EFFECT OF HIGH-VELOCITY STREAMS ON THE BREAKDOWN CHARACTERISTICS AND FORMATION OF ELECTRICAL-DISCHARGE IN WATER

The results of experimental investigation of electric breakdown in sub merged fan-shaped water streams are presented. Electric breakdown in t hese conditions was found to qualitatively differ from low-voltage bre akdowns in liquid at rest [1]. The threshold voltages necessary to ini tiate the discharge were observed to decrease several times, with a si multaneous reduction of the duration of the prebreakdown stage by more than an order of magnitude. The electric geld intensity along the bre akdown channel was abnormally low (E = 450 - 700 V/cm). The glowing su rface of the discharge at the arcing stage was observed to increase ma ny times (up to 10 times).