Dielectric Breakdown in Electrical Systems
Prof. David R. Jackson
Dept. of ECE
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Notes 22
Dielectric
Breakdown
ECE 3318
ECE 3318
Applied Electricity and Magnetism
Applied Electricity and Magnetism
1
Dielectric Breakdown
Dielectric Breakdown
Arcing (spark)
E
c
=
“critical electric field”
2
Parallel-plate capacitor with uniform electric field
The air ionizes and “runaway”
(avalanche) breakdown occurs
Dielectric Breakdown (cont.)
Dielectric Breakdown (cont.)
Corona Discharge (
local
breakdown)
Power lines are often grouped together (“bundled conductors”) to
reduce conductor losses and the corona effect.
3
400 kV high-voltage transmission
line near Madrid, Spain (Wikipedia)
Bundled conductors tend to act
like one larger conductor in
terms of the breakdown.
Dielectric Breakdown (cont.)
Dielectric Breakdown (cont.)
4
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas is often used in large circuit breakers.
Circuit breakers in 345 kV CenterPoint
substation, Tomball, TX
Atmospheric pressure = 101.325 kPa
SF6 is often used for quenching
arcs in circuit breakers.
Example
Example
Find:
V
max
(assume a safety factor
SF = 2
)
Set
=
a
(breakdown occurs here first)
:
5
At breakdown:
Example (cont.)
Example (cont.)
Thus
Hence
or
We then have
6
With safety factor:
7
Example (cont.)
Example (cont.)
Larger coaxes (larger
a
) can handle
more voltage and power.
Power flowing down the line:
8
Example (cont.)
Example (cont.)
(derived later)
(from ECE 3317)
This gives us
Phasor domain voltage
Van de Graaff Generator
Van de Graaff Generator
(1) Electric field is high
near sharp points:
the air is ionized
and charges are
free to jump on/off.
(2) Faraday cage
effect: No matter
how much charge
is placed on the
dome, it goes to
the outside and
there is little field
on the inside.
Principles:
9
The felt on the bottom pulley becomes positively charged.
Dr. Robert J. Van de Graaff (1901-1967) was a professor at Princeton
university and a Research Associate at MIT. The Van de Graaff
generator was invented in 1929 and originally used as a research tool in
early atom-smashing and high energy X-ray experiments.
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
10
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
This picture shows Dr. Van de Graaff with his first generator (
80
[
kV
]).
11
The world’s largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator, designed and built by Van
de Graaff during 1931-1933. The spheres are
15
feet in diameter and
43
feet off the
ground. It can produce
7
[
MV
].
Inside each dome
there was a laboratory.
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
12
In the early 1950's, the giant Van de
Graaff generator was donated to the
Boston Museum of Science
.
For years, it was enclosed in a small
steel structure on the Museum's
property, where it was occasionally
demonstrated.
Finally, in 1980, the
Thomson Theatre
of Electricity
was completed inside the
museum. The generator is
demonstrated at least twice daily, to
teach public and school audiences
about electricity and lightning.
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
13
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
14
Boston Museum of Science
A modern Van de Graaff generator integrated with a particle
accelerator. The generator produces the high voltages (in the
megavolt range) that accelerates particles.
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
15
(from Wikipedia)
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generator
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
16
Find the maximum voltage
V
max
on a Van de Graaff Generator in air
Hence
17
Point charge
potential
formula:
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Point charge
electric field
formula:
A bigger dome can support a higher voltage!
Find the maximum spark length to a grounded sphere
The spheres are
approximated as
flat conductors.
18
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Assume
19
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.)
Example
N
o
t
e
:
This dimension
corresponds to the small
Van de Graaff that we have
in the ECE Department.
Maximum voltage
Spark length
This is used to produce high voltage at AC (typically about 1 [MHz]).
20
Tesla Coil
Tesla Coil
21
Tesla Coil (cont.)
Tesla Coil (cont.)
Equivalent circuit for a typical Tesla coil
(“resonant air-core transformer”)
Output: 250 kV at 500 kHz
A
t
r
e
s
o
n
a
n
c
e
:
(Tesla coil in our lab)
22
Tesla Coil (cont.)
