A model for long air gap discharge using an equivalent electrical network

In this paper, an attempt of the whole discharge model is proposed. This model is based on an equivalent electrical network, the parameters of which are determined from electromagnetic field and gas discharge theories. It uses the fact that the discharge channel may be likened to a long conductor and employs a typical LCR representation for a single conductor line. For all phases of the discharge, the same circuit is used in modeling the change of stage with variable resistances and inductances. For a given shape and electrode configuration, the model allows us to determine the currents of the leader and the return stroke, the corresponding charge, the potential drop along the leader channel, the power and energy injected into the gap and the leader propagation velocities. The obtained results are found to be in accordance with the experimental ones obtained for discharges in long air gaps, created in laboratory.