Numerical analysis for positive and negative discharge mechanisms in air by using fully coupled finite element method

Numerical analysis was carried out using a fully coupled finite element method to analyze mechanisms for positive and negative discharges in air. To analyze these discharge mechanisms, we have employed the charge continuity equations for carriers such as the electron, and positive and negative ions, and the Poisson’s equation for the electric field including the ionization, attachment, and recombination effects. The space charge density was numerically estimated according to the time, and the streamer initiation and propagation processes were analyzed for the positive and negative discharges. Further, to analyze the discharge mechanism, the electron, negative and positive ions densities were estimated with time. Finally, To verify our numerical setup, the numerical results have been compared with those from the previous experimental results reported in the literature.