Analytical Model and Experimental Study of a Cylindrical DBD Discharge Operating in the Filamentary Mode

Abstract

In this work, we present an experimental and theoretical study of a cylindrical atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operating in the filamentary mode. An analytical model that takes into account the nonuniformity of the charge distributions on the dielectrics was developed. Using the model, it is possible to estimate important characteristics of a DBD device, like breakdown voltage, mean power consumption, and circuital parameters, directly from the geometry and physical characteristics of the device. The model also helps to understand and quantify some aspects of the behavior of the DBD discharge, like the decrease of breakdown voltage as the amplitude of the applied voltage increases, and how the fraction of area of dielectric covered with deposited charge determines the device performance. The theory was tested with experiments performed with a DBD operated in atmospheric air, with voltages from 14 to 22 kV peak to peak, and a frequency of 10 kHz.