The results of an experimental investigation into the influence of impurities on electrification in insulating liquids in a tube model under an external dc field effect is described. Both conduction and streaming currents were measured as a function of temperature and flow rate using a paper-pressboard model with concentric cylindrical electrode geometry. Positive or negative dc voltage was applied to the inner electrode. The streaming current was measured from a shielded test chamber and the conduction current was measured from the ground electrode. Energization by positive dc voltage always enhanced the streaming electrification; however, when the applied voltage was negative, the polarity of streaming current was field strength dependent. At low fields (< 0.52 kV/mm), the streaming current with negative dc field I-sn(c) increased with increased field and with field strength > 0.52 kV/mm, polarity reversal was observed. The field at which current crossed the zero value has been defined as the zero cross over point (ZCOP). Flow rate did not have any influence on the ZCOP; however, the additive concentration, moisture content and the temperature affected this ZCOP. In the presence of the corrosion inhibitor carbazole, the streaming current with negative dc field, I-sn attained zero at low fields. The conduction currents corresponding to fields where streaming currents were zero were also relatively low. It is therefore possible that by applying a moderate dc field of appropriate polarity the streaming current can be reduced to very low values by adjusting the carbazole concentration in the test liquid.
