Simulation of dielectric barrier discharge in air gap and on solid insulator surface based on plasmochemical model

Abstract

The paper details the equations used to simulate a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and presents a summary of the results obtained. A model for dielectric barrier discharge was divided into two phases, i.e., propagation in air and along the surface of a solid insulator. The microscopic essence of a streamer discharge was revealed and investigated using a detailed self-consistent plasmochemical model based on particle chemical reactions and hydrodynamics. The continuity equations of electrons, positive ions, and negative ions were coupled with Poisson's equation. The chemical reactions described the impact ionization, charge transportation, electron-ion recombination, ion-ion recombination, electron attachment and neutral particle evolvement. The decisive effects of electron mean energy distribution on the rates of impact ionization by electrons and on the local characteristics of streamer discharges, are investigated. Electric field distributions are calculated and analyzed. The results indicate that ionization mainly takes place at the streamer head where a relatively large electron mean energy exists.