Re: Breakdown Voltage Gradient and Paschen's Law - Doesn't make sense ?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Dr. Resonance by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com>


With spheres in the VDGRF range, ie, 14 inch through 24 inch, we've measured
and use 26.5 kV/cm.  This is for DC and peak AC ratings.

Dr. Resonance

Resonance Research Corporation
E11870 Shadylane Rd.
Baraboo   WI   53913
 > **********************
 > Under constant atmospheric conditions, it is found that the breakdown
 > voltage of a uniform field gap may be expressed
 > in the form:
 >
 > V = A*d + B*SQRT(d)       where d is the gap spacing
 >
 > For air under normal conditions:
 > A = 24.4kV/cm
 > B = 6.29kV/cm^1/2
 >
 > It then states that the breakdown voltage gradient is about 30kV/cm in
 > gaps on the order of 1cm
 > and about 6kV/cm for large gaps on the order of several meters
 >
 > **********************
 >
 > Using the above equation for say 1cm, I do indeed get approx. V =
 > 30kV/cm
 >
 > However, if I use d = 300cm (3 meters), i get about 24kV/cm, which is
 > way off from 6kV/cm.
 >
 > Is there an error in the above equation, or am I missing something???
 >
 > Any help appreciated.
 >
 > Thanks
 >
 > The Captain
 >
 >