The Role of Pulse Voltage Amplitude on Chemical Processes Induced by Streamer Discharge at Water Surface

Abstract

The paper reports the effects of pulse voltage amplitude on streamer discharge propagation at water surface. The subsequent chemical processes in a reactor following the surface discharges with different voltages are presented. A pulsed power modulator (PPM) system equipped with a control unit was employed to generate 0–25 kV pulses at 500 Hz. A point-plane electrode configuration was used for experiments, with the point electrode placed with 1 mm gap from the water surface in atmospheric air, and plane ground submerged with 30 mm gap in water. The streamer length at water surface was significantly influenced by the pulse voltage amplitude. Colorimetric measurement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and treatment of indigo carmine organic dye solution were carried out to elucidate the chemical processes produced at various pulse voltages. The experimental results reveal that the applied voltage is a factor that greatly affects water surface discharges and their chemical processes.

Keywords

• pulse voltage
• amplitude
• streamer
• discharge
• water surface
• hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
• indigo carmine