Partial discharges and breakdown in SF₆in the pressure range 25–150 kPa in non-uniform background fields

The partial discharge (PD) and electric breakdown mechanisms in SF 6 at a plug contact in the pressure range 25–150 kPa were investigated at ambient temperature in a plug–plate arrangement. This parameter range has similar particle number densities as in the previous investigation of the dielectric recovery in a high-voltage circuit breaker (Seeger et al 2012 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 45 395204), where optical access was limited and the relevant parameters of pressure and temperature could only be determined indirectly by computational fluid dynamic simulations. The present investigation did not have these limitations, since the pressure and temperature were well defined. Optical observation by an image intensified high speed camera in combination with a photo multiplier tube allowed an understanding of the various mechanisms for the PDs and breakdown to be gained. The breakdown fields and PD parameters could be well described by a simple leader model in the pressure range 75–150 kPa for negative polarity and above 25 kPa for positive polarity. Discrepancies with the model are observed below 75 kPa for negative polarity and at 25 kPa for positive polarity. This could be explained by a slow, repetitive heating mechanism which has not been reported so far.