Analyzing the Effect of Dynamic Pressure Drop on Corona Discharges for Aircraft Applications

Abstract

The combination of the low-pressure environment found in aircraft systems and the gradual electrification of aircraft increases the risk of electrical discharges occurrence. This is an undesirable situation that compromises aircraft safety and complicates maintenance operations. Experimental data are needed to understand this problem. However, most of the published studies are based on static pressure conditions, but aircraft systems are exposed to dynamic pressure conditions, especially during the climb and descent phases of flight. This paper analyzes the effect of dynamic pressure during the climb phase on the corona inception voltage because this phase experiences the worst pressure drop rate. The experimental evidence presented in this paper shows that within the analyzed pressure drop rate range, the dynamic pressure conditions do not have a significant effect on the corona inception value under typical conditions found in aircraft systems during the climb phase.

Study on the effects of medium-low pressure and oxygen concentration on positive streamer based on a two-dimensional fluid model

“…At high altitudes, such as the cruising altitude of commercial aviation at 9.5-11.5 km, the pressure drops to around 20 kPa [4], altering the propagation characteristics of streamers [5]. Electrical and electronic components used in aerospace applications are more susceptible to discharge effects due to lower streamer initiation voltages [6]. Additionally, altering the N 2 /O 2 ratio in air also affects streamer characteristics, and these mixed gases have been applied in fields such as gas cleaning [7,8], ozone generation [9,10], and surface treatment [11,12].…”