The simplest equivalent circuit of a pulsed dielectric barrier discharge and the determination of the gas gap charge transfer

Abstract

The concept of the simplest equivalent circuit for a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is critically reviewed. It is shown that the approach is consistent with experimental data measured either in large-scale sinusoidal-voltage driven or miniature pulse-voltage driven DBDs. An expression for the charge transferred through the gas gap q(t) is obtained with an accurate account for the displacement current and the values of DBD reactor capacitance. This enables (i) the significant reduction of experimental error in the determination of q(t) in pulsed DBDs, (ii) the verification of the classical electrical theory of ozonizers about maximal transferred charge q(max), and (iii) the development of a graphical method for the determination of q(max) from charge-voltage characteristics (Q-V plots, often referred as Lissajous figures) measured under pulsed excitation. The method of graphical presentation of q(max) is demonstrated with an example of a Q-V plot measured under pulsed excitation. The relations between the discharge current j(R)(t), the transferred charge q(t), and the measurable parameters are presented in new forms, which enable the qualitative interpretation of the measured current and voltage waveforms without the knowledge about the value of the dielectric barrier capacitance C(d). Whereas for quantitative evaluation of electrical measurements, the accurate estimation of the C(d) is important.