Characteristics of DC discharge in a wire-cylinder configuration at high ambient temperatures

In the present work, the characteristics of direct-current (DC) discharge in a wire-cylinder configuration at an ambient temperature range of 350–850 °C were studied by analyzing photographs of the discharging process and the corresponding V–I characteristics, with the aim of facilitating the application of plasma technology in the fields of energy and the environment. The influences of the ambient temperature, the inter-electrode gap, the gas medium and the cathode material on the DC discharge were investigated. The corona-onset threshold voltage (COTV) and the spark-breakdown threshold voltage (SBTV) decrease as the ambient temperature increases, and the SBTV decreases more rapidly. Increasing the inter-electrode gap enlarges the difference between the SBTV and the COTV. After spark breakdown, in an air atmosphere, glow discharge is more likely to take place under conditions of high ambient temperatures or small inter-electrode gaps. The values of the SBTV in different atmospheres have the following relation: air ≈ O₂ > CO₂. At an ambient temperature range of 350–850 °C and in an atmosphere of N₂, glow discharge and arc discharge occur successively as the output voltage of the power supply is increased, while in an atmosphere of O₂ and CO₂, only corona and arc discharge are successively observed. In an air atmosphere, when the inter-electrode gap is 29 mm, corona, glow and arc discharge occur successively with increasing output voltage when the ambient temperature is 850 °C, while only corona and arc discharge appear when the temperature is 350–750 °C. When the inter-electrode gap is 5 mm in an air atmosphere, corona, glow and arc discharge occur successively in an ambient temperature range of 350–850 °C. The cathode material has a minor influence on the COTV and a more significant influence on the SBTV. In a device using a cathode with a low work function, the SBTV is low, and the power to maintain arc discharge is small.     

An approach for unipolar corona discharge in N2/O2 gas mixture by considering townsend conditions

In this study (α/p) = f(E/p) functional relation is derived for the gas mixture of N₂/O₂ by considering Townsend approach, and formation mechanism of corona discharge is investigated for the coaxial electrode system located in this gas medium. The electron energy distribution function (EEDF) which is required for estimation of ionization coefficient, is determined by considering probability distribution function of inelastic electron collisions versus energy. An algorithm for determining ionization coefficient for binary gas mixture is presented. The development and motion of the electron avalanche in inter-electrode gap are studied by considering the effect of positive space charges. It is determined by considering the derived mathematical expressions that the formation of corona discharge is related with the variation of the current characteristics in inter-electrode gaps depending on the change of potential of central electrode.     

Conversion of nitrogen oxides in N2:O2:CO2 and N2:O2:CO2:NO2 mixtures subjected to a dc corona discharge

This paper concerns the influence of a direct current (dc) corona discharge on production and reduction of NO, NO₂ and N₂O in N₂:O₂:CO₂ and N₂:O₂:CO₂:NO₂ mixtures. The corona discharge was generated in a needle-to-plate reactor. The positively polarized electrode consisted of 7 needles. The grounded electrode was a stainless steel plate. The gas flow rate through the reactor was varied from 28 to 110 cm³/s. The time-averaged discharge current ranged from 0 to 6 mA. It was found that in the N₂:O₂:CO₂ mixture the corona discharge produced NO, NO₂ and N₂O. In the N₂:O₂:CO₂:NO₂ mixture the reduction of NO₂ was between 6–56%, depending on the concentration of O₂, gas flow rate and corona discharge current. The NO₂ reduction was accompanied by production of NO and N₂O. The results show that efficient reduction of nitrogen oxides by a corona discharge cannot be expected in the mixtures containing N₂ and O₂ if reducing additives are not employed.     

Spectroscopic Study of CO2 Decomposition in Sealed‐off CO2 Lasers

The CO₂ decomposition in a DC glow discharge in a sealed‐off CO₂ laser mixture (6% CO₂ : 20% N₂ : 74% He) in the pressure range 2 ‐ 22 Torr is investigated. Both the time evolution and the steady‐state CO₂ decomposition are studied by means of time resolved optical emission spectroscopy. A decrease of the time to reach steady‐state values of particles concentrations in the discharge system with decreasing pressure and increasing discharge current is observed. The degree of CO₂ decomposition rapidly decreases with increasing pressure and exhibits only a small increase with increasing discharge current. This behaviour can be explained by the variations of the reduced electrica field strength E/N and of the electron density. Also the influence of the balast volume is discussed in this work.     

