Atmospheric negative corona discharge using Taylor cone as a liquid cathode

Abstract

We examined the characteristics of atmospheric negative corona discharge using a liquid needle cathode. As a liquid needle cathode, a Taylor cone with conical shape was adopted. A micronozzle was filled with liquid, and a plate electrode was placed above the nozzle. By applying a dc voltage between electrodes, a Taylor cone is formed. To change the liquid property, we added sodium dodecyl sulfate to reduce the surface tension, sodium sulfate to increase the conductivity, and polyvinyl alcohol to increase the viscosity, in distilled water. Liquids with a high surface tension such as pure water could not form a Taylor cone. When we reduced the surface tension, a Taylor cone was formed and a stable corona discharge was observed at the tip of the cone. When we increased viscosity, a liquid filament protruding from the solution surface was formed and corona discharge was observed along the filament at a position 0.7–1.0 mm above the tip of the cone. Increasing the conductivity resulted in the higher light intensity of the corona and the lower corona onset voltage. Using a Taylor cone, different types of corona discharge were observed by changing the property of the liquid.