Electrical Characterization of a Reverse Vortex Gliding Arc Reactor in Atmosphere

A new kind of gliding-arc reactor was designed for this study. A shape-memory-alloy electrode controls the discharge arc movement at the start of the discharge stage, while the root of the arc shifts to the ground electrode under normal operation. Experimental results for electrical parameters (voltage and current) in air were analyzed. When the power is adjusted from 50 to 70 W, the discharge waveform is close to sinusoidal at the condition of high power supply. The voltage-versus-current relationship was studied for the Reynolds number (Re number) ranging from 1174 to 2609, current ranging from 20 to 50 mA, and electrode gaps ranging from 11 to 24 mm. There is a linear relationship between root mean square (rms) voltage and the electrode gaps and an inverse linear relationship between rms voltage and rms current.