Effect of Flowing Mist Relative Humidity on the Electric Characteristics of Helium Dielectric Barrier Discharge

摘要

To examine the effect of humidity on the operation of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), we tested electric characteristics of an atmospheric DBD in flowing helium between two parallel plates covered by dielectric in water mist. With increasing relative humidity (RH) levels, the signal current indicated different behaviors of the discharge. The discharge began as a multipeak Townsend discharge at low humidity levels. After increasing RH of the injected mist, the width and amplitude of current microdischarges decreased until they reached a diffuse discharge free from microdischarges. With discharge current gradually decreasing with increasing humidity, discharge power began to decrease but then increased continually after reaching a specific humidity value. Our results show that introducing humid mist in the DBD gave this type of discharge efficacious properties that could be applied to the destruction of bacteria found in serum plasma.