Tesla Coil (cont.)
P
i
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t
u
r
e
s
o
f
T
e
s
l
a
:
(1) by himself; (2) in his lab with a Tesla coil; (3) lighting a lightbulb wirelessly.
Lightning
Lightning
23
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
24
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning strikes at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, June 12, 2012.
Credit: “texansgirl34”
25
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
26
Powerful air currents and friction between ice and water particles are
believed responsible for the charge formation.
The base of the thunder has negative charge and the top has positive
charge (though there can be pockets of charge that are opposite).
Most lightning comes from negative charges at the base of a
thundercloud (negative lightning).
About
5%
comes from the positive charges at the top (positive lightning).
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
27
Negative lightning
Positive lighting can be up to
10
times as powerful as negative
lightning: it can result it a “bolt from the blue,” striking miles away
from the visible cloud (up to 25 miles away or more).
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
28
Positive lightning
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
29
The different types of lightning that are usually observed are shown here.
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
Positive lightning (note that it originates from the top of the cloud).
30
The base of the thundercloud is typically at an altitude of about
1,500
[
m
]. The
top of the thundercloud may be at about
10,000
[
m
] or higher.
The voltage drop between the cloud base and ground is typically
150
[
MV
].
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
T
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31
A “stepped leader” begins
descending from the cloud. It is a
group of electrons that zigzags
toward the earth. The charge is
typically about
-5
[
C
].
The stepped leader travels about
50
[
m
] in about
1
[
s
], then pauses for about
50
[
s
], and then continues, pausing every
50
[
m
] or so.
The width of the leader channel is about
1.0
[
cm
].
The stepped leader does not “know” where it will strike until it is
about
40
[
m
] or so from the earth.
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
One theory is that cosmic rays are responsible for the formation of the leader, which ionize atoms and
release electrons that get accelerated by the high electric fields.
32
The stepped leader may branch as it
descends (this is responsible for the
forked appearance of most lighting).
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
Branches
33
Main channel
Branches
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
34
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
35
The pptx version has an animation (go to full-screen mode).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning
As the stepped leader approaches
the earth, positive “streamers" rise
up from the earth to meet it.
The streamers are more likely to
come from conducting objects with
sharp points (e.g., a lightning rod).
Streamers may be up to about
50
[
m
] in length
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
-
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
36
At a height of about
40
[
m
] (up to
about 50 [
m
]), a streamer meets with
the stepped leader, and a conducting
channel is formed to earth.
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
37
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
38
A lightning flash terminates
on a tree.
(An un-attached streamer is
visible on the earth surface
projection to the left.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning
A powerful surge of current (“return
stroke”) flows upward from the ground to
the cloud. This is what is visible as the
lightning bolt.
The current surge travels upward at about
25%
the speed of light. The charge in the
branches is drained as the surge passes
by, lighting the branches as well.
The peak current is typically
15
[
kA
]
(sometimes reaching
100
[
kA
]). The
return stroke typically lasts about
100
[
s
].
-
-
-
current surge
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
-
-
-
-
-
-
39
The current typically stops for about
50
[
ms
].
A new leader, called the “dart leader”
usually descends from the cloud along
the previous path. There is usually no
branching as it goes.
The dart leader travels about
10
times
faster than the stepped leader, without
pausing. It carries about
-1
[
C
].
Another return stroke occurs when the
dart leader reaches the ground.
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
40
The dart-leader / return-stroke combination
typically repeats
3
or
4
times.
The entire event (lighting flash) typically lasts
0.2
[
s
] (sometimes as long a
1
[
s
] or more).
The total charge deposited on the ground
(from the stepped leader, the dart leaders, and
current flow between them) is about
-25
[
C
].
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
41
Lightning may not
always strike the
tallest object around!
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
42
The “
rolling sphere
” method is often used to visualize what objects are
vulnerable to being struck by lightning.
Anything the sphere touches as it rolls is subject to being hit.
Lightning (cont.)
Lightning (cont.)
43
Rolling sphere
This assumes that the maximum
length of a streamer is 50 [
m
].
