Electrical Parameter Effects on Nanosecond Pulsed Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ion Sheath Propagation

This paper presents a numerical investigation using a two-species fluid model on how varying the peak voltage amplitude and pulse duration of a nanosecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge actuator influences plasma development during the initial cycles of actuation. Peak amplitudes of 1–2 kV are applied sinusoidally with pulse durations of 50–200 ns for five complete cycles. The results indicate that the plasma ion sheath speed is dependent on a combination of the residual surface charge and secondary electron emission, where the sheath speed increases with applied voltage and decreases with pulse duration. The formation of an electron void at the downstream extent of the plasma region is shown to interfere with the propagation of the ion sheath and restricts plasma development. However, increasing the applied voltage amplitude and modifying the pulse duration are shown to be capable of preventing the formation of an electron void by increasing charged particle concentrations within the plasma.