Kinetic study of key species and reactions of atmospheric pressure pulsed corona discharge in humid air

In this study, we examined the key particles and chemical reactions that substantially influence plasma characteristics. In summarizing the chemical reaction model for the discharge process of N_(2)–O_(2)–H_(2)O(g)mixed gases, 65 particle types and 673 chemical reactions were investigated. On this basis, a global model of atmospheric pressure humid air discharge plasma was developed, with a focus on the variation of charged particles densities and chemical reaction rates with time under the excitation of a 0–200 Td pulsed electric field. Particles with a density greater than 1% of the electron density were classified as key particles. For such particles, the top ranking generation or consumption reactions(i.e. where the sum of their rates was greater than 95% of the total rate of the generation or consumption reactions) were classified as key chemical reactions. On the basis of the key particles and reactions identified, a simplified global model was derived. A comparison of the global model with the simplified global model in terms of the model parameters, particle densities, reaction rates(with time), and calculation efficiencies demonstrated that both models can adequately identify the key particles and chemical reactions reflecting the chemical process of atmospheric pressure discharge plasma in humid air. Thus, by analyzing the key particles and chemical reaction pathways, the charge and substance transfer mechanism of atmospheric pressure pulse discharge plasma in humid air was revealed, and the mechanism underlying water vapor molecules’ influence on atmospheric pressure air discharge was elucidated.

Discharge characteristics of leader inception and development under 10 m long air gap—experimental observation and simulation results

The physical mechanism of leader formation and development is not well understood.In this study,we present experimental and simulation results obtained with a 10 m long air gap discharge.A 10 m outdoor discharge experiment is carried out to obtain the current,voltage,and optical image during the leader discharge process.Four different impulse voltages were applied to the rod‐plane gap.The measured current is used as an input for a plasma model,then the temperature and electric field could be calculated.The simulation results show that the temperature of the streamer stem during the dark period may exceed 2000 K.In addition,the critical charge required for leader initiation can be as low as 0.27μC for a 10 m air gap.The channel temperature is relatively stable in the process of leader development,which is maintained at about 4500 K.The electron density is about 0.5–3�1020 m-3,and the discharge channel conductivity fluctuates in the range of 1–10 S/m for the leader current between 1 and 2 A.A long dark period is tended to be associated with a higher injected charge by the first streamer.It is inferred that the voltage increments during the dark period play an important role in promoting streamer‐to‐leader transition,except for temperature and the injected charge.