Ground-to-cloud lightning may occur, from
objects that are very tall (like radio towers).
In this case a positive leader
emerges from
the object
on the ground, and steps
upward
towards the cloud.
Ground-to-Cloud Lightning
Ground-to-Cloud Lightning
+
+
+
44
Ground-to-cloud lightning (note the upward forking)
45
Ground-to-Cloud Lightning (cont.)
Ground-to-Cloud Lightning (cont.)
Lightning and Aircraft
Lightning and Aircraft
A commercial airplane is typically struck by lightning about once a year.
The passengers are usually safe due to the “Faraday cage effect.”
In about 10% of the cases, the airplane intercepts a leader that is traveling from
the cloud (the plane “gets in the way” of the lightning).
In about 90% of the cases, the airplane
initiates
the lightning strike: The leader
emerges from the plane. This is often in the form of a “bi-directional leader.”
In the bi-directional leader, a positive leader emerges from the top of the plane,
and shortly after a negative leader emerges from the bottom of the plane (which
is now negatively charged).
46
Lightning and Aircraft (cont.)
Lightning and Aircraft (cont.)
Upward-going
positive leader (note
upward branching)
Downward-going
negative leader (note
downward branching)
47
Plane “stuck” by lightning
while on takeoff from the
Komatsu Air Force Base off
the coast in the Sea of Japan.
Lightning Rod
Lightning Rod
A lighting rod is a rod of metal that is well
grounded, and ideally fairly sharp at the end.
The taller the better.
It launches a good streamer (better than the
surrounding points on the building) because
of the high electric field near the tip.
It should be well grounded to discharge safely
a lighting strike.
48
Laser Lightning Rod
Laser Lightning Rod
49
Experimental study in the Swiss Alps to see if a high-power
laser beam can act as a lightning rod (by ionizing the air).
Heather M. Hill, “Lightning strikes a laser rod,” Physics Today, Jan. 25, 2023, DOI:10.1063/PT.6.1.20230125a
Laser Lightning Rod (cont.)
Laser Lightning Rod (cont.)
50
Results appear to be promising!
Lightning Safety
Lightning Safety
51
Danger exists due to:
Direct strike from lightning
Secondary flashover (after lightning has hit another nearby object)
*
Ground currents induced by lighting strike
*Do not assume you are safe under a tree, just because the tree is taller than you!
Lightning Safety (cont.)
Lightning Safety (cont.)
The ground current near the strike may
be very large.
This causes an large electric field along
the surface of the earth.
It is possible to be electrocuted without
being hit by the lightning.
It is best to keep your feet together!
52
Lightning Safety (cont.)
Lightning Safety (cont.)
Sample calculation
I
= 20 [kA]
r
= 10 [m]
= 0.1 [S/m]
E
r
= 318
[
V/m
]
53
Lightning Safety (cont.)
Lightning Safety (cont.)
1) The best protection is to be inside of a closed metal structure such as a
building or an automobile (Faraday cage effect).
Make sure you are not the tallest object around.
Do not stand near the tallest object around (secondary flashover effect).
Do not carry metal poles or metal objects like golf clubs, etc. (lightning rod effect).
54
2) If outside:
Summary of Lightning Safety Rules
3) If you feel that a strike is imminent nearby:
Put your feet together, crouch down, and face away from the tallest object.
Other Lightning-like Atmospheric Discharges
Other Lightning-like Atmospheric Discharges
55
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper-atmospheric_lightning
Other Atmospheric Discharges
Other Atmospheric Discharges
56
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper-atmospheric_lightning
Atmospheric Discharges (cont.)
Atmospheric Discharges (cont.)
57
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper-atmospheric_lightning
First color image of a sprite. It was obtained during a 1994 NASA/University of Alaska
aircraft campaign to study sprites. The event was captured using an intensified color TV
camera. The red color was subsequently determined to be from nitrogen fluorescent
emissions excited by a lightning stroke in the underlying thunderstorm.
