Work

Scaling of energy delivered through an electrostatic discharge to a small series load

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We study the energy delivered through a small-resistance series “victim” load during electrostatic discharge events in air. For gap lengths over 1 mm, the fraction of the stored energy delivered is mostly gap-length independent, with a slight decrease at larger gaps due to electrode geometry. The energy to the victim scales linearly with circuit capacitance and victim load resistance but is not strongly dependent on circuit inductance. This scaling leads to a simple approach to predicting the maximum energy that will be delivered to a series resistance for the case where the victim load resistance is lower than the spark resistance. • We investigated how initial stored energy divides between spark and a series load. • Energy delivered to victim load scales linearly with capacitance and resistance. • Circuit inductance did not significantly affect the energy delivered to victim load. • Scaled fraction of energy remains constant for gap lengths > 1 mm . • Electrode geometry strongly influences the breakdown voltage and energy delivered.

Source: Journal of Electrostatics

DOI: 10.1016/j.elstat.2025.104205

Authors: Claudia A.M. Schrama, Calvin Bavor, John W. Rose, P. David Flammer, Charles G. Durfee

Institutions: Colorado School of Mines, University of Pavia, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Electrostatic Discharge in Electronics

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,780

Funder: Los Alamos National Laboratory