Secondary Streamer Research Articles

Cross-correlation spectroscopy study of the transient spark discharge in atmospheric pressure air

A streamer-to-spark transition in a self-pulsing transient spark (TS) discharge of positive polarity in air was investigated using cross-correlation spectroscopy. The entire temporal evolution of the TS was recorded for several spectral bands and lines: the second positive system of N2 (337.1 nm), the first negative system of (391.4 nm), and atomic oxygen (777.1 nm). The results enable the visualization of the different phases of discharge development including the primary streamer, the secondary streamer, and the transition to the spark. The spatio-temporal distribution of the reduced electric field strength during the primary streamer phase of the TS was determined and discussed. The transition from the streamer to the spark proceeds very fast within about 10 ns for the TS with a current pulse repetition rate in the range 8–10 kHz. This is attributed to memory effects, leading to a low net electron attachment rate and faster propagation of the secondary streamer. Gas heating, accumulation of species such as oxygen atoms from the previous TS pulses, as well as generation of charged particles by stepwise ionization seem to play important roles contributing to this fast streamer-to-spark transition.

Electric and Spectroscopic Studies of Pulsed Corona Discharges in Nitrogen at Atmospheric Pressure

This paper is mainly dedicated to the experimental electric and spectroscopic analysis of positive corona discharges in the case of point to plane configuration, generated in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The maximum corona current (a few hundreds of mA), the average current (a few μA) and the average propagation velocity (a few 107 cm/s) are analyzed with the variation of the applied voltage (a few kV) and the gap distance (not exceeding 16 mm). By using an ICCD camera, the dynamics of the discharge during the propagation of primary and secondary streamers across the gap distance was analyzed. Spectroscopic study is emphasized in a spectral range from 200 nm up to 500 nm, to determine the important excited species present in the gaseous environment such as the second positive and the first negative systems (SPS and FNS respectively). The identification of the quenching NOγ emission bands is also emphasized.

Investigation of the Influence of Droplets to Streamer Discharge in Water Treatment by Pulsed Discharge in Air Spraying Water Droplets

We are studying the treatment method that injects the droplets of waste water into pulsed discharge plasma generating by a pulsed power technology as an advanced water treatment technique. The active species, such as ozone and OH radical that have high oxidizing power, are generated in the place injecting the droplets by the discharge, and can be effectively used to decompose the organic compounds that are difficult to decompose. However, there has been few investigation of interaction between the pulse streamer discharge and the droplet in a configuration of a treatment reactor. In addition, a propagation route of pulse streamer discharge has been few investigated in the space putting the droplets in the configuration of the treatment reactor. In this paper, the propagation route of the pulse streamer discharge in the space with the droplets of water has been investigated at the configuration using the wire electrode. In addition, the influence of the droplets to the discharge has been investigated. From results, it was shown that the pulse streamer discharge propagated on the surface of the droplet. Primary streamers mainly occurred at the positions of the droplets. The propagation lengths of secondary streamer in air with the droplets were shorter than that without the droplets. The existence of the droplets prevents the propagation of the secondary streamer.

Time-resolved imaging of positive pulsed corona-induced surface streamers on TiO2 and γ-Al2O3-supported Ag catalysts

We report the first instance of time-resolved imaging of surface streamers in air propagating on the surface of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and alumina (γ-Al2O3) beads at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. The propagation velocity of primary streamers was found to be dependent primarily on the applied voltage and the type of catalyst. The presence of Ag nanoparticles enhanced the propagation velocity of primary streamers in both TiO2 and γ-Al2O3. Some of the primary streamers passed through a partial discharge, which resulted in enhanced discharge intensity. Through successive steps, the partial discharge served as a staging point for primary streamers, and promoted their propagation toward the next catalyst bead. For a given configuration and catalyst, the velocity of the primary streamer was largely influenced by applied voltage and catalyst type. For a mesh-to-mesh reactor with Ag/ TiO2 catalyst, the primary streamer reached about 660 km s−1. Secondary streamers occurred with much slower velocities after the primary streamer had disappeared. In contrast to primary streamers, secondary streamer velocities were almost completely independent of the applied voltage on both TiO2 (150 ± 50 km s−1) and γ-Al2O3 (70 ± 10 km s−1). Detailed time-resolved imaging data on surface streamers can provide important insight into understanding and modeling plasma-catalysis, which can accelerate the progress of research and development in this area.

Pulsed positive streamer discharges in air at high temperatures

Atmospheric-pressure air pulsed positive streamer discharges are generated in a 13 mm point-plane gap in the temperature range of 293 K–1136 K, and the effect of temperature on the streamer discharges is studied. When the temperature is increased, the product of applied voltage and temperature VT proportional to the reduced electric field can be used as a primary parameter that determines some discharge parameters regardless of temperature. For a given VT, the transferred charge per pulse, streamer diameter, product of discharge energy and temperature, and length of secondary streamer are almost constant regardless of T, whereas the streamer velocity decreases with increasing T and the decay rate of the discharge current is proportional to 1/T. The N2(C) emission intensity is approximately determined by the discharge energy independent of T. These results are useful to predict the streamer discharge and its reactive species production when the ambient temperature is increased.

