A Study of Electric Breakdown Theory to Model Dielectric Surface Flashover

Electric flashover on power system apparatus and safety equipment can result in destruction to equipment and injury to workers, as well as pose a danger to anyone in the vicinity of this occurring. This phenomenon still continues to be an issue today despite over 100 years of research into the problem. It was determined that an exhaustive literature review should be performed to investigate mathematical models proposed thus far, evaluate them, and deduce if errors or weaknesses exist due to lack of knowledge at the time of development. We desire to find a model, assemble one out of others, or create one out of insight gained to more accurately represent dielectric surface flashover. A review was performed of static, dynamic, avalanche-streamer-leader, and surface interaction models. Employing electro-hydrodynamic models to model the avalanche-streamer system is typical in the physics literature. However, the incorporation of the Elenbaas-Heller analytical model for a leader was examined. A proposal to use Elenbass-Heller with the surface electron emission avalanche model is presented, possible weaknesses of both streamer-leader models are discussed, and future research to remedy these weaknesses is proposed.