Some observations of corona starting voltages on unsymmetrical dielectric assemblies

Engineering data for designing corona free insulation systems is needed. These should be based on an understanding of physical events rather than empiricism. Such formulae for solid (dry) systems have been proposed by Halleck1; this report explores limitations in their range of application. The work of Mason, Hall and Russeck, Devins and others showed that in essentially uniform fields, the corona starting voltage of a gas gap between dielectrics is the same as the breakdown voltage of the same gap between metal electrodes. Thus corona start was directly related to Paschen´s law, and the engineering computation reduced to determining the applied voltage which would cause Paschen´s law voltage to be exceeded.