脉冲直流偏压增强的高质量立方氮化硼薄膜的合成

采用磁增强活性反应离子镀系统成功地合成了立方氮化硼薄膜.通过给基片施加脉冲直流偏压以代替传统的射频偏压,增强了立方氮化硼的成膜稳定性,研究了基片的直流脉冲偏压、等离子体放电电流、通入气体流量比(Ar/N₂)和基片温度沉积参数对立方氮化硼薄膜形成的影响规律.结果表明:随着基片负偏压和放电电流的增大,薄膜中立方氮化硼的纯度提高,当基片负偏压为155V,放电电流为15A时,可获得几乎单相的立方氮化硼薄膜.基片温度为500℃和Ar/N₂流量比为10时,最有利于立方氮化硼 关键词： 立方氮化硼 活性反应离子镀 脉冲偏压     

Effect of air flow on corona discharge in wire-to-plate electrostatic precipitator

This paper analyses corona discharge in ambient air with laboratory-scaled wire-to-plate electrostatic precipitator (WPESP). The electric field is behind the electro hydrodynamic (EHD) flow in air. Its measurements provide complementary results for the corona discharge study because the classical theory based on the current and voltage data is unsatisfactory. Taking into account the dynamic air flow velocity is perpendicular to the active wires, measurement method of the positive and negative DC corona current density and electric field, has been introduced. It has been shown also that the dynamic air flow velocity modifies the current density and the electric field distributions on the planes surfaces of the WPESP.     

Needle Growth Induced by Corona Discharge

It is shown that the growth of a dense array of chromium microneedles is induced on a field cathode tip interacting with a negative corona discharge in ambient Cr(CO)₆ of 1 – 5 × 10^?2 Torr. The growth begins with the initiation of a corona discharge surrounding the tip, and it proceeds as long as the discharge is sustained. The needles emit field electrons during the growth, thereby sustaining the discharge, while the discharge lengthens the needles by supplying metallic particles to their tips. The morphological structure of the needles is strongly affected by an external magnetic field, leading us to hypothesize that the needle grow axially as the electron avalanches, originating at the cathode tip, propagate outward from tip.     

Verification of positive streamer mechanism for negative corona Trichel pulses in O2/H2 mixtures

Current waveforms of the first negative corona pulses have been measured in O₂ + H₂ mixtures at a pressure range from 27 kPa to 50 kPa. It was observed that the hydrogen admixtures less than 4% do not change significantly the pulse current waveforms. Effects of changing cathode secondary electron emission were studied using a copper cathode coated by CuI and graphite. The results obtained support the theory of the cathode-directed streamer formation during the negative corona pulse rise.     

The influence of NH3 on NO2 conversion in a dc corona discharge in N2:O2:CO2:NO2:NH3 mixture

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of NH₃ additive (540–1470 ppm) on the conversion of NO₂ and the creation of NO and N₂O in a mixture of N₂:O₂:CO₂: NO₂:NH₃ subjected to the so-called direct current (dc) corona discharge. The dc corona discharge was generated in a needle-to-plate reactor. Seven positively polarized needles were used as one electrode and a stainless steel plate as the other. The time-averaged discharge current was varied from 0 to 7 mA. It was found that the dc corona discharge decomposed NO₂ and produced NO and N₂O. The reduction of NO₂ was higher without NH₃ additive if the residence time of the operating gas was relatively short. However, in a longer corona discharge processing the NH₃ additive may be useful for reduction of NO₂.Supports from the Research and Development Commitee (KBN) under Programme KBN 0889/P4/93/04 and the Polish Academy of Sciences within IMP 3.1 project are gratefully acknowledged.     

Generation of H− ions in a low-pressure xenon-hydrogen discharge. I

A theory of a low-pressure discharge in a xenon-molecular hydrogen mixture is developed. It is shown that, in such a discharge, at an interelectrode distance of L = 1 cm and a total plasma pressure of p ₀ ～ 1 Torr, the density of negative hydrogen ions produced via the dissociative attachment of thermal electrons to vibrationally excited molecules H₂ can reach a value as high as N_H ^? ≥ 10¹² cm^?3. According to calculations, the electron temperature in discharge operating regimes under study attains T _e ≈ 1?2 eV, which corresponds to the maximum of the e-v exchange rate constant of H₂ molecules. This ensures a relatively high rate of vibrational pumping of H₂ molecules in the discharge.     

