A comparative finite element analysis of an atmospheric pressure corona discharge plasma in argon gas

A negative corona discharge is a type of electrical discharge that occurs when a high negative voltage is applied to a sharp or curved electrode relative to a grounded electrode, ionizing the surrounding gas and creating a weakly conductive plasma region. Corona discharge, as a form of non-thermal plasma , has several important applications in nanotechnology, including: s urface modification of nano materials, nano coatings and nanoparticle synthesis. In this study, the phenomenon of a negative corona discharge that takes place in the spatial region situated between two conductors has been simulated based on finite element analysis, in comparative manner. The input voltage that is applied varies between 1000 V, 1500 V, and 2000 V. It has been engineered to be coaxial in their arrangement. In this simulated setup, a negative electric potential is deliberately applied to the inner conductor, while the outer conductor is systematically grounded to provide a reference point for the electric potential. The discharge that is being modeled and subsequently simulated occurs within an environment of argon gas maintained at atmospheric pressure, thereby creating a realistic scenario for the study of such discharge phenomena. Profiles of electron density, electron potential, electron temperature, electron current density, secondary emission flux, were presented in this study.