Effect of Background Ions on the Selection of the Discharge Path

The effects of the background ions on the selection of the discharge path in an air gap have been studied with two different methods. The lightning impulse air discharge experiment is conducted using an independent ion generator, while the air discharge experiment uses a lightning impulse superimposed on a dc high voltage used to produce background ions. The influence of different background ions on the leader development, and thus on the discharge path, is observed. Consistent results have been obtained with the two methods. The probability for the discharge path passing through the negative ion space is much higher than that for the passing through the positive ion space. The mechanism of the effects of background ions is analysed based on the electron avalanche and the electric field.