Removal of low-concentration benzene in indoor air with plasma-MnO2 catalysis system

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) and combined plasma-MnO₂ catalytic (CPMC) air cleaners were tested for removal of low-concentration benzene in air. Both air cleaners were made of stainless steel needle matrix plate and used DC corona discharger. The effects of discharge power and relative humidity (RH) on benzene removal efficiency were investigated in a closed chamber. The intermediate products produced in purification processes were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The concentrations of discharge byproducts and CO₂ selectivity produced in both processes were also compared. It was found that the benzene removal efficiency increased with discharge power in both systems; With the increase of RH in air, benzene removal efficiency firstly increased and then decreased in NTP while it gradually decreased in CPMC. For a fixed discharge power of 9 W and RH of 20% in CPMC, the conversion of benzene increased from 82.9% to 89.6%, the CO₂ selectivity increased from 38% to 80%, the concentration of O₃ decreased from 25.3 ppm to 1.3 ppm, and NO₂ formation decreased from 234 ppm to 25.7 ppm, compared with NTP.     

Spectroscopic diagnostics of barrier-discharge plasma in mixtures of cadmium diiodide vapor with gases

The spectral characteristics of the emission of atmospheric-pressure gas-discharge plasma in mixtures of cadmium diiodide vapor with gases (Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and N₂) were investigated along with the time characteristics of the voltage and current. The gas-discharge plasma was produced and excited by a barrier discharge at a repetition rate of sine voltage pulses of up to 140 kHz. The discharge emission was analyzed in the spectral range 200–900 nm with a high resolution (0.05 nm). Radiation from exciplex CdI(B-X) molecules and excimer I₂* molecules was revealed, as well as the atomic lines of cadmium, iodine, and inert gases. In a mixture with xenon, radiation from exciplex molecules XeI(B-X, B-A) was also found. This radiation prevailed in the spectra at mixture temperatures up to 150°C. The further increase of the temperature leads to the prevalence of the CdI(B-X) radiation. It was found that the most intense CdI(B-X) radiation is observed in mixtures CdI₂/Xe(N₂)/Ne. Regularities in the spectral characteristics of the emission of the gas-discharge plasma are discussed.     

Corona discharge as a temperature probe of atmospheric air microwave plasma jet

We developed and tested a new method for temperature measurements of near-LTE air plasmas at atmospheric pressure. This method is specifically suitable for plasmas at relatively low gas temperature (800–1700 K) with no appropriate radiation for direct spectroscopic temperature measurements. Corona discharge producing cold non-equilibrium plasma is employed as a source of excitation and is placed into the microwave plasma jet. The gas temperature of the microwave plasma jet is determined as the rotational temperature of N₂? produced in the corona discharge. The corona probe temperature measurement was tested by the use of a thermocouple. We found a fairly good agreement between the two methods after correcting the thermocouple measured temperatures for radiative losses. The corona probe method can be generally applied to determine the temperature of the near-LTE plasmas and contrary to the thermocouple it can be used for higher plasma temperatures and is not affected by radiative losses and problems of interaction with the microwave plasma and electromagnetic fields.     

Modeling of corona under positive lightning surges

A novel corona model for predicting the corona characteristics under positive lightning surges is proposed. The ionization process is described by a series of successive generations of electron avalanches. A simplified method is presented for computing the electric field in the ionization zone. With a discrete treatment for the ionization process in time and space, the proposed model computes the total charge of corona from the applied surge voltage and so the q–u curves can be obtained. A laboratory measurement of q–u curves is also made by a coaxial cylindrical electrode to check the validity of the proposed model.     

Decomposition of methylene chloride by electron beam and pulsed corona processing

Experiments on the plasma-assisted decomposition of dilute concentrations of methylene chloride in atmospheric-pressure N₂ and dry air streams by electron beam and pulsed corona processing are presented. This paper presents the first experimental evidence showing that the decomposition of methylene chloride in a non-thermal plasma at ambient gas temperature proceeds via reaction with nitrogen atoms. The decompositions is more efficient with energy deposition in electron beam generated plasmas because of the higher rate for electron-impact dissociation of N₂. In dry air mixture, the decomposition of methylene chloride is degraded substantially because the nitrogen atoms are consumed in the production of nitrogen oxides. At higher gas temperatures (300°C), the decomposition of methylene chloride in dry air is shown to proceed via reaction with oxygen atoms. The main products of methylene chloride decomposition in dry air mixtures are CO, CO₂, HCl, and probably Cl₂.     

