Abstract
This paper deals with free conducting particle motion around different shaped spacers between diverging conducting plates under do voltage in atmospheric air. Spherical particle motion was observed experimentally and the results were discussed on the basis of the electrostatic force acting on the particle with and without spacer. The results show that a particle around a spacer tends to move laterally towards or away from the spacer towards higher field regions, depending on the spacer configuration. It lifts at higher field positions and sometimes adheres to the spacer. The effects of spacer angle and spacer material (permittivity) on free conducting particle motion are also discussed. For comparing the results obtained with a sphere, a wire particle motion around different shaped spacers is also investigated. The obtained results suggest one of the methods to prevent/suppress the conducting particle from approaching or adhering to spacers, is to reduce the field strength in the vicinity of the triple junction of gas, solid dielectric and electrode in gas insulated system (GIS).