Simulational study on multi-pulse phenomena of atmospheric pressure argon dielectric barrier discharge

In this paper, a one-dimensional discharge model is employed to study multi-pulse phenomena in Ar dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) under atmospheric pressure. The finite-element method is employed to solve the model. The influences of applied voltage amplitude and frequency as well as gas gap distance on the variation of multi discharge pulses are investigated and discussed. The simulation results show that, both the intensity of discharge current and the number of discharge pulses increase with the amplitude of applied voltage, and narrower gas gap is more favorable for the formation of multi pulses. It is revealed that Ar DBDs behave in glow discharge mode when the applied voltage and gas gap distance vary from 2 to 6kV and from 1 to 3mm, respectively. With the frequency decreasing from 250 to 125 Hz, the intensity of discharge current weakens and the number of discharge pulses increases, and the discharges behave in the typical Townsend discharge mode.