Metal particle movement and distribution characteristics under AC voltage and ball-plane electrodes

Metal particles, difficult to be eliminated in gas-insulated metal-enclosed switchgear (GIS), can cause GIS discharge and breakdown between electrodes, or flashover on the insulator surface. It influences the development of ultra-high voltage (UHV) projects. Therefore, the work optimised the model of metal particle movement under AC voltage, studying the metal particle movement and distribution characteristics between ball-plane electrodes through experiment and simulation. Under AC voltage, the particle jumps on a small scale on the plane surface. With the increase of voltage, the jump amplitude increases. However, the collision frequency decreases until the particle collides with the ball electrode. When the initial phase angle of power changes, the particle-moving pattern is symmetrical in the angle ranging from 0 to 180°, and from 180 to 360°. The collision frequency changes slightly with the increase of jump amplitude when the angel ranges from 0 to 120°.