Observation of 3m rod-rod discharges under switching impulse voltage

High speed CCD cameras, current measured devices and impulse voltage divider were utilized to investigate the characteristics of rod-rod discharges. The discharge experiments in a 3m rod-rod gap were carried out under positive and negative switching impulse voltage. The characteristics of leaders propagation stimulated by positive voltage were compared with that stimulated by negative voltage. Although with certain similarities, the leaders which energized by different polarity voltage share differences such as the varied process of leader with the time, the length of upward leader, the proportion of upward leader, and the velocity of upward leader. These works have revealed the discharge process of rod-rod air gap more clearly, and are benefit for the study on the discharge mechanisms of the rod-rod discharges.