Experimental and modelling study of the dependence of corona discharge on electrode geometry and ambient electric field

The results of experimental observations and mathematical modeling of corona formation on the tips of grounded rods are presented as a function of their tip height, curvature radius, the magnitude and polarity of the applied electric field producing corona. The investigations demonstrate that corona current depends on the active volume of zone in which electric field strength exceeds the breakdown criteria for air. The mathematical model was verified with the experimental data, enabling dependence of corona current on rod tip height, tip radius and applied electric field strength to be quantified with the need for a plethora of experiments.