Influence of surface shape on DC surface breakdown characteristics under metallic-particle contaminated conditions in SF6 gas

The influence of a metallic particle attached to a supporting insulator is remarkable in decreasing the dielectric strength in an SF6 insulated apparatus. To solve this problem, a series of studies has been conducted on a method of improving the particle-initiated breakdown performance. In this paper, dc breakdown voltage characteristics and the breakdown mechanism are investigated under metallic-particle contaminated conditions in SF6 gas by varying the particle condition and the surface shape of the acrylic plate with a rod-plane electrode. The main results show that a rib increases the breakdown voltage by a corona stabilization effect and the elongation of discharge path, but a groove decreases its effect drastically at lower gas pressures. The breakdown voltage at pressures higher than 4 atm may be estimated on the basis of the discharge-maintaining field and the discharge length which depend on the gas pressure and the surface shape.