58
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper-atmospheric_lightning
Blues Jets were observed for the first time in 1994. Conical jets of blue light propagate
electrically from the core and are ejected from the top of the thunderstorms clouds towards
the upper atmosphere at a speed of approximately 120 km/s. They usually propagate in
narrow cones of 15° and do not exceed 40-50 kilometers in altitude. They are not directly
related to cloud-to-ground lightnings and are not aligned with the local magnetic field.
Atmospheric Discharges (cont.)
Atmospheric Discharges (cont.)
59
https://yle.fi/news/3-5972450
An elf, as photographed in 2009 by Tim Kantola in Finland. The elf
is seen together with red sprites.
Atmospheric Discharges (cont.)
Atmospheric Discharges (cont.)
Exploring the phenomena of dielectric breakdown in electrical systems, including arcing, corona discharge, and the use of sulfur hexafluoride gas in circuit breakers. Detailed examples illustrate calculations for handling voltage in coaxial cables with safety factors.
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ECE 3318 Applied Electricity and Magnetism Spring 2024 Prof. David R. Jackson Dept. of ECE Notes 22 Dielectric Breakdown 1
Dielectric Breakdown 1 Arcing (spark) + - = x E E c E x c Spark Parallel-plate capacitor with uniform electric field 3 10 = 6 Air : V/m E c Ec = critical electric field = 15 10 6 Oil : V/m E The air ionizes and runaway (avalanche) breakdown occurs c = 30 10 6 Glass : V/m E c 2
Dielectric Breakdown (cont.) 2 Corona Discharge (local breakdown) + - E E c Bundled conductors tend to act like one larger conductor in terms of the breakdown. 400 kV high-voltage transmission line near Madrid, Spain (Wikipedia) Power lines are often grouped together ( bundled conductors ) to reduce conductor losses and the corona effect. 3
Dielectric Breakdown (cont.) Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas is often used in large circuit breakers. Circuit breakers in 345 kV CenterPoint substation, Tomball, TX Atmospheric pressure = 101.325 kPa SF6 is often used for quenching arcs in circuit breakers. 4
Example = 2.0 r = 6 15 10 [ 0.25 ] c E b V/m r = = cm a 0.5 a mm Coaxial cable b Find: Vmax(assume a safety factor SF = 2) At breakdown: max ( ) l max = max E - 2 0 r - - + + + + Set = a (breakdown occurs here first): Note: + - + - - max l max = max sa ( ) a = = max E E 2 a c 2 l a max max l b = max sb 0 r 2 5
Example (cont.) = max 2 aE Thus 0 r c max a ( ) ( ) max = = max Hence E E E c 2 0 r B b max = = = max V V E dr E d We then have max AB A a b a = E d c a b = ln E a c a or b a = ln V E a max c 6
Example (cont.) Larger coaxes (larger a) can handle more voltage and power. With safety factor: 1 b a = SF max ln V E a c SF 1 2 ( ) ( ) ( ) ln 5 = 15 10 0.5 10 6 3 V = SF max 6035.4 V 7
Example (cont.) Phasor domain voltage Power flowing down the line: 2 ,SF p V 1 2 max Z = SF max P (from ECE 3317) 0 b a = [ ] ln 0 Z (derived later) 0 2 r Z = 68.3 0 This gives us W = SF max P 5 2.67 10 8
Van de Graaff Generator Principles: (1) Electric field is high near sharp points: the air is ionized and charges are free to jump on/off. (2) Faraday cage effect: No matter how much charge is placed on the dome, it goes to the outside and there is little field on the inside. The felt on the bottom pulley becomes positively charged. 9
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) Dr. Robert J. Van de Graaff (1901-1967) was a professor at Princeton university and a Research Associate at MIT. The Van de Graaff generator was invented in 1929 and originally used as a research tool in early atom-smashing and high energy X-ray experiments. 10
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) This picture shows Dr. Van de Graaff with his first generator (80 [kV]). 11
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) Inside each dome there was a laboratory. The world s largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator, designed and built by Van de Graaff during 1931-1933. The spheres are 15 feet in diameter and 43 feet off the ground. It can produce 7 [MV]. 12
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) In the early 1950's, the giant Van de Graaff generator was donated to the Boston Museum of Science. For years, it was enclosed in a small steel structure on the Museum's property, where it was occasionally demonstrated. Finally, in 1980, the Thomson Theatre of Electricity was completed inside the museum. The generator is demonstrated at least twice daily, to teach public and school audiences about electricity and lightning. 13
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) Boston Museum of Science 14
