Numerical studies on the influences of gas temperature on atmospheric-pressure helium dielectric barrier discharge characteristics

Abstract

A fast-rising gas temperature is due to frequent collisions of the heavy particles in an atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge. In this paper, a two-dimensional fluid model is applied to investigate the influences of rising gas temperature on an atmospheric-pressure helium dielectric barrier discharge. With the increase in the gas temperature, it is found that: (1) a helium discharge can evolve from the discharge column to a homogeneous discharge; (2) the breakdown time is in advance and the gas breakdown voltage decreases; (3) the spatial distribution evolution of the electron density is similar to that of the helium atom density. The most significant discrepancy between them is that the electron densities are high at some positions where the helium atom densities are nevertheless low. Furthermore, the radial reduced electric fields are obtained under different gas temperatures. The physical reasons for the gas temperature effects are discussed. The simulation results provide a better understanding of the roles of the radial reduced electric field and the heavy particle.