Streamer inhibition characteristics of surface dielectric barrier discharge in different electrode configurations

Summary form only given. Surface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is attractive for many industrial applications, due to its ability to generate uniform plasma layers with large areas at atmospheric pressure. The spacial and transient discharge characteristics show that the streamer discharges appear during the positive half cycle of voltage where a series of short and intense current pulses are observed. The streamer discharges accelerate laminar-to-turbulence transition and affect the uniformity of discharge. One way to eliminate the streamer discharge is by optimizing the geometry of actuator .In this work, tungsten wires are used as the active electrodes in an actuator. Electrical properties are investigated experimentally. Spacial and time-resolved measurements are carried out with an intensified charge-couples device (ICCD) camera from top-view and side-view. Two discharge modes, i.e., streamer discharge and diffuse discharge are also observed in the three-electrode series actuator. The streamer inhibition phenomenon is observed by the use of a dielectric rod or a metal rod inserted into the middle of the hollow active electrodes. The discharge area in the actuator with uncharged metal rod is slightly larger than that with the dielectric rod, but it is found to be the largest in the traditional three-electrode series actuator. The side-view observation shows the thickness of the plasma layer in two new actuators is thicker than that in the traditional one.