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) A modern Van de Graaff generator integrated with a particle accelerator. The generator produces the high voltages (in the megavolt range) that accelerates particles. (from Wikipedia) 15
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generator 16
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) Find the maximum voltage Vmaxon a Van de Graaff Generator in air Q = max E Point charge electric field formula: c 2 4 a 0 = 2 4 Q a E max max 0 c Q + + + + Q a ( ) r = max max + Point charge potential formula: 4 r 0 + + max V 2 4 Q a E a ( ) a = = = max max 0 c V + + max 4 4 a 0 0 == E E r c r a Hence = V aE max c (Assume zero volts at infinity.) A bigger dome can support a higher voltage! 17
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) Find the maximum spark length to a grounded sphere + + Vmax + + a a + + + + h + = V E h max c V E h (parallel-plate approximation) max c The spheres are approximated as flat conductors. V E a E = = = = h a max E c h a c c 18
Van de Graaff Generator (cont.) Example Assume m Note: = 0.1 a This dimension corresponds to the small Van de Graaff that we have in the ECE Department. 3 10 = 6 E V/m c V = 300,000 V Maximum voltage max m = = 0.1 ( 3.9 [ ) h h ] inches Spark length 19
Tesla Coil This is used to produce high voltage at AC (typically about 1 [MHz]). 20
Tesla Coil (cont.) Equivalent circuit for a typical Tesla coil ( resonant air-core transformer ) = RF choke Spark gap (resonance) 1 2 + + 2 L 250 kV 500 KHz 6600 V (RMS) 60 Hz 120 V (RMS) 60 Hz 1L + - C 2 C V1 V2 1 1 1 = = 1 LC 2 - L C 1 1 - 2 2 Air-core transformer Step-up transformer V V L L = 2 2 At resonance: Output: 250 kV at 500 kHz 1 1 (Tesla coil in our lab) 21
Tesla Coil (cont.) Pictures of Tesla: (1) by himself; (2) in his lab with a Tesla coil; (3) lighting a lightbulb wirelessly. 22
Lightning 23
Lightning (cont.) Lightning strikes at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, June 12, 2012. Credit: texansgirl34 25
Lightning (cont.) Powerful air currents and friction between ice and water particles are believed responsible for the charge formation. The base of the thunder has negative charge and the top has positive charge (though there can be pockets of charge that are opposite). 26
Lightning (cont.) + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Negative lightning + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth Most lightning comes from negative charges at the base of a thundercloud (negative lightning). About 5% comes from the positive charges at the top (positive lightning). 27
Lightning (cont.) + + + + + + Positive lightning + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth Positive lighting can be up to 10 times as powerful as negative lightning: it can result it a bolt from the blue, striking miles away from the visible cloud (up to 25 miles away or more). 28
Lightning (cont.) The different types of lightning that are usually observed are shown here. 29
Lightning (cont.) Positive lightning (note that it originates from the top of the cloud). 30
Lightning (cont.) + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth The base of the thundercloud is typically at an altitude of about 1,500 [m]. The top of the thundercloud may be at about 10,000 [m] or higher. The voltage drop between the cloud base and ground is typically 150 [MV]. This is not nearly enough to arc from the cloud to ground! 3.0 MV/m c E 31
Lightning (cont.) + + + + + + A stepped leader begins descending from the cloud. It is a group of electrons that zigzags toward the earth. The charge is typically about -5 [C]. + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ One theory is that cosmic rays are responsible for the formation of the leader, which ionize atoms and release electrons that get accelerated by the high electric fields. The stepped leader travels about 50 [m] in about 1 [ s], then pauses for about 50 [ s], and then continues, pausing every 50 [m] or so. The width of the leader channel is about 1.0 [cm]. The stepped leader does not know where it will strike until it is about 40 [m] or so from the earth. 32
Lightning (cont.) + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The stepped leader may branch as it descends (this is responsible for the forked appearance of most lighting). Branches + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 33
Lightning (cont.) Main channel Branches 34
Lightning (cont.) File:Lightning formation.gif The pptx version has an animation (go to full-screen mode). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning 35
Lightning (cont.) As the stepped leader approaches the earth, positive streamers" rise up from the earth to meet it. + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The streamers are more likely to come from conducting objects with sharp points (e.g., a lightning rod). Streamers may be up to about 50 [m] in length - - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 36
