Investigations of breakdown voltage and time delay of gas-filled surge arresters

The contributions of positive ions and neutral active particles, remaining from previous breakdown and discharge as well as contribution of gamma photons from and radiation sources and cosmic rays to the electrical breakdown initiation in commercial gas-filled surge arresters have been analysed. This analysis was performed on the basis of time delay mean value as a function of afterglow period τ (‘memory curve’) and the breakdown voltage mean value as a function of τ. The values of static breakdown voltage were estimated on the basis of the experimental breakdown voltage data as a function of voltage increase rate using a linear polynomial fit.