Burst Pulses for Positive Corona Discharge in an Air Atmosphere: A Simulation Study

Positive corona discharge is a diverse, uncertain phenomenon. Burst pulses are a type of preonset pulses occurring in the onset stage of positive coronas. In this study, we simulated successive burst pulses using a fluid numerical model coupled with Poisson and Helmholtz equations in a 1-D axisymmetric model. The typical burst pulse train-a primary pulse followed by several secondary pulses and its repetition-was uncovered in simulation. Our modeling results closely agree with experimental results in the literature. We investigated the current waveform, electric field, species distribution, photoionization of the second burst pulse train and discussed reignition, rise, and amplitude characteristics of the burst pulses. According to our results, the second burst pulse train has the characteristics similar to the first one studied by Morrow (2002). In addition, the proper amplitude of the second primary pulse is governed by the density of net positive ionic charges required to distort the electric field (to a level where more collisional ionization cannot be supported). Our study supplemented the findings of Morrow (2002) and elucidated the mechanisms and characteristics of positive corona burst pulses.