Calculation of impulse characteristics for gas-insulated systems with homogenous electric field

The possibility of generating a statistical sample of the pulse breakdown voltage random variable numerically is examined for arbitrary shaped pulses. Impulse characteristics are then determined on the basis of the generated statistical sample. Numerically generated statistical samples of the pulse breakdown voltage random variable are compared to the corresponding experimentally obtained statistical samples. Impulse characteristics obtained from the numerically generated statistical samples are compared to the corresponding impulse characteristics derived from the semi-empirical Area Law and the Time Enlargement Law. The set of impulse characteristics obtained in this way is compared to the results obtained experimentally for different shapes of the pulse voltage load. Gases used in the experimental and numerical models include SF₆, N₂ and Ar. Gas pressures range from 1 × 10² Pa to 6 × 10² Pa, and inter-electrode gaps from 0.1 to 10 mm. A homogenous electric field is considered.