends criterion for breakdown

In the last equation, as distance d between electrods is increased at
a critical distance D, denominator becomes zero, i.e.
Therefore I tends to infinity and the current will be limited by
resistance of the power supply and external ckt. Thus Townsends
breakdown criterion :

D = sparking distance
V = spark breakdown voltage, for given pressure.
Townsends mechanism explains breakdown phenomenon only at low pressure
corresponding to p * d values of 1000 torr-cm and below.

Typical current growth curve in a Townsends

discharge.

Drawbacks of Townsends mechanism

Ignoring the factors like gas pressure and
geometry of the gap influencing breakdown
Time lag is in order of 10ns instead of 10micro
sec as predicted by Townsend.
Diffusion is filamentary and irregular instead
of the diffused form of discharge as predicted
by Townsend.

Streamers Theory
Growth of charge carriers in an avalanche in uniform field,
e^(d) as given by Townsend, is valid only when effect of
space charge is negligible compared to applied field.
When charge density is between 10^6 and 10^8, the field
due to space charge is weak, but beyond 10^8 there is a steep
rise in current leading to breakdown.
So, modifications to Townsends mechanism at both low
concentration and high concentration is marked by Streamer
theory.

Streamers Theory contd.

The space charge is assumed to have a spherical head of
negative charge as electrons have higher mobility. Under this
condition, the field gets enhanced in front and behind the
space charge and opposed in between.
This field distortion effect is noticeable beyond charge density
of 10^6 (figure to be explained on board)
Beyond density 10^8, the applied field is almost equal to the
space charge field, and at this condition, i.e., e^(d) = 10^8, or
d = 18 to 20, the avalanche gets converted to streamers.

Streamers Theory contd.

When the avalanche reaches the critical size, (d=18 to 20),
the combined effect of both the fields cause intense
ionization and excitation of gas particles.
Recombination between electrons and positive ions release
photons, which in turn produce secondary electrons by
photo-ionization, which lead to secondary avalanche
Since photons are of speed of light, this process leads to rapid
development of conduction channels across the gap.

Streamers Theory contd.

The emperical formula for the Streamer spark criterion provided by
Raether is :

Thus a minimum breakdown voltage occurs when xc = d, the critical

length.

Another simplified empirical formula provided Meek is

Controversy
It is still undetermined which mechanism
operates in uniform field condition, though it
is assumed that :
At p*d < 1000 torr-cm and pressure
between 0.01 to 300 torr., Townsends
mechanism work, and above that pressure,
Streamers thoery is aplicable.

Paschens law
V = f(pd)

Paschens law curve

Penning effect

Corona discharge
For non-uniform fields, increase in voltage will first
cause discharge at points with highest electric field
intensity, namely at sharp points or on transmission
lines.
This form of discharge is called corona discharge,
observed as a bluish luminescence and hissing noise.
The surrounding air gets converted to ozone.
It causes considerable power loss in high voltage TL.
It leads to deterioration of insulation due to combined
action of bombardment of ions and chemical
compounds formed during discharge.
It gives rise to radio interference.

 Voltage gradient to produce visual AC corona in air at a conductor

surface for parallel wires of radius r.

For coaxial cylinders with inner cylinder radius r, equation becomes

m = surface irregularity factor ( 1 for smooth wires)

d = relative air density correction factor.

b = atm pressure in torr.

T = temp in degree-celsius.

Post-breakdown phenomenon

Glow Discharge:
Arc Discharge:

Practical considerations using gases for

insulation purpose

High dielectric strength (most important).

Thermal stability.
Chemical inactivity towards materials of construction.
Non-inflamability.
Physiological inertness.
Environmentally non-hazardous.
Low temperature condensation
Good heat transfer.
Readily available at moderate cost.

SF6 as insulator
SF6 satisfies most of the above requirements.
It has very high dielectric strength, and can be used
over a wide range of operating conditions.
It has excellent arc quenching properties.
But it is a green house gas causing environmental
problems.
So alternate gas mixtures to replace pure SF6 are
experimented.