Comparison of the AWA lumped-circuit model of electrical discharges with empirical data

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Abstract
Experimental data for three 1.7-m-long transient discharges are compared with an AWA lumped-circuit discharge model developed earlier by the authors (R.T. Robiscoe, A. Kadish, and W.B. Maier, III, J. Appl. Phys. vol.64, 1988) in which the arc resistance is taken from the 'arc welder's ansatz', R/sub a/=V*/ mod I mod , where V* is a positive constant and I is the discharge current. In addition to the arc resistance, a small series resistance R is present in the external circuit. A single value for each R and V* is deduced from the data, and these values are used to characterize all three discharges. Adequate agreement of the experimental data with the model is obtained; for example, it is possible to predict the proper number of current reversals for each discharge and abrupt termination of current flow after a finite time. It is suggested that the AWA lumped-circuit model provides a better representation of the data than a standard lumped-circuit RLC model and hence is more useful as a tool for prediction and interpretation of discharge.