Uniform Dielectric Barrier Discharge Research Articles

Atmospheric pressure uniform dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in a wide air gap initiated from a narrow starting point

Generating a uniform non-equilibrium plasma in atmospheric pressure air has always been a challenge. It is believed that the maximum spacing for generating a uniform non-equilibrium plasma in atmospheric pressure air, whether using AC or nanosecond pulse drive, is 4 mm. Discharges are always non-uniform when the spacing is greater than 4 mm. In this paper, we propose a new type of dielectric barrier discharge structure to address this challenge. The left end of the structure rapidly increases the discharge spacing from 0.5 mm to 6 mm, while the right side of the main discharge gap maintains a uniform spacing of 6 mm. Nanosecond pulse voltage is used to drive the plasma, an ICCD camera is used to capture the image of the plasma during a discharge pulse cycle, which indicates that a uniform plasma within the 6 mm spacing of the main discharge gap is generated. Upon further reducing the ICCD camera’s exposure time to 20 ns, it is revealed that the uniform plasma is formed due to the rapid propagation of the plasma from left to right at a speed of order of 105 m s−1. Due to the small transverse component of the external electric field, this rapid propagation behavior cannot be due to the external electric field. Therefore, this paper further proposes the hypothesis of electric dipole formation leading to this fast propagation. The hypothesis suggests that the charge separation on the surface of the anode forms an electric dipole, which generates a local discharge at its right end. This local discharge further triggers the discharge in the main gap, and the main gap discharge, in turn, forms a dipole due to charge separation again, by repeating this cycle, the plasma propagates rapidly to the right. Further analysis demonstrates that this dipole can indeed produce a strong electric field of up to 41 kV cm−1 at its right end, which is sufficient to induce a local discharge. Moreover, under such a strong electric field, the electron migration rate can indeed reach 105 m s−1. These findings support the plausibility of this hypothesis.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of electrons and helium metastables in uniform dielectric barrier discharges formed in He/N2

A uniform atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge is operated in helium with an admixture (0.45%) of nitrogen. The discharge is ignited in the gas gap between a driven and a grounded electrode and propagates along the dielectric surface outside the gap. Plasma conditions are characterised with current and voltage measurements and by application of absolutely calibrated optical emission spectroscopy, with a focus on nitrogen molecular emission. Plasma parameters, namely electron density and reduced electric field, are determined with spatial and temporal resolution in the frame of a collisional-radiative model using a calibrated charge coupled device camera and Abel inversion of measured images. The density of an effective helium metastable state is calculated using the measured plasma parameters and compared with values of the state density measured with tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy.

Effects of dielectric constant and secondary electron emission coefficient on discharge characteristics and products of Ar/NH3 DBD

Atmospheric Ar/NH3 dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is a type of uniform dielectric barrier discharge that has potential applications in surface treatment, thin film surface deposition, hydrogen storage, etc. The characteristics and the application effects of Ar/NH3 DBD are strongly dependent on dielectric materials, electrode structures, and gas atmospheres. In this paper, a one-dimensional fluid numerical simulation model was established to investigate the effects of dielectric constant and secondary electron emission coefficient (SEEC) of the barrier dielectric material on the discharge characteristics and product distributions in Ar/NH3 gas mixture. The results show that increasing dielectric constant makes the discharge moment slightly earlier (discharge phase 17.5°–5°) and has a greater effect on the discharge intensity (discharge current), plasma parameters, and discharge products as well as their yields. While increasing SEEC makes the discharge moment significantly earlier (discharge phase 27.5° to −5°), it has less influence on the discharge intensity (discharge current), plasma parameters, and discharge products and their yields. On this basis, a possible strategy was proposed to describe the effect of the two dielectric parameters on the discharge characteristics and products.

Influence of non-uniform electric field distribution on the atmospheric pressure air dielectric barrier discharge

The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in air at atmospheric pressure is not suitable for industrial applications due to its randomly distributed discharge filaments. In this paper, the influence of the electric field distribution on the uniformity of DBD is theoretically analyzed and experimentally verified. It is found that a certain degree of uneven electric field distributions can control the development of electron avalanches and regulate their transition to streamers in the gap. The discharge phenomena and electrical characteristics prove that an enhanced Townsend discharge can be formed in atmospheric-pressure air with a curved-plate electrode. The spectral analysis further confirms that the gas temperature of the plasma produced by the curved-plate electrode is close to room temperature, which is beneficial for industrial applications. This paper presents the relationship between the electron avalanche transition and the formation of a uniform DBD, which can provide some references for the development and applications of the DBD in the future.

