Partial discharge measurements in air and argon at low pressures with and without a dielectric barrier

Partial discharge (PD) characteristics in air and argon under low pressures down to 13.3 Pa (0,1 Torr) and 60 Hz AC energization are studied in an energized needle-plane electrode arrangement. The electrode configuration, vacuum chamber, facilities, and electrical connections for the experimental setup are described. Two cases are studied for each of two gases, air and argon, with 20 mm spacing between the two electrodes: (1) with and (2) without a Teflon® cap (dielectric barrier). Results for the four series of experiments and analysis of the discharge current pulse waveforms are presented. Topics discussed are the typical waveforms of the discharge current pulses at different pressures, and discharge current pulse rise time vs. pressure relationships.