Partial discharge is the commencement of failure of insulation of electrical devices used at high voltage. If such discharge is not detected then fault may increase at the working duration. Basically partial discharge is the cause of failure of insulation in electrical equipment. The insulation of electrical equipment deteriorates due to thermal, mechanical, electrical and environmental stresse...

In 1971 the first research work on hollow cathode arcs (abbreviated HCA) started at Giessen University. Emphasis has been put on the operation of this hollow cathode arc for the ion beam neutralization of the electric propulsion unit RIT 10. In this application the HCA works as an electron source delivering electrons for main discharge starting and beam neutralization. But beside this, diagnost...