Pulsed corona investigations with a wide parameter range

An experimental set-up for pulsed corona discharges is presented that offers a much wider parameter range than usual. The discharge is created in a large stainless steel vessel that allows point-plane gaps to vary from 10 to 160 mm. The gas pressure in the vessel can be the standard 1 bar, but it can also be decreased down to 13 mbar. The operating gas is usually ambient air, but pure N2 from cylinders is also available. Two pulsed power supplies are constructed that permit pulse amplitudes between 2 and 90 kV, voltage rise times between 15 and 180 ns and pulse durations from 100 ns up to many microseconds. Furthermore, both supplies operate with both pulse polarities. Examples of photographs with an intensified CCD camera are shown.