Classification of impulse breakdown mechanisms under non-uniform electric field in air

To clarify the breakdown mechanism and the conditions leading to the breakdown under non-uniform electric field in air, we studied the details of breakdown characteristics and mechanism in air by using an ultra-high speed measurement system. We clarified that there were two types of breakdown mechanism in air. The one is the channel heating breakdown, and the other is the leader-type channel development breakdown. These breakdown mechanisms are dominated by three conditions: arrival of secondary streamer from high-voltage anode to opposite grounded cathode, channel heating, and leader-type channel initiation. We studied these conditions quantitatively, and revealed the conditions leading to the breakdown, and the breakdown mechanisms in air were classified. Finally, we clarified the factors, e.g. critical instantaneous power for the secondary streamer arrival, dominating these conditions based on the breakdown mechanism under non-uniform electric field in air.

Evolution of streamer groups in nonthermal plasma

Nonthermal plasmas (NTPs) induced by atmospheric nanosecond pulsed corona discharge have been studied for controlling pollution from combustors, such as boilers, incinerators, and diesel engines. In high-speed short-width high-voltage pulsed corona discharge-induced plasmas, primary streamer evolution is followed by secondary streamer evolution. Though this phenomenon is known experimentally, the details of the structures of the streamers and their evolution mechanisms have not been fully clarified. In this letter, we perform quasi two-dimensional numerical analysis of nonequilibrium NTP induced by a nanosecond positive pulsed corona discharge. The continuum fluid equations for two-temperature nonequilibrium NTP are used as governing equations. In this study, 197 gas phase reactions for 25 chemical species and 21 surface reactions on the inner glass wall surface are considered in an air plasma under atmospheric pressure. The simulated behavior of the streamer groups agrees with experimental observations. Soon after the voltage increases on the reactor, primary streamers are formed, which may transit the complete gap, disappearing near the peak voltage. Next, second streamers appear, disappearing at the end of the applied voltage pulse. The streamer wavelength and the distance between the streamers in the axial direction are determined. Moreover, ozone generation is shown to be more significant in the secondary streamer. This simulation will allow better predictions for nanosecond positive pulsed plasma systems.

Plasma bullets behavior in a tube covered by a conductor

In this work, for better applications of atmospheric pressure plasma jets, the physics of plasma streamers in a glass tube with a part of it covered by a conductor is investigated. To better understand the propagation mechanism of plasma bullets in capillary tubes passing through a curved or narrow passage for some biomedical or material applications, the propagation of plasma streamers in a tube covered by a floating conductor is investigated. For a plasma streamer propagating in a tube covered by a conductor, the plasma streamer is suppressed and becomes shorter, and a secondary streamer is generated in the tube at the downstream end of the conductor. The larger the area covered by the conductor, or the thinner the tube, the stronger the plasma streamer is inhibited. The electric potential of the conductor is measured to be as high as 6 kV. On the other hand, a higher voltage applied on the HV electrode, or a higher gas flow rate will make the secondary plasma streamer longer. It is found that the capacitor formed by the conductor outside the tube and the wall of the tube plays an important role in inhibiting the original plasma streamer and generating the secondary streamer. Moreover, the active species generated by the original plasma play important role in generating a secondary plasma streamer.

Detection of OH Radicals Generated in Wire–Plate Pulsed Corona Discharge by LIF

Hydroxyl (OH) radicals generated in wire–plate pulsed corona discharge (PCD) were detected by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). In this paper, the 2-D distribution of OH radicals and the time-resolved development of the streamers in humidified nitrogen were recorded by an intensified charge-coupled device camera. The results indicate that the OH-LIF signals could not be detected when secondary streamer was absent in PCD with low input energy. Input energy, which varies with the configuration of wire–plate reactor and applied voltage, significantly affected the spatial distribution of OH radicals.

Numerical simulation for the production of chemically active species in primary and secondary streamers in atmospheric-pressure dry air

Production of chemically active species in primary and secondary streamers is investigated using a two-dimensional axisymmetric numerical simulation model. The production processes of N2(v = 1), O(3P) and N(4S), which each have different threshold energies, are simulated using experimentally obtained pulsed voltages with peak values, Vpeak, of 18, 24 and 30 kV in dry air at atmospheric pressure. As Vpeak increases, the simulated length of the secondary streamer increases, although there is little change in the primary streamer characteristics. This means that the ratio of the secondary streamer phase to the primary streamer phase increases for increasing Vpeak. The simulated results show that as Vpeak increases, the energy efficiency of O(3P) production increases and that of N2(v = 1) production decreases. On the other hand, the energy efficiency of N(4S) production has reduced dependence on Vpeak. These characteristics can be explained by the spatiotemporal variations of the reduced electric field in the primary and secondary streamer.

