Effect of Electrode Polarity on the Development of the Breakdown in Conductive Water with Air Microbubbles

• Published in: Plasma physics reports 2021-06, Vol.47 (6), p.623-626
• Main Authors: Panov, V. A., Pecherkin, V. Ya, Vasilyak, L. M., Vetchinin, S. P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodes; Applied Physics; Atomic; Breakdown; Electric contacts; Electric discharges; Electric potential; Electrical resistivity; Insulation; Molecular; Optical and Plasma Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Voltage; Water discharge
• ISSN: 1063-780X; 1562-