Corona discharge and ozone generation characteristics of a point-plate type nonthermal plasma reactor with ferroelectric pellet barrier

The surface corona discharge and ozone generation characteristics of a nont hermal plasma reactor consisting of a point-to-mesh electrode system with a DC corona charged ferroelectric pellet barrier on the mesh have been exper imentally investigated. Electric charges stored on the surfaces of the ferr oelectric pellets by a corona discharge provide partial electric fields on the surfaces of the ferroelectric pellets, which can widen surface discharg es on the ferroelectric pellet barrier. This configuration utilizes a wider plasma reacting area between the top surfaces of every pellet barrier and the mesh electrode. Positive and negative DC voltages are applied to the po int to generate corona discharges, and corona currents are estimated to inv estigate charge storage on ferroelectric pellets as functions of the relati ve permittivity and the charge relaxation time constants of ferroelectric p ellets. As a result, the relative permittivity of ferroelectric pellets and the polarity of the applied voltage are found to influence surface dischar ges among ferroelectric pellets. In addition, the mean corona current and o zone concentration increase drastically when a negative DC voltage is appli ed in case of a plasma reactor with a ferroelectric pellet barrier, which h as potential for being used as an effective nonthermal plasma reactor.