Work

Numerical and experimental investigation of three-electrode air discharge: Propagation characteristics and optimization strategies

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Low-temperature plasma technology has demonstrated significant potential for applications such as gas treatment and energy conversion. This study investigates the optimization of a three-electrode discharge system, combining dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and direct current (DC) discharge at ambient conditions. By experiment and simulation, the effects of electrode geometry, location, and discharge parameters on plasma stability are analyzed. Results reveal that DC-induced pre-ionization plays a crucial role in transitioning from streamer to diffuse discharge, requiring a minimum pre-ionization density of 2×1017 m−3. Smaller electrode diameters enhance the electric field and reactive species densities, while optimized discharge gaps ensure stable and spatial discharge. A minimum voltage of −6 kV (DC) and 3.5 kV (DBD) are necessary for breakdown, with breakdown time decreasing as voltage increases. Power analysis shows dominant energy consumption by the DBD component, emphasizing the need for DBD voltage minimization to improve energy efficiency. These findings provide valuable insights into achieving stable and energy-efficient plasma discharges, offering a foundation for scalable applications in gas treatment and related fields.

Source: Physics of Plasmas

DOI: 10.1063/5.0261134

Authors: Bo Yin, Xiaochi Ma, Yifei Zhu, Yun Wu, Borui Zheng

Institutions: Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Plasma Applications and Diagnostics

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China