Corona point discharges from grounded rods under high background electric field

Author(s):  
Marcelo Arcanjo ◽  
Joan Montanyà ◽  
Victor Lorenzo ◽  
Nicolau Pineda

<p>During the formation of thunderclouds, simultaneous macrophysical and microphysical processes cause the separation of charges inside the cloud, forming the electrical structure of storm clouds. As a result of that, the electric field at the ground level can change significantly. Irregularities on the surfaces of grounded structures can provide conditions for corona discharges that generate ions and form a space charge layer at ground level.</p><p>In this work, we investigate the features of corona point discharges from grounded conductive rods installed in three different sites. In all of them, we measured current along the grounded rod under high background electric field conditions or during its fast changes caused by lightning strikes. The current signals reveal pulses with a fast rise time (tens of nanoseconds) and slow decay (hundreds of nanoseconds), with polarity compatible with the background electric field. Comparing laboratory experiments with the results in the field, we observed that positive discharges required a lower electric field threshold than negative discharges. Their pulse frequency is also equivalent to one-tenth of the pulse frequency of negative discharges, for a similar electric field level.</p><p>In one of the sites, one current sensor coupled to a grounded rod, 1.5 m above a roof, was installed in a site located at an altitude of 2525 m, near a ski-station. We observed a large number of events, and we were able to correlate the frequency of the pulses with the electric field, as well as evaluate the effect of the wind on the discharges. In the other two sites, the rods were placed near the ground and on the roof of a conventional building. Pulses were registered on some occasions when there was lightning activity nearby, either before or after lightning events. Previous works on this topic correlate the electric field with the average current flow, and on this work, we evaluate the pulse frequency and electric field. This investigation is relevant for understanding the production of corona and space charges from high structures.</p>

2019 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 03002
Author(s):  
Rasha Abbasi ◽  
John Belz ◽  
Ryan Le Von ◽  
Dan Rodeheffer ◽  
Paul Krehbiel ◽  
...  

Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) are bursts of gamma-rays initiated in the Earth’s atmosphere. TGFs were serendipitously first observed over twenty years ago by the BATSE gamma ray satellite experiment. Since then, several satellite experiments have shown that TGFs are produced in the upward negative breakdown stage at the start of intracloud lightning discharges. In this proceeding, we present ground-based observation of TGFs produced by downward negative breakdown occurring at the beginning of negative cloud-to-ground flashes. The Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes discussed in this work were detected between 2014-2017 at ground level by the Telescope Array surface detector (TASD) together with Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) and the slow electric field antenna (SA). The TASD detector is a 700 km2 ultra high energy cosmic ray detector in the southwestern desert of Utah. It is comprised of 507 (3 m2) plastic scintillator detectors on a 1.2 km square grid. The LMA detector, a three-dimensional total lightning location system, is comprised of nine stations located within and around the array. The slow electric field antenna records the electric field change in lightning discharges. The observed Gamma ray showers were detected in the first 1-2 ms of downward negative breakdown prior to cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. The shower sources were observed by the LMA detector at altitudes of a few kilometers above ground level. The detected energetic burst showers have a footprint on the ground typically ~ 3-5 km in diameter. The bursts comprise of several (2-5) individual pulses, each of which have a span of a few to tens of microseconds and an overall duration of several hundred microseconds. Using a forward-beamed cone of half-angle of 16 degrees, GEANT simulation studies indicate that the showers are consistent with gamma rays of 1012 - 1014 primary photons. We hypothesize that the observed terrestrial gamma-ray flashes are similar to those detected by satellites, but that the ground-based observations are closer to the source and therefore are able to observe weaker sources and report on the structure of the temporal distribution at the source. This result and future studies will enable us to better identify and constrain the mechanisms of downward TGF production.


Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Manuel César Martí-Calatayud ◽  
Mario Sancho-Cirer Poczatek ◽  
Valentín Pérez-Herranz

Electrodialysis (ED) has been recently introduced in a variety of processes where the recovery of valuable resources is needed; thus, enabling sustainable production routes for a circular economy. However, new applications of ED require optimized operating modes ensuring low energy consumptions. The application of pulsed electric field (PEF) electrodialysis has been demonstrated to be an effective option to modulate concentration polarization and reduce energy consumption in ED systems, but the savings in energy are usually attained by extending the operating time. In the present work, we conduct a comprehensive simulation study about the effects of PEF signal parameters on the time and energy consumption associated with ED processes. Ion transport of NaCl solutions through homogeneous cation-exchange membranes is simulated using a 1-D model solved by a finite-difference method. Increasing the pulse frequency up to a threshold value is effective in reducing the specific energy consumption, with threshold frequencies increasing with the applied current density. Varying the duty cycle causes opposed effects in the time and energy usage needed for a given ED operation. More interestingly, a new mode of PEF functions with the application of low values of current during the relaxation phases has been investigated. This novel PEF strategy has been demonstrated to simultaneously improve the time and the specific energy consumption of ED processes.


