Volume discharge based description of pulsed breakdown in triggered spark gaps in air

In this paper, starting with continuity equations and Poisson’s equation with appropriate boundary conditions at the electrodes, the discharge development is simulated. Using the measured breakdown voltages of 3D electrode geometry with cylindrical symmetry, the initial electron density distribution injected from the trigger mechanism of the triggered spark gap is calculated in a number of iterations in such a way that the predicted breakdown voltages match the measured ones. The results indicate that the breakdown mechanism is strongly dependent on the initial electron density injected into the gap, rise time of the applied voltage and some other factors which will be discussed.