Monte Carlo simulation of corona discharge in SF6

Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is one of the most widely used gaseous dielectrics for electric power systems and a number of high-voltage applications. There are many industrial applications where the electric corona discharge is used. In most cases the corona discharge is an inherently dynamic process: all parameters vary in time. Monte Carlo simulation of corona discharges in gas offers several advantages to study fundamental processes. Furthermore, it gives a fair qualitative description of the corona discharge itself as a function of space and time. This paper describes the development of negative coronas in SF6 in a point-plane gap. Detailed structure of avalanches is presented, the total field distribution, propagation of successive avalanches and ion distribution are studied. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.