1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (S2) ◽  
pp. 609-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.L. Thiel ◽  
M.R. Hussein-Ismail ◽  
A.M. Donald

We have performed a theoretical investigation of the effects of space charges in the Environmental SEM (ESEM). The ElectroScan ESEM uses an electrostatic field to cause gas cascade amplification of secondary electron signals. Previous theoretical descriptions of the gas cascade process in the ESEM have assumed that distortion of the electric field due to space charges can be neglected. This assumption has now been tested and shown to be valid.In the ElectroScan ESEM, a positively biased detector is located above the sample, creating an electric field on the order of 105 V/m between the detector and sample surface. Secondary electrons leaving the sample are cascaded though the gas, amplifying the signal and creating positive ions. Because the electrons move very quickly through the gas, they do not accumulate in the specimen-to-detector gap. However, the velocity of the positive ions is limited by diffusion.


High Voltage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Florkowski ◽  
Dariusz Krześniak ◽  
Maciej Kuniewski ◽  
Paweł Zydroń

2015 ◽  
Vol 813-814 ◽  
pp. 1126-1130
Author(s):  
G. Kesavan ◽  
S.S. Chandrasekaran

The maximum load carrying capacity of bored piles is a complex problem because it is a function of a number of factors, these factors include methods of soil exploration, ground water condition, types of grading of concrete, quantity and quality of concrete. The knowledge of Geotechnical test is important for the most economical design of the piles. This paper describes some important aspects of field investigation, design and construction of in-situ bored pile foundation, field pile load test of experience gained from the construction of the pile at a site in Aathoor in Tamil Nadu, India. The site was fully sandy soil from existing ground level. The design of bored pile under axial compression was done using Empirical formula, pile load test and by using PLAXIS 2D software. Results were compared with vertical load and settlement in this site.


Author(s):  
Christoph Jörgens ◽  
Markus Clemens

Purpose In high voltage direct current (HVDC), power cables heat is generated inside the conductor and the insulation during operation. A higher amount of the generated heat in comparison to the dissipated one, results in a possible thermal breakdown. The accumulation of space charges inside the insulation results in an electric field that contributes to the geometric electric field, which comes from the applied voltage. The total electric field decreases in the vicinity of the conductor, while it increases near the sheath, causing a possible change of the breakdown voltage. Design/methodology/approach Here, the thermal breakdown is studied, also incorporating the presence of space charges. For a developed electro-thermal HVDC cable model, at different temperatures, the breakdown voltage is computed through numerical simulations. Findings The simulation results show a dependence of the breakdown voltage on the temperature at the location of the sheath. The results also show only limited influence of the space charges on the breakdown voltage. Research limitations/implications The study is restricted to one-dimensional problems, using radial symmetry of the cable, and does not include any aging or long-term effect of space charges. Such aging effect can locally increase the electric field, resulting in a reduced breakdown voltage. Originality/value A comparison of the breakdown voltage with and without space charges is novel. The chosen approach allows for the first time to assess the influence of space charges and field inversion on the thermal breakdown.


2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 05003
Author(s):  
Antony Escudie ◽  
Didier Charrier ◽  
Richard Dallier ◽  
Daniel García-Fernández ◽  
Alain Lecacheux ◽  
...  

Since 2003, significant efforts have been devoted to the understanding of the radio emission of extensive air shower in the range [20-200] MHz. Despite some studies led until the early nineties, the [1-10] MHz band has remained unused for 20 years. However, it has been measured by some pioneering experiments that extensive air shower emit a strong electric field in this band and that there is evidence of a large increase in the amplitude of the radio pulse at lower frequencies. The EXTASIS experiment, located within the Nançay Radioastronomy Observatory and supported by the CODALEMA experiment, aims to reinvestigate the [1-10] MHz band, and especially to study the so-called “Sudden Death” contribution, the expected electric field emitted by shower front when hitting the ground level. Currently, EXTASIS has confirmed some results obtained by the pioneering experiments, and tends to bring explanations to the other ones, for instance the role of the underlying atmospheric electric field. Moreover, CODALEMA has demonstrated that in the most commonly used frequency band ([20-80] MHz) the electric field profile of EAS can be well sampled, and contains all the information needed for the reconstruction of EAS: an automatic comparison between the SELFAS3 simulations and data has been developed, allowing us to reconstruct in an almost real time the primary cosmic ray characteristics.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document