Initiation process and propagation mechanism of positive streamer discharge in water

The aim of this study was to clarify the initiation process and the propagation mechanism of positive underwater streamers under the application of pulsed voltage with a duration of 10 μs, focusing on two different theories of electrical discharges in liquids: the bubble theory and the direct ionization theory. The initiation process, which is the time lag from the beginning of voltage application to streamer inception, was found to be related to the bubble theory. In this process, Joule heating resulted in the formation of a bubble cluster at the tip of a needle electrode. Streamer inception was observed from the tip of a protrusion on the surface of this bubble cluster, which acted as a virtual sharp electrode to enhance the local electric field to a level greater than 10 MV/cm. Streak imaging of secondary streamer propagation showed that luminescence preceded gas channel generation, suggesting a mechanism of direct ionization in water. Streak imaging of primary streamer propagation revealed intermittent propagation, synchronized with repetitive pulsed currents. Shadowgraph imaging of streamers synchronized with the light emission signal indicated the possibility of direct ionization in water for primary streamer propagation as well as for secondary streamer propagation.

Branching and path-deviation of positive streamers resulting from statistical photon transport

The branching and change in direction of propagation (path-deviation) of positive streamers in molecular gases such as air likely require a statistical process which perturbs the head of the streamer and produces an asymmetry in its space charge density. In this paper, the mechanisms for path-deviation and branching of atmospheric pressure positive streamer discharges in dry air are numerically investigated from the viewpoint of statistical photon transport and photoionization. A statistical photon transport model, based on randomly selected emitting angles and mean-free-path for absorption, was developed and embedded into a fluid-based plasma transport model. The hybrid model was applied to simulations of positive streamer coaxial discharges in dry air at atmospheric pressure. The results show that secondary streamers, often spatially isolated, are triggered by the random photoionization and interact with the thin space charge layer (SCL) of the primary streamer. This interaction may be partly responsible for path-deviation and streamer branching. The general process consists of random remote photo-electron production which initiates a back-traveling electron avalanche, collision of this secondary avalanche with the primary streamer and the subsequent perturbation to its SCL. When the SCL is deformed from a symmetric to an asymmetric shape, the streamer can experience an abrupt change in the direction of propagation. If the SCL is sufficiently perturbed and essentially broken, local maxima in the SCL can develop into new streamers, leading to streamer branching. During the propagation of positive streamers, this mechanism can take place repetitively in time and space, thus producing multi-level branching and more than two branches within one level.

Highly Temporal Visualization of Generation Process of Underwater Secondary Streamer From Developed Primary Streamer

A series of images of a generation process of an underwater secondary streamer from a developed primary streamer was visualized by an ultrahigh-speed camera with a microscope lens. The secondary streamer with a filamentary structure propagated with an average velocity of 30 km/s from one of the channel tips of the semispherical primary streamer with an average propagation velocity of 1.8 km/s. The synchronized current waveform showed that pulsed currents of about 100 mA were changed into a continuous current of about 300 mA when the secondary streamer started to propagate. This experiment was carried out by the application of a single-shot pulsed positive voltage to a needle-to-wire electrode system with a gap length of 6 mm.

Simulated Streak Pictures for the Production of Chemical Species in an Atmospheric Pressure Streamer Discharge

A streamer discharge model is developed to analyze the characteristics of a pulsed positive streamer discharge for point-to-plane electrodes filled with humid air at atmospheric pressure. The process of chemical species production is studied using simulated streak pictures. The streak pictures clearly show that the primary streamer and secondary streamer have different roles for charged-particle production and subsequent active-species production.

Measurement of vibrationally excited N2(v) in an atmospheric-pressure air pulsed corona discharge using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

Vibrationally excited N2(v = 1, 2) in an atmospheric-pressure air pulsed corona discharge was measured using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS). In a dry air discharge, the vibrational temperature determined from the ratio N2(v = 2)/N2(v = 0), Tv2, was approximately 500 K higher than that determined from N2(v = 1)/N2(v = 0), Tv1, immediately after the discharge pulse. Both vibrational temperatures reached equilibrium within 100 μs after the discharge pulse by the vibration-to-vibration (V-V) process of N2-N2. The translational temperature was also measured using CARS. The rise in the translational temperature due to vibration-to-translation (V-T) energy transfer was not observed for a postdischarge time of 5 μs–1 ms in the dry-air discharge. However, when the air was humidified, a significant V-T energy transfer was observed. It was due to an extremely rapid V-T process of H2O-H2O following the V-V process of N2-H2O. Measurements showed that the humidification of the ambient air accelerated the decrease in the N2 vibrational temperature and increased the translational temperature. N2(v) was generated mostly in the secondary streamer, not in the primary one, according to estimation from the measured N2(v) density.

