For the purpose of obtaining rod-plane air gap discharge performance under high altitude and low pressure conditions

laboratory investigations of the relationship between 50% AC discharge voltage U

50

air pressure P and air gap distance d are carried out in the low pressure test platform for 100～600 mm rod-plane gaps. The effects of P and d on U

50

are analyzed in the range of 2 to 60 kPa. The relationship between U

50

P and d are obtained

furthermore

put forward voltage correction formulas of AC discharge within 2～60 kPa. The results show that

U

50

-P curves of different gaps within 2～60 kPa all have obvious saturation t

rends. As gap length decreases

the saturation region moves toward low pressure direction

and the U

50

correction formula based on the experimental data has a high accuracy. The results can provide reference for the study of the discharge characteristics of rod

plane air gap at high altitude and low pressure conditions

and the systemic discharge tests for rod

plane air gaps.