Mode transitions of a helium dielectric barrier discharge from Townsend, normal glow, to abnormal glow with varying voltage rising time

Transition from a Townsend mode to a normal glow mode has been reported in the literature for uniform dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure. In this paper, through a one-dimensional fluid model, more modes of uniform DBD in helium and transitions between them are found with varying rising time of a saw-tooth voltage. The results indicate that a positive discharge initiates at the positive-slope voltage phase, whose pulse duration decreases, while the peak value increases with decreasing rising time. During this process, a negative discharge initiating at the negative-slope voltage phase keeps weakening to almost zero current. The predominant positive discharge is then investigated through analyzing spatial distributions of electron density, ion density, and electric field at the peak current moment. In combination with the voltage-current curve, discharge modes of DBD are revealed to transit from a Townsend, a normal glow, to an abnormal glow with decreasing voltage rising time. These mode transitions are qualitatively explained by analyzing the gap voltage and electron density averaged in the gap just before discharge initiation. The results also suggest that by reducing the rising time or increasing voltage amplitude, DBD is prone to operate in the abnormal glow mode. Moreover, DBD in the abnormal glow mode has an increasing peak current and a decreasing pulse duration with increasing voltage amplitude. Finally, the critical voltage amplitude is given as a function of voltage rising time for the mode transitions from the Townsend to the normal glow and the normal glow to the abnormal glow.

Dust Particle Synthesis by the Combined Plasma Source at Atmospheric Pressure

In this work, the results of experiments on the dust particle synthesis process by combining two types of discharges at atmospheric pressure are presented. The experimental setup consists of two pin type copper electrodes connected to the pulsed high voltage source (spark discharge) and two copper foils wrapped around a quartz tube powered by a kilohertz high voltage sinusoidal signal [atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APP jet)]. In that case, the spark discharge serves as a precursor. It is a source of vapor and primary nanoparticles. Furthermore, these nanoparticles transported by gas flow to the region of uniform dielectric barrier discharge of the plasma jet increased in size and settled on the surface of the substrate. The results of experiments with combined discharge and with spark discharge only are compared. Particle formation and growth mechanisms were discussed. The chemical composition of the deposited particles was obtained.

Design and development of a low cost, high current density power supply for streamer free atmospheric pressure DBD plasma generation in air.

This paper presents a new power supply architecture for generating a uniform dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma in air medium at atmospheric pressure. It is quite a challenge to generate atmospheric pressure uniform glow discharge plasma, especially in air. This is because air plasma needs very high voltage for initiation of discharge. If the high voltage is used along with high current density, it leads to the formation of streamers, which is undesirable for most applications like textile treatment, etc. Researchers have tried to generate high-density plasma using a RF source, nanosecond pulsed DC source, and medium frequency AC source. However, these solutions suffer from low current discharge and low efficiency due to the addition of an external resistor to control the discharge current. Moreover, they are relatively costly and bulky. This paper presents a new power supply configuration which is very compact and generates high average density (∼0.28 W/cm2) uniform glow DBD plasma in air at atmospheric pressure. The efficiency is also higher as no external resistor is required to control the discharge current. An inherent feature of this topology is that it can drive higher current oscillations (∼50 A peak and 2-3 MHz frequency) into the plasma that damp out due to the plasma dissipation only. A newly proposed model has been used with experimental validation in this paper. Simulations and experimental validation of the proposed topology are included. Also, the application of the generated plasma for polymer film treatment is demonstrated.

Uniform and non-uniform modes of nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge in atmospheric air: fast imaging and spectroscopic measurements of electric fields

In this study, we report experimental results on fast intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) imaging of the development of nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in atmospheric air and spectroscopic measurements of the electric field in the discharge. The uniformity of the discharge images obtained with nanosecond exposure times was analysed using chi-square test. The results indicate that DBD uniformity strongly depends on the applied (global) electric field in the discharge gap, which is a threshold phenomenon. We show that in the case of strong overvoltage on the discharge gap (provided by fast rise times), there is a transition from filamentary to uniform DBD mode that correlates to the corresponding decrease of the maximum local electric field in the discharge.

An uniform DBD plasma excited by bipolar nanosecond pulse using wire-cylinder electrode configuration in atmospheric air

In this study, a bipolar nanosecond pulsed power supply with 15ns rising time is employed to generate an uniform dielectric barrier discharge using the wire-cylinder electrode configuration in atmospheric air. The images, waveforms of pulse voltage and discharge current, and the optical emission spectra of the discharges are recorded. The rotational and vibrational temperatures of plasma are determined by comparing the simulated spectra with the experimental spectra. The effects of pulse peak voltage, pulse repetition rate and quartz tube diameter on the emission intensities of N2 (C3Πu→B3Πg, 0–0) and N2+B2Σu+→X2Σg+,0–0 and the rotational and vibrational temperatures have been investigated. It is found that the uniform plasma with low gas temperature can be obtained, and the emission intensities of N2 (C3Πu→B3Πg, 0–0) and N2+B2Σu+→X2Σg+,0–0 rise with increasing the pulse peak voltage and pulse repetition rate, while decrease as the increase of quartz tube diameter. In addition, under the condition of 28kV pulse peak voltage, 150Hz pulse repetition rate and 7mm quartz tube diameter, the plasma gas temperature is determined to be 330K. The results also indicate that the plasma gas temperature keep almost constant when increasing the pulse peak voltage and pulse repetition rate but increase with the increase of the quartz tube diameter.