Fast propagation of an underwater secondary streamer by the appearance of a continuous component in the discharge current

An underwater secondary streamer for a single-shot pulsed positive voltage was found to propagate with an average velocity of 18 km/s during the appearance of a continuous component on the discharge current waveform. The continuous component was the first discharge current with a direct-current–like component detected after a displacement current. However, the propagation velocity decreased to less than 2 km/s during the appearance of pulsed currents, which followed the continuous component. These results were analyzed by highly spatiotemporal visualization synchronized with the discharge current.

Characterisation of pulsed discharge in water

In this paper, Schlieren photography technique has been applied for the visualization of the pressure field of a single-shot underwater pulsed discharge. A needle-to-plane electrode configuration submerged in distilled water was used. The detailed time- and space-resolved images of both streamers and pressure waves were captured. As a result, several phenomena, such as the phase change prior to the initiation of the discharge, primary and secondary streamers propagation, shock wave generation, and the bubble formation, were observed. From these observations, a scenario of multiple events from prebreakdown to post-discharge was proposed. The gas bubbles generated in discharge were used to visualize the electrohydrodynamic flow induced by the discharge.

A numerical study of high-pressure non-equilibrium streamers for combustion ignition application

We present a computational simulation study of non-equilibrium streamer discharges in a coaxial electrode and a corona geometry for automotive combustion ignition applications. The streamers propagate in combustible fuel-air mixtures at high pressures representative of internal combustion engine conditions. The study was performed using a self-consistent, two-temperature plasma model with finite-rate plasma chemical kinetics. Positive high voltage pulses of order tens of kV and duration of tens of nanoseconds were applied to the powered inner cylindrical electrode which resulted in the formation and propagation of a cathode-directed streamer. The resulting spatial and temporal production of active radical species such as O, H, and singlet delta oxygen is quantified and compared for lean and stoichiometric fuel-air mixtures. For the coaxial electrode geometry, the discharge is characterized by a primary streamer that bridges the inter-electrode gap and a secondary streamer that develops in the wake of the primary streamer. Most of the radicals are produced in the secondary streamer. For the corona geometry, only the primary streamer is observed and the radicals are produced throughout the length of the primary streamer column. The stoichiometry of the mixture was observed to have a relatively small effect on both the plasma discharge structure and the resulting yield of radical species.

Effects of pulse voltage rise rate on velocity, diameter and radical production of an atmospheric-pressure streamer discharge

The effect of pulse rise rate on a streamer discharge is investigated through both experiments and simulations. Pulsed voltages with a pulse rise rate of 0.11–0.52 kV ns−1 are applied to point-to-plane electrode configurations, and the effects are observed from ICCD photographs. The streamer emission of light is simulated by a previously developed two-dimensional streamer simulation model, and the simulation results are compared with experimental results. The results show that as the pulse rise rate is decreased, there is a decrease in the discharge current, velocity of the primary streamer, diameter of the streamer channel and emission length of the secondary streamer. The simulated reduced electric field of the primary streamer head remains constant and does not depend on the pulse rise rate. The simulated temporal variations of O and OH radical production show that almost the same number of the radicals are produced in the primary streamer, regardless of the pulse rise rate. However, the radical production in the secondary streamer decreases as the pulse rise rate decreases. Therefore, the pulse rise rate affects the ratio of radical production in the primary streamer to that in the secondary streamer.

Electro-hydrodynamics and kinetic modelling of polluted air flow activated by multi-tip-to-plane corona discharge

The present paper is devoted to the 2D simulation of an Atmospheric Corona Discharge Reactor (ACDR) involving 10 pins powered by a DC high voltage and positioned 7 mm above a grounded metallic plane. The corona reactor is periodically crossed by thin mono filamentary streamers with a natural repetition frequency of some tens of kHz. The simulation involves the electro-dynamic, chemical kinetic, and neutral gas hydrodynamic phenomena that influence the kinetics of the chemical species transformation. Each discharge stage (including the primary and the secondary streamers development and the resulting thermal shock) lasts about one hundred nanoseconds while the post-discharge stages occurring between two successive discharge phases last one hundred microseconds. The ACDR is crossed by a lateral air flow including 400 ppm of NO. During the considered time scale of 10 ms, one hundred discharge/post-discharge cycles are simulated. The simulation involves the radical formation and thermal exchange between the discharges and the background gas. The results show how the successive discharges activate the flow gas and how the induced turbulence phenomena affect the redistribution of the thermal energy and the chemical kinetics inside the ACDR.