Dark current measurements in humid SF₆: influence of electrode roughness, relative humidity and pressure

The measurement of ‘dark current’ in pressurized SF 6 at high electric field is performed using electrodes with a coaxial geometry. To identify the main mechanisms involved in measured currents, the influences of electrode roughness, gas pressure and relative humidity have been investigated. The experimental results reveal that charge injection from the electrode constitute the predominant process responsible for the dark current. The latter is nearly identical in positive and negative polarities, and shows an exponential increase versus the relative humidity and the electric field. The analysis of results shows that under high electric field, the emission of charged water clusters from the water films adsorbed on electrodes probably constitutes the main mechanism of charge emission.