Current analysis of DC negative corona discharge in a wire-cylinder configuration at high ambient temperatures

•A simple method of calculating DC corona onset voltages is proposed.•The ratio of electron current increases as N2 content or temperature increases.•The cathode material has little influence on the corona discharge characteristics.

To study the characteristics of DC negative corona discharge in a wire-cylinder configuration at an ambient temperature range of 350–850 °C, the I–V characteristics and the current composition are analyzed under different conditions. A simple method is proposed to determine the DC corona onset threshold voltage. At high ambient temperatures, in the DC negative corona discharge gap, some electrons are not attached to the electronegative gas molecules and move to the anode tube. Thus, these electrons form an electron current, which may account for most of the total discharging current. The ratio of the electron current to the total discharging current increases with increasing temperature. In a mixture of O2 and N2 and a mixture of CO2 and N2, the ratio of electron current increases with increasing N2 content in the mixtures. The cathode material has little influence on the corona discharge characteristics at high ambient temperatures.

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