Laboratory and field measurements of NOx produced from corona discharge

This research consists of a laboratory study and a field study. The laboratory research reports the formation of NOx from a point to plane corona discharge. Discharge polarity and relative humidity determined the amount of NOx that was produced. The positive point discharge caused more NOx to form than the negative point discharge. For both polarities NOx production showed a nonlinear increase with current. Relative humidity enhanced the NOx formation for both polarities. In each case, the amount of NOx formed was comparable to the quantity of N2O produced from corona discharge. The research also reports the results from a field study that measured the amounts of 03 and NO2 produced by corona discharge during a thunderstorm. The study found that the ambient concentrations of 03 and NO2 increased several fold due to corona discharge and returned to original levels after the thunderstorm.