Modeling of Strong Wind-Sand Dielectric Streamer Discharge

Due to the complex and harsh climate environment in Northwest China, the external insulation of power lines and high-speed train are exposed to strong wind-sand environment all year round, which brings severe challenges to the external insulation design and protection of the electric systems. Based on the theories of streamer discharge, the plate-plate electrode was taken as the analysis object, and a theoretical physical model of the strong wind-sand dielectric discharge is established. In this model, the analytical expressions of electron ionization coefficient and positive ion generation coefficient in a wind-sand environment are deduced considering the combined effects of the airflow velocity, the distortion of the electric field caused by sand particles, and the electrons captured by sand particles in the discharge process; furthermore, the streamer breakdown criterion in wind-sand environment is proposed. Research results can provide an important theoretical basis for the quantitative calculation of the breakdown voltage and the external insulation protection in a strong wind-sand environment.