NUMERICAL-ANALYSIS OF THE DYNAMICS OF A SPHERICAL BUBBLE IN A LIQUID DIELECTRIC IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ELECTRIC-FIELD

A numerical analysis is conducted of a system of equations, presented earlier by the authors, on the dynamics of a spherically symmetric bub ble in a liquid dielectric in an electric field. The system is simplif ied for the case of low charge mobility in the liquid. It demonstrates the possibility of two dynamic regimes for the bubble: 1) a rapid mon otonic growth, where the electric pressure at the phase-separation bou ndary exceeds the pressure in the liquid, and 2) a slower oscillating growth regime, where the electric pressure is less than the external p ressure, and bubble growth is caused by Joule heating in an oscillatin g, conducting gas cavity (via particle charges in a strong electric fi eld). This regime, which has not been treated in detail before now, is of interest for explaining various prebreakdown processes in liquid h ydrocarbons.