Lightning (cont.) + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ At a height of about 40 [m] (up to about 50 [m]), a streamer meets with the stepped leader, and a conducting channel is formed to earth. - - Contact point + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 37
Lightning (cont.) A lightning flash terminates on a tree. (An un-attached streamer is visible on the earth surface projection to the left.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning 38
Lightning (cont.) A powerful surge of current ( return stroke ) flows upward from the ground to the cloud. This is what is visible as the lightning bolt. + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The current surge travels upward at about 25% the speed of light. The charge in the branches is drained as the surge passes by, lighting the branches as well. The peak current is typically 15 [kA] (sometimes reaching 100 [kA]). The return stroke typically lasts about 100 [ s]. - - - current surge + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 39
Lightning (cont.) The current typically stops for about 50 [ms]. + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ A new leader, called the dart leader usually descends from the cloud along the previous path. There is usually no branching as it goes. _ _ _ _ _ _ The dart leader travels about 10 times faster than the stepped leader, without pausing. It carries about -1 [C]. Another return stroke occurs when the dart leader reaches the ground. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 40
Lightning (cont.) + + + + + + + + + The dart-leader / return-stroke combination typically repeats 3 or 4 times. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The entire event (lighting flash) typically lasts 0.2 [s] (sometimes as long a 1 [s] or more). The total charge deposited on the ground (from the stepped leader, the dart leaders, and current flow between them) is about -25 [C]. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 41
Lightning (cont.) + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Lightning may not always strike the tallest object around! d 50 m d + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 42
Lightning (cont.) The rolling sphere method is often used to visualize what objects are vulnerable to being struck by lightning. Anything the sphere touches as it rolls is subject to being hit. This assumes that the maximum length of a streamer is 50 [m]. Rolling sphere 50 m Earth 43
Ground-to-Cloud Lightning + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Ground-to-cloud lightning may occur, from objects that are very tall (like radio towers). + + + In this case a positive leader emerges from the object on the ground, and steps upward towards the cloud. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 44
Ground-to-Cloud Lightning (cont.) Ground-to-cloud lightning (note the upward forking) 45
Lightning and Aircraft A commercial airplane is typically struck by lightning about once a year. The passengers are usually safe due to the Faraday cage effect. In about 10% of the cases, the airplane intercepts a leader that is traveling from the cloud (the plane gets in the way of the lightning). In about 90% of the cases, the airplane initiates the lightning strike: The leader emerges from the plane. This is often in the form of a bi-directional leader. In the bi-directional leader, a positive leader emerges from the top of the plane, and shortly after a negative leader emerges from the bottom of the plane (which is now negatively charged). 46
Lightning and Aircraft (cont.) + + + + + + + + + Plane stuck by lightning while on takeoff from the Komatsu Air Force Base off the coast in the Sea of Japan. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Upward-going positive leader (note upward branching) Downward-going negative leader (note downward branching) 47
Lightning Rod A lighting rod is a rod of metal that is well grounded, and ideally fairly sharp at the end. The taller the better. It launches a good streamer (better than the surrounding points on the building) because of the high electric field near the tip. It should be well grounded to discharge safely a lighting strike. + + + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Positive streamer High electric field + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Earth 48
Laser Lightning Rod Experimental study in the Swiss Alps to see if a high-power laser beam can act as a lightning rod (by ionizing the air). Heather M. Hill, Lightning strikes a laser rod, Physics Today, Jan. 25, 2023, DOI:10.1063/PT.6.1.20230125a 49
Laser Lightning Rod (cont.) Results appear to be promising! 50
