Laboratory spark discharge test

A vivid and clear illustration of the dangers of conductive (PE) pipe when not grounded

A test on charged non-conductive and conductive (PE) pipe was carried out by Graham Hearn BSc CEng MIEE of Wolfson Electrostatics Limited to ascertain the extent of electrical charge generated in each pipe.

He says: “Both lengths of non-conductive (UPP) pipe and conductive (PE) pipe were charged to around 6kV. This is the largest potential we have observed in our fuel flow tests.

“I bring a grounded electrode to the inside surface of the pipe. The spark from the conductive (PE) pipe can be clearly seen whereas there was no discharge at all from the UPP (as expected).

“The energy of the spark was calculated at 2.5mJ which is ten times the MIE (minimum ignition energy)."

Please click on play


See this page in Chinese