An experimental study of relative humidity and air flow effects on positive and negative corona discharges in a corona-needle charger

In this paper, the effects of inlet air RH and air flow rate on positive and negative corona discharges in a corona-needle charger have been experimentally studied and discussed. Its corona discharge characterizations in terms of current-to-voltage relationships of the corona-needle charger on the effects of inlet air RH and air flow rate were evaluated at applied corona voltages between 0 and 3.1 kV, an air flow rates between 5 and 15 L/min, a relative humidity between 20 and 90%, and an operating pressure of about 101.3 kPa. Experimental results were shown that discharge current is strongly affected by the RH level of the inlet air. The positive discharge current was found to be decreased with increasing RH value at RH values below 60% and increased with increasing RH value at RH value above 60% in the same corona voltage. The negative discharge current was found to be stable with increasing RH value at RH values below 40% and increased with increasing RH value at RH value above 40% in the same corona voltage. For the air flow rate effects, the positive discharge current was found to slightly decrease when the air flow rate increased at RH value below 90% and to increase with the air flow rate at RH value of 90%. For the negative corona, the discharge current was also found to monotonically decrease when the air flow rate increased.     

射频感应耦合Ar-N2等离子体物理特性的Langmuir探针测量及理论研究

分别通过Langmuir探针测量和动力学模型模拟方法研究了射频感应耦合Ar-N₂等离子体中电子能量分布、电子温度、电子密度等物理量随N₂含量的变化规律.实验研究结果表明：电子能量分布呈现出非Maxwell型分布,并由双温分布向三温分布过渡;电子温度在不同的气压下随N₂含量的增加呈现出不同的变化规律.在放电气压小于1.3 Pa时,电子温度随N₂含量的增加而下降;当气压大于1.3 Pa时,电子温度随N₂关键词： 感应耦合等离子体 2混合气体放电')" href="#">Ar-N₂混合气体放电 电子能量分布 Langmuir探针     

Investigation of a single barrier discharge in submillimeter air gaps. Nonuniform field

Pulse characteristics of single barrier discharges as well as parameters of charges accumulated on the surface of a dielectric under the atmospheric pressure in the “needle-(0.1–2.0)-mm air gap-polymer barrier-plane” system are investigated. It is found experimentally that for the positive polarity of the needle, the voltage for the discharge initiation is higher than in the case of the negative polarity by ～25–35%. The reversal of the needle polarity from negative to positive increases the amplitude of the discharge current and the accumulated surface charge by ～1.5–3 times. For the positive polarity of the needle, the discharge is governed by a streamer mechanism, while for the negative polarity, the discharge is initiated by the formation of a single Trichel pulse. The single pulse regime is observed for the discharge current up to a certain electrode gap d _CR. For the positive needle and for air gap width d _air > d _CR ≈ 1.5 mm, a multipulse burst corona is formed, while for the negative needle and d _air > d _CR ≈ 0.9 mm, a damped sequence of Trichel pulses evolves in the system.     

AlNxOy thin films deposited by DC reactive magnetron sputtering

AlN_xO_y thin films were produced by DC reactive magnetron sputtering, using an atmosphere of argon and a reactive gas mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, for a wide range of partial pressures of reactive gas. During the deposition, the discharge current was kept constant and the discharge parameters were monitored. The deposition rate, chemical composition, morphology, structure and electrical resistivity of the coatings are strongly correlated with discharge parameters. Varying the reactive gas mixture partial pressure, the film properties change gradually from metallic-like films, for low reactive gas partial pressures, to stoichiometric amorphous Al₂O₃ insulator films, at high pressures. For intermediate reactive gas pressures, sub-stoichiometric AlN_xO_y films were obtained, with the electrical resistivity of the films increasing with the non-metallic/metallic ratio.     

Corona discharge in a cylindrical triode charger for unipolar diffusion aerosol charging

A cylindrical triode charger for unipolar diffusion charging of aerosol particles was designed, constructed, and evaluated. The corona discharge characteristics were studied in this cylindrical triode charger. For the process the current–voltage characteristics were determined, as were the ion number concentration, the n_it product, and the mean charge per particle as a function of particle diameter. The discharge and charging currents, and ion number concentration in the charging zone of the charger increased monotonically with corona voltage. The negative corona had a higher current than the positive corona. At the same corona voltage, the ion number concentration in the discharge zone was larger than the charging current for positive and negative coronas, with values of about 197 and 32 times and 645 and 99 times for the ion-driving voltages of 0 and 310 V, respectively. The average ion penetration for positive and negative coronas was 0.64 and 0.19% and 3.62 and 1.93% for the ion-driving voltages of 0 V and 310 V, respectively. The higher flow rate, shorter residence time, gave a lower N_it product. By calculation 14% of charged particles of 10 nm in diameter were lost to the outer cylinder because of the electrostatic field effect. The charger does not use a sheath of air flow along the walls or the perforated screen opening, it has low diffusion and space charge losses due to the short column charging zone, and is a low complexity and inexpensive system. It worked as well as more sophisticated and expensive commercially available chargers.