Ion Flow Effects on Negative Direct Current Corona in Air

Numerical simulations are presented for the ion flow effects on the negative direct current corona in air. One dimensional equivalent steady corona model containing the continuity equations for electrons and ions on the basis of Townsend theory coupled with Poisson’s equation is applied. The conductor radius and the electric field intensity on conductor surface keep constant under the standard atmosphere condition in this paper. The results suggest that the space charges within the plasma region have no influence on the electric field distribution throughout the interelectrode gap, which is only governed by the ion flow. The influences of the gap distance and the corona current on the corona discharge within the plasma region have been investigated. If the voltage-current characteristics of the negative corona discharge are measured, the ion flow region and the plasma region can be investigated individually. Based on Kaptzov’s hypothesis, the plasma region can be investigated solely.