Time-resolved processes in a pulsed electrical discharge in argon bubbles in water

A phenomenological picture of a pulsed electrical discharge in gas bubbles in water is produced by combining electrical, spectroscopic, and imaging characterization methods. The discharge is generated by applying 1 m\mu s pulses of 5 to 20 kV between a needle and a disk electrode submerged in water. An Ar gas bubble surrounds the tip of the needle electrode. Imaging, electrical characteristics, and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopic data suggest a fast streamer propagation mechanism and the formation of a plasma channel in the bubble. Comparing the electrical and imaging data for consecutive pulses applied to the bubble at a frequency of 1 Hz indicates that each discharge proceeds as an entirely new process with no memory of the previous discharge aside from the presence of long-lived chemical species, such as ozone and oxygen. Imaging and electrical data show the presence of two discharge events during each applied voltage pulse, a forward discharge near the beginning of the applied pulse depositing charge on the surface of the bubble and a reverse discharge removing the accumulated charge from the water/gas interface when the applied voltage is turned off. The pd value of ~ 300–500 torr cm, the 1 μs long pulse duration, low repetition rate, and unidirectional character of the applied voltage pulses make the discharge process here unique compared to the traditional corona or dielectric barrier discharges.     

Influence of conductivity on corona discharge current from a water droplet and on ejection of nano-sized droplets

The influence of the conductivity of a water droplet formed at a capillary electrode on the negative corona discharge and production of nano-sized droplets was investigated. Conductivity of a water droplet was adjusted from 1 μS/cm of deionized water to 48 mS/cm of nitric acid water solution. The size distribution of nanometer sized water particles yielded at a disruption of a Taylor cone was measured. The higher conductivity of a droplet, the larger corona pulses appeared and the more number of charged droplets was generated.     

On the negative corona and ionic wind over water electrode surface

The DC corona discharge in air and the induced ionic wind were investigated in the needle-to-water system at atmospheric pressure. The water deformation was measured under various conditions, and wind pressure and active areas were estimated accordingly. The effects of applied voltage, gap spacing and tip radius on the corona ionic wind were studied and the qualitative analysis was provided. Self-rotation of corona discharge was observed in experiments. The results show that higher voltage or electric field strength results in a stronger ionic wind. The active area increases with applied voltage below a voltage threshold. There is an optimal gap distance for a wider as well as stronger ionic wind and blunter needle we used leads to an enhancement on both the active area and the wind strength. The wind velocity reaches 7 m/s at optimized condition in the present system. The rotation of corona discharge helps to improve the active area and uniformity of the treating area which may be associated with the chemical reaction of the water surface.     

EHD atomization characteristics of a point-plate system with a porous point electrode

An electrohydrodynamic (EHD) atomization from a point-to-plate system, with a wet porous point as a corona electrode, has been studied. And the atomized water droplets from the wet porous point, as well as the water droplet traces, the water droplet charge-to-mass ratios, and the water droplet number concentrations, were investigated. It was observed that the wet porous point can atomize abundant amounts of water droplet, 2.8, 2.6 and 2.2 mg/min for negative, AC and positive corona, respectively. The migrated water droplet traces were observed. The positive wet porous point atomized very fine water droplets than those obtained with the negative wet porous point. Moreover, the water droplets atomized from the AC corona showed granular-like larger traces. A weak corona discharge can atomize water droplets very effectively. On the other hand, an intensive corona discharge can eject more water droplets. As a result with the wet porous point, the maximum corona-current-based and corona-power-based water droplet atomization yields of Y_C = 3.34, 3.32 and 3.25 μg/μAs and Y_P = 0.35, 0.40 and 0.27 mg/Ws have been obtained for the negative, AC and positive corona discharges.     

