Negative corona computation in air

This paper deals with negative corona discharge in wire-to-plane geometry. Poisson’s equation is solved using the finite element method and the current continuity equation which updates the space charge density is solved using the simplified method of characteristics, which neglects ion diffusion. The used numerical model takes into account the ionization region. We proposed the introduction of a potential corresponding to the critical minimum ionization field directly in the finite element formulation as a Dirichlet condition. The computed data are in good agreement with experimental data with negligible error in the computed onset voltage. The numerical computations are compared to experimental data obtained using a linear biased probe.