Dynamics of the gas flow turbulent front in atmospheric pressure plasma jets

Abstract

In this paper, dynamic characterizations of the turbulent flow field in atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) are investigated by focusing on the effect of different APPJ parameters, such as gas flow rate, applied voltage, pulse repetition frequency, and time duration of the pulse. We utilize Schlieren photography and photomultiplier tubes (PMT) as a signal triggering of an intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) and also a high speed camera to examine the formation of the turbulent front and its dynamics. The results reveal that the turbulent front will appear earlier and closer to the tube nozzle by increasing the gas flow rate or the applied voltage amplitude. However, the pulse time duration and repetition frequency cannot change the dynamics and formation of the turbulent front. Further investigation shows that every pulse can excite one turbulent front which is created in a specific position in a laminar region and propagates downstream. It seems that the dominating mechanisms responsible for the formation of turbulent fronts in plasma jets might not be ion momentum transfer.