Abstract :
It has been shown that the ratio average/maximum electric field (termed the utilisation factor ¿) is a useful criterion which can be applied to the electrostatic design of high-voltage equipment. Tables of ¿ have previously been given for several standard electrode systems. With the aid of computed utilisation factors, it is possible, when certain assumptions are made, to predict discharge voltages for numerous electrode systems, and, by comparing predicted values with corresponding results obtained by experiment, it is possible to assess the validity of what is, in effect, a general-discharge-law concept. Evidence is presented which shows that, while this concept is not strictly true, it nevertheless enables, in many instances, the estimation of the alternating sparking voltage of numerous practical electrode systems with acceptable accuracy.
