EFFECT OF HIGH-CONDUCTIVITY BARRIERS ON DENDRITE DEVELOPMENT IN A DIELECTRIC

Computer simulation has been used to study the influence of high-condu ctivity barriers on discharge development in a condenser dielectric. T he studies were carried out by means of a modified fracture breakdown model; the results obtained are compared with experimental data. Dendr ite formation can be characterized by the relationships between the sp ecific times of dendrite growth tau(d) and charge relaxation in the ba rrier tau(b) and in discharge channels tau(c). Application of a barrie r with tau(b) less than or equal to tau(d) is shown to be more efficie nt.