Effect of volume and surface charges on discharge structure of glow dielectric barrier discharge

The effect of volume and surface charges on the structure of glow dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) has been investigated numerically by using two-dimensional (2D) fluid modeling. The local increase of volume or surface charges induces a kind of activation-inhibition effect, which enhances the local volume discharge and inhibits the discharge in neighborhoods, resulting in non-uniform discharge. The activation-inhibition effect due to the non-uniform volume and/or surface charges depends on the non-uniformity itself and the applied voltage. The activation-inhibition of non-uniform charges has different effects on the volume charges and the accumulated surface charges. The distribution of remaining free charges (seed electrons) in volume at the beginning of voltage pulse plays a key role for the glow DBD structure, resulting in a patterned DBD, when the seed electrons are non-uniform at higher frequency and moderate voltage or uniform DBD, when the seed electrons are uniform at lower frequency or high voltage. The distribution of surface charges is not the determining factor but a result of the formed DBD structure.

The Key Factor for Uniform and Patterned Glow Dielectric Barrier Discharge

We present the results from 2D fluid modeling of the key roles controlling the glow dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) structure. A uniform DBD can be sustained at lower frequency when the space charge reaches uniformity due to plasma decay, while the patterned structure appears above a critical frequency when the space charge is nonuniform. The patterns start from the electrode edge where the electric field is significantly distorted, characterized by the patterned seed electrons that always form ahead of the surface charges. The formation of the patterned DBD structure is associated with the lateral inhibition of the local increase of space charges. The distribution of the volume seed electrons plays a key role in the DBD structure while the distribution of surface charge is a result of the formed structure.

Uniformity of a dielectric barrier glow discharge: experiments and two-dimensional modeling

The experimental and calculated results of uniformity in a glow dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) under sub-atmospheric pressures are reported. Driven by a square-wave power source, the discharge in a parallel-electrode DBD system shows uniform or various lateral structures under different conditions. There exists a critical frequency below which the DBD is uniform for almost all the applied voltages. Above the critical frequency, a non-uniform (patterned) discharge is observed and the patterned structures change with frequency and voltage. A two-dimensional fluid modeling is performed on this DBD system which shows similar results in agreement with the experiments. The simulations reveal that the distribution of the space electron density at the beginning of each voltage pulse plays an important role in achieving the uniformity. Uniform space charge results in a uniform DBD. The patterned DBD always evolves from the initial uniform state to the eventual non-uniform one. During this process, the space electrons form a patterned distribution ahead of the surface charges and lead to non-uniform discharge channels.

Excitation of atmospheric pressure uniform dielectric barrier discharge using repetitive unipolar nanosecond-pulse generator

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) excitation by unipolar high voltage pulses is a promising approach for producing non-thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure. In this study, a magnetic compression solid-state pulsed power generator was used to produce repetitive nanosecond pulses for the excitation. The DBD is created using two liquid electrodes. The electrical characteristics of the discharge voltage and current are illustrated under different experimental conditions. The nanosecond-pulse discharge current is of the order of tens of amperes. This differs from common DBD current excitated by high-voltage ac sources. Compared with the characteristics of two current pulses corresponding to two discharges for unipolar pulsed-excitation, the secondary discharge in this study is minor owing to the pulsed power and discharge configuration. Under the experimental conditions, the luminous emissions from the front and side views of the liquid electrodes show that no filament is observed and the discharge is homogeneous and diffuse in the whole discharge region. The effects of applied voltage amplitude, repetition rate, and air gap spacing on the discharge characteristic are investigated. The discharge mode does not change with the variation of the investigated parameters. A comparison of high voltage ac and nanosecond-pulse excitation is also presented. In addition, discussion of the experimental results is presented.

Characterizing uniform discharge in atmospheric helium by numerical modelling

One-dimensional fluid model of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in helium at atmospheric pressure was established and the discharge was numerically simulated. It was found that not only the spatial distributions of the internal parameters such as the electric field, the electron density and ion density are similar to those in a low-pressure glow discharge, but also the visually apparent attribute (light emission) is exactly the same as the observable feature of a low-pressure glow discharge. This confirms that the uniform DBD in atmospheric helium is a glow type discharge. The fact that the thickness of the cathode fall layer is about 0.5 mm, much longer than that of a normal glow discharge in helium at atmospheric pressure, indicates the discharge being a sub-normal glow discharge close to normal one. The multipulse phenomenon was reproduced in the simulation and a much less complicated explanation for this phenomenon was given.

Characterization of a dielectric barrier discharge operating in an open reactor with flowing helium

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) generated by flowing helium between the parallel-plate electrodes of an open air reactor has been characterized using time resolved optical and electrical measurements. A sinusoidal voltage of up to 5 kV (peak to peak) of frequencies from 3 to 50 kHz has been applied to the discharge electrodes. The helium flow rate is varied up to 10 litre min−1. The adjustment of flow rate allows the creation of uniform DBDs with optimized input power equal to 120 ± 10 mW cm−3. At flow rates from 4 to 6 litre min−1 a uniform DBD is obtained. The maxima in the line intensities of and helium at 391.4 nm and 706.5 nm, respectively, under those conditions indicate the importance of helium metastables and in sustaining such a discharge. The power efficiency and discharge current show maxima when the DBD in He/air is uniform. The gas temperature during the discharge has been measured as 360 ± 20 K.