Study of two positive current pulses atmospheric pressure cold plasma jet

Abstract

Simple argon atmospheric pressure cold plasma jet has been designed and characterized. The spectral and electrical characteristics of the generated plasma jet were investigated. The effects of applied voltage and flow rate on plasma jet length were studied. A sinusoidal high voltage waveform was applied to ignite the plasma jet. Two current pulses were generated per each half cycle of the positive applied voltage while one current pulse was generated in the negative halves of the voltage waveforms. The time interval between the two positive current pulses decreased with increasing the applied voltage. The emission spectra of the plasma specified that the plasma included active species of O• and OH•. In addition, the estimated gas temperature of the generated plasma jet was in the range of 330 K, which nominated this jet to be used to treat heat sensitive materials. The obtained results showed that the length of the plasma jet increased by increasing any of the applied voltage or the flow rate at low values, whereas the length approached steady-state values at higher applied voltages and transient from laminar to turbulent flow mode at higher flow rates. This work is highly useful for applications of the required exposure to active species, charged ions, and UV photons at low operating temperatures and applied voltages.