The effects of space charge in determining prebreakdown events in dielectric liquids
J. Keith Nelson, Paul B. McGrath · 1976
The mechanism of breakdown in dielectric liquids has been ascribed in the past to particles,1liberated electrons,2gas evolution,3and other agencies. There is no doubt that there are circumstances in which any of these may individually assume importance and determine the electric strength of a liquid. Previous work with fluorocarbon liquids'4has provided an indication that several of these mechanisms may act cumulatively in determining the prebreakdown events in dielectric liquids. The divergent fields used in this study provide a means of artificially retarding the events preceding breakdown and hence allow time resolved Schlieren studies to be carried out to highlight polarity and field effects.