AN INVESTIGATION OF ELECTRICAL CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

Abstract

A short theoretical investigation is made of the factors involved in the charging and discharging process of an airborne helicopter. The dominant factor in keeping this charge small is a short discharge time constant compared with the charging time constant. Practically, the only means of controlling the discharge time constant is by controlling the resistivity of the air. Possible methods are discussed and evaluated. It is concluded that only corona discharge systems seem feasible at this time. Three possible corona discharge methods are discussed: Active DC corona point, including a measurement device and sensing element mounted on the ship; Active corona system with 2 DC corona points of opposite polarity mounted on the rotor blades, not requiring measuring and sensing element ; and Active corona system with AC corona point having a low frequency (400 cycles per second) AC voltage mounted on the rotor blades, not requiring measuring and sensing elements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0273976

Entities

People

  • Enoch J. Durbin
  • Gerard J. Born

Organizations

  • Princeton University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Aircrafts
  • Charge Carriers
  • Dielectric Permittivity
  • Electrical Properties
  • Electrical Resistance
  • Electricity
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electron Energy
  • Helicopters
  • High Voltage
  • Ignition
  • Military Research
  • Space Charge
  • Static Electricity
  • Wind Velocity

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Plasma Physics.