Numerical Modelling of Nitrogen Thermal Effects Produced by the Negative DC Corona Discharge

Abstract

In this work, we simulate numerically the thermal effects in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure caused by a negative corona DC discharge of low current. A mathematical function that simulates the injection of the thermal transfer in gas is proposed. The simulated discharge is of a negative point to plane mass type, with an interelectrode distance of 12 mm and a symmetry about the axis of discharge. The spatial and temporal evolution of neutrals is analyzed based upon the equations of continuity, momentum and energy in a cylindrical geometry. For the geometry of the system, the FCT (flux corrected transport) procedure was adopted.

Numerical Modelling of Dynamic Nitrogen at Atmospheric Pressure in a Negative DC Corona Discharge

“…Deferent types of geometry are used in the experiments: tipup, wire up, wire-wire and wire-cylinder. The high voltage applied to the electrode with high curvature can be positive or negative [8][9].…”

“…In a point-to-plane configuration at atmospheric pressure, with the sharp electrode being supplied with a negative discharge DC [8], the corona discharge inception is principally due to the acceleration of background electrons (resulting from cosmic radiation) in the high electric field created by the small curvature radius of the point. The resulting space charge field, added to the 'geometrical' initial one, allows the electrons situated a little farther away to be accelerated [11].…”

“…The free electrons produced in the initial ionization process are accelerated away from the wire in the imposed electric field. More frequent inelastic collisions of electrons and neutral gas molecules occur [8].…”

Interferometer method using abel inversion to deduce a mapping of helium gas density and temperature

“…The polarity depends on the nature of the voltage applied to the electrode with a small radius of curvature. Corona discharges have been studied for a long time and many papers have been published on this subject . Many of them give qualitative results but relatively little has been done in the way of quantitative explanation and modeling.…”

Numerical Modelling Point-to-Plane of Negative Corona Discharge in N2Under Non-Uniform Electric Field

“…A corona discharge in ambient air is also studied numerically by several other researchers [18] . A number of numerical studies of corona discharge were also carried out in atmospheric pressure nitrogen [9,19,20] . The mechanism of corona discharges has been investigated in the past using mathematical models ranging from analytical models [21,22] , mixed simulation models [23,24] , to Monte Carlo models [25,26] .…”