Turbulence Effects on a Glow Discharge as Derived from Continuity and Energy Considerations.
Abstract
This thesis investigates the effects of a turbulent gas flow on the stability of a glow discharge. While it is known that turbulence affects the stability of glow discharges, the mechanism is not clear. Primarily, the problem lies in the very long characteristic times of turbulence phenomena when compared to the glow discharge instability times. A mathematical model os developed and solved numerically for the ambipolar diffusion and an overall energy equation in an unsteady, cylindrical coordinate system. Strong perturbations of the electric field are introduced which disturb an otherwise stable configuration and the effects of turbulence on the time evolution of the perturbation are observed. It is shown that modification of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient and thermal conductivity is a reasonably sufficient model to introduce the turbulence effects. It is found that the charged particle density is effectively the sole source of heating in the gaseous environment of the discharge. It is then shown that turbulence acts to suppress the temperature instability introduced by the discharge streamer. Originator-supplied keywords include: Glow-to-arc-transition, Glow- discharge, Turbulent diffusion, Streamer-breakdown, and Arc breakdown.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA151838
Entities
People
- W. R. Oker
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School