Cathode-sheath driven low-speed aerodynamic flow actuation using direct-current surface glow discharges

Flow actuation by a continuous/pulsed, direct-current (DC) surface glow discharge is explored. The discharge comprises an array of pin electrode pairs flush mounted on a dielectric actuator surface that lies adjacent to stagnant air. Strong electrostatic fields produced in the cathode sheath region of the discharge provides a motive force on the ions which in turn drag the background gas resulting in directed air flow from the anode to the cathode. The induced flow velocity is estimated by particle image velocimetry (PIV) at 10 Hz with TiO₂ seeding. For a pulsed DC discharge with peak power of 5 W per electrode pair, the induced flow velocity reaches peak values of about 1.7 m/s which is comparable to dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) or corona discharge actuators. The actuation effect quantified by the magnitude of induced velocity increases as the pulse frequency increases from 0 to 1 kHz. The actuation effect decreases for further increase in frequency above 1 kHz. Decreased actuation effect at high frequency is accompanied by structural change in the discharge. At fixed frequency of 1 kHz, flow actuation effect is highest for a square wave pulse with a duty cycle of 50% indicating that pulsed DC discharges produces better actuation than continuous DC with a corresponding reduction in energy consumption.     

Novel low voltage EHD spray nozzle for atomization of water in the cone jet mode

Due to the high surface tension and high conductivity, water is unsuitable for electrohydrodynamic (EHD) atomization using a DC electric field in air. The high local electric field, that is required to atomize water, is likely to generate corona discharge and consequently destabilize the atomization process. This study describes a novel low voltage EHD spray nozzle that can be used to atomize water and weak saline solutions in the stable cone jet mode. The properties of the atomization have been investigated together with the generated droplet size distribution. The nozzle operates at very low flow rates (0.5–4.0 μl/min). Due to the high dielectric constant of water and the low flow rate, the atomization takes place outside the applicability range of the scaling laws. The experimental results show that the droplet size is approximately constant when the flow rate is increased from 0.5 to 4.0 μl/min. The atomization of water was numerically simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The simulation results agree reasonably well with the experimental results with respect to the liquid cone shape and droplet size.     

Effect of relative humidity on current–voltage characteristics of an electrostatic precipitator

This paper aims at characterizing the behavior of dc corona discharge in wire-to-plane electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) as influenced by the relative humidity (RH) of the inlet air. The current–voltage characteristics and time evolution of the current are analyzed. Experimental results show that discharge current is strongly affected by the RH level of the inlet air. For instance, the time-averaged current is lower at higher RH for a given voltage, except when RH = 99%. Time evolution of the discharge current is affected by the humidity especially in the case of negative corona.     

Properties of droplet formation made by cone jet using a novel capillary with an external electrode

A capillary with an external electrode for cone-jet mode of electrospray has been developed to spot a droplet accurately on a substrate surface. The external electrode is made by gold deposition around tip of a glass capillary. The electrospray was made by applying a positive pulsed dc voltage to the solution in the capillary. Using a positive bias voltage to the external electrode, the meniscus of the solution at the tip deformed to be more sharp, and center of the meniscus was prolonged. This deformation stabilized the trajectory of the jet from the Taylor cone at the tip. From the experimental result, accuracy of positioning of the droplet having 0.3 pL volume was improved with the standard deviation of 1.1 μm, from that of 2.5 μm for conventional capillary without the external electrode.     

Stability and energy efficiency of pulsed corona discharge in treatment of dispersed high-conductivity aqueous solutions

Pulsed corona discharge (PCD) is an energy-efficient method of water treatment, although its instability in treatment of conductive solutions showered onto the electrodes presents a problem. The impact of conductivity and gaseous ozone concentration on the discharge stability and the energy transfer efficiency was established. The discharge was stabilized by adjusting the voltage pulse shape. Energy dissipation increases with the treated solution conductivity due to ohmic losses reaching 30% of the energy delivered to the reactor at 45 mS cm⁻¹. The PCD energy efficiency and safety was improved by the modified electrode system design reducing the losses.     

Probe Measurements of Parameters of Streamers of Nanosecond Frequency Crown Discharge

Investigations of the parameters of single streamers of nanosecond frequency corona discharge, creating a voluminous low-temperature plasma in extended coaxial electrode systems, are performed. Measurements of the parameters of streamers were made by an isolated probe situated on the outer grounded electrode. Streamers were generated under the action of voltage pulses with a front of 50–300 ns, duration of 100–600 ns, and amplitude up to 100 kV at the frequency of 50–1000 Hz. The pulse voltage, the total current of the corona, current per probe, and glow in the discharge gap were recorded in the experiments. It was established that, at these parameters of pulse voltage, streamers propagate at an average strength of the electric field of 4–10 kV/cm. Increasing the pulse amplitude leads to an increase in the number of streamers hitting the probe, an increase in the average charge of the head of a streamer, and, as a consequence, an increase in the total streamer current and the energy introduced into the gas. In the intervals up to 3 cm, streamer breakdown at an average field strength of 5–10 kV/cm is possible. In longer intervals, during the buildup of voltage after generation of the main pulse, RF breakdown is observed at Е_av ≈ 4 kV/cm.     

Jumping of a droplet on a superhydrophobic surface in AC electrowetting

Abstract  

Consistent droplet bouncing driven by AC electrowetting was achieved by introducing a superhydrophobic surface instead of conventional hydrophobic surfaces. A superhydrophobic surface is very effective to reduce interfacial energy barrier or adhesion, allowing complete detachment of a droplet from the substrate. While a fixed electric potential (100 V_rms) was applied, the shape deformation and the droplet bouncing were significantly influenced by the frequency of the AC electrowetting. Consistent droplet bouncing only occurred at very narrow frequency ranges (e.g., 30–31 Hz for 8 μL droplets), indicating that resonance dominates the droplet bouncing. Interestingly, the resonance was 1/2 sub-harmonics, where every other actuation was skipped, when the droplet was in the air. Theoretical evaluation of the resonant frequency based on the linear theory implies that the fundamental resonance between the AC electrowetting and the vertical vibration of the shape oscillation could be important to produce consistent droplet bouncing.     

Neutralization of charged insulating granular materials using AC corona discharge

The control of the residual electric charge carried by granular materials processed in various electrostatic installations is a prerequisite for the safe and efficient operation of the respective industrial equipment. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the neutralization efficiency of polyethylene granules exposed to an AC corona discharge from a wire-type electrode. The control variables and their domains of variations were the following: the amplitude and the frequency of the applied high voltage (16–18 kV, 20–400 Hz), the position of the corona electrode (3–7 cm above the ground plate that carries the sample) and the duration of the exposure to the corona discharge (4–10 s). The surface potential decay method was used for monitoring the charge carried by granular samples of PE before and after neutralization. Design of experiment methodology was employed to evaluate the influence of each of the above mentioned control variables and determine the optimum operation conditions. The efficiency of the neutralization was characterized by the ratio between the values of the surface potential before and after AC corona discharge exposure. The obtained results show that neutralization efficiency may be improved by increasing the frequency of the high voltage as well as by adequately correlating its amplitude with the inter-electrode spacing.     

宽输出电压的半导体激光器驱动电源研究

介绍了一种大功率、宽输出电压范围的半导体激光器脉冲驱动电源的设计方法。根据半导体激光器脉冲驱动电源高电压、大电流的工作特性需求,脉冲放电环节采用多模块级联与功率开关管线性控制脉冲放电相结合的拓扑结构,这样既实现了脉冲电流平滑稳定,又提高了输出电压等级与功率。充电环节采取LCC谐振变换器结构,其抗负载短路和开路的能力非常适用于脉冲放电场合。该脉冲电源输出参数为:电压0~1000 V,电流1~160 A,脉宽200~250 μs,频率100 Hz内可调,具备较宽泛灵活的输出范围,可适应不同规模的激光二极管阵列。最后,分别通过单模块、两模块与三模块小功率级联型驱动实验验证了采用多模块级联与功率开关管线性控制脉冲放电相结合方法的可行性。     

偏置电压对磁致伸缩/压电层合换能结构磁电性能影响

分析和测试了偏置电压调整时PZT5/Terfenol-D/PZT8层合换能结构磁电性能. 提出了一种磁致伸缩/压电层合磁电换能结构的一阶谐振频率控制方法. 通过改变压电驱动层的直流电压对磁电层合结构的预应变进行改变, 从而调整谐振频率. 分析偏置电压、 应变、 弹性模量、 谐振频率和谐振磁电电压系数之间关系. 分析表明: 在较小应变情况下, 控制电压几乎可以线性调节谐振频率, 而层合结构谐振磁电电压系数几乎与偏置电压无关. 实验研究验证: 理论与实验结果较好吻合. 在-170 V-+170 V的偏置电压时, 谐振频率可以几乎线性调整. 最大频率调整量达到1 kHz, 偏置电压对一阶纵振频率的控制率达到: 2.94 Hz/V. 在偏置磁场为0-225 Oe时, 谐振频率调整量与偏置磁场无关. 偏置磁场会改变谐振磁电电压系数, 在大于178 Oe静态磁场偏置时, 磁电电压系数最大, 达到1.65 V/Oe.     

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.     

直流大气压电晕放电电子密度的光谱研究

利用自制针—板式放电装置,在大气中进行电晕放电实验。用发光区域照片光斑的大小,讨论了电晕层厚度与电源电压的关系。在相同针板间距下,电晕层厚度随着电压的升高而增大;在相同电压下,电晕层厚度随着针板间距的增大而减小。由于高能电子密度能够通过氮分子第二正带系337.1 nm的光谱强度大小反映,因此对氮分子第二正带系337.1 nm谱线的强度用发射光谱法进行了测量。实验结果发现在针尖附近高能电子密度最大,并且高能电子密度随电压的升高而增大;电压一定时,高能电子密度随针板间距的增大而减小。在针板间距和电源电压不变的情况下,高能电子密度随针尖曲率半径的减小而增大。     

A peculiarity of silver-based corona wire heating on ozone generation

The effect of corona wire temperature on the ozone generation in the positive dc corona electrostatic precipitator is studied experimentally. The external heating of the corona wire can suppress the ozone generation. In this study, nichrome and two kinds of silver-based wires 0.1 mm diameter were tested as discharges electrodes. The nichrome corona wire heating shows a well-known monotonic decreasing the rate of ozone production. In the case of the tested silver-based wires the rate of ozone production decreases nonlinearly and passes through a local minimum in the range from 35 to 55 °C with increasing the wire temperature. At the wire temperature about 46 °C ozone generation by positive dc corona discharge is decreased by 53% with Ag:Mn = 0.85:0.15 wire and by 25% with Ag:Ni = 0.7:0.3 wire as compared to the same wire at 26 °C. Under these conditions the corona wire heating increases slightly the corona current and speed of airflow.     

Frequency response characteristics of trichel pulses and the behavior of the cathode spot in a negative corona discharge

A negative corona discharge in the regime of Trichel pulses has been investigated in air at atmospheric pressure. Correlation between the behavior of the cathode spot and oscillograms of the discharge current has been revealed. The frequency response characteristics of the negative corona current have been measured as functions of voltage, tip curvature, interelectrode distance, and cathode material. It has been determined that the curvature of the tip surface in the cathode-spot localization region decisively affects the amplitude of pulses.     

Numerical study of EHD-enhanced water evaporation

A numerical model has been developed for the investigation of water evaporation enhanced by corona wind. The corona wind is generated by a wire electrode charged at a high dc voltage. Only positive corona discharge is considered in the present study. The effect of cross-flow on EHD-enhanced water evaporation is also examined. The results show that water evaporation can be greatly enhanced by corona wind. However, a cross-flow with a high velocity may diminish the effect of corona wind. The numerical results are also compared with experimental data reported in the literature. A satisfactory agreement is found between these results.     

Pulsed corona discharge driven by Marx generator: Diagnostics and optimization for NOx treatment

A compact, repetitive Marx generator with an external trigger is constructed and coupled with a wire-to-plate corona reactor for a positive pulsed corona discharge studies. The reactor resistance and capacitance behavior during the pulse was observed. It was found that the reactor's capacitance increases three times during the pulse due to the streamer propagation from anode to grounded electrode. Using the time development of the capacitance and resistance during the pulse and the reactor inter-electrode distance, the streamer velocity has been calculated to be 1 × 10⁶ m/s, for system arrangement presented in this work. As an indicator of chemical activity of pulsed corona, ozone production was measured. Emission spectroscopy measurements in the UV region were performed to detect species that appear in the discharge and to determine vibrational and rotational temperatures, which are found to be 3200 K and 340 K respectively. As a measure of pollution control potential of the constructed pulsed corona system, NO oxidation efficiency was investigated and compared with results presented in literature. It was shown that pulsed corona systems with significantly longer pulse durations are competitive with several times shorter pulse duration systems, which implies that chemical efficiency of secondary streamers is comparable with efficiency of primary streamers.