Suppression of self pulsing DC driven nonthermal microplasma discharge to operate in a steady DC mode

• US 10,542,613 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2017
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of South Carolina
• Original Assignee: University of South Carolina
• Inventors: Farouk, Tanvir, Mahamud, Rajib
• Primary Examiner(s): Luque, Renan
• Application Number:
  US15/478,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20170290137A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/0018 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/0081 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/46 using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy H05H1/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/4697 using glow discharges
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 2242/22 DC, AC or pulsed generators

Abstract

The current disclosure relates to a suppressor circuit configuration for extending the stable region of operation of a DC driven micro plasma discharge at atmospheric and higher pressures. The current disclosure also provides various systems for suppressing a self-pulsing regime of a direct current driven micro plasma discharge comprising, at least, a power supply, a ballast resistor, a plasma discharge, and an inductor.

Claims

1. An instability suppressor circuit for self-pulsing direct current driven microplasma discharge comprising:

a power supply;

a ballast resistor;

a plasma discharge;

an inductor connected in series with the power supply, the ballast resistor and the plasma discharge;

wherein the suppressor circuit adds a positive impedance making plasma from the plasma discharge less sensitive to a change in voltage with respect to a change in current;

wherein the suppressor circuit functions at atmospheric pressure and above; and

wherein the inductor increases the combined response time of the plasma and the inductor, such that t L/R_discharge>

t R_ballastC_p, wherein R_ballast is the ballast'"'"'s resistance, R_discharge is a resistance of the plasma discharge, C_p is a parasitic capacitance of an external circuit, and L is the inductor'"'"'s inductance.

2. The suppressor circuit of claim 1, wherein the plasma discharge characteristics are obtained from the solution of the below equation:

3. The suppressor circuit of claim 1, wherein the inductor shifts a negative differential resistance region into lower current regimes.

4. The suppressor circuit of claim 1, wherein two electrodes having a separation distance of from 100 μ

m to 400 μ

m form the plasma discharge.

5. A system for suppressing a self-pulsing regime of a direct current driven micro plasma discharge comprising:

a power supply;

a ballast resistor;

a plasma discharge;

an inductor connected in series with the ballast resistor and plasma discharge;

wherein the inductor suppresses oscillation of the plasma discharge, thereby establishing a steady plasma discharge;

wherein the system comprises a positive impedance making plasma from the plasma discharge less sensitive to a change in voltage with respect to a change in current;

wherein the system functions at atmospheric pressure and above; and

wherein varying an inductance value increases a response time of plasma to a value wherein t Lx/R_discharge>

t R_ballastC_p thereby making a driving circuit response time shorter, wherein R_ballast the ballast'"'"'s resistance, R_discharge is a resistance of the plasma discharge, C_p is a parasitic capacitance of an external circuit, and Lx is the inductor'"'"'s inductance.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system shifts a negative differential resistance region into lower current regimes.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the plasma discharge characteristics are obtained from the solution of the below equation:

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the plasma discharge is formed between two electrodes having a separation distance of from 100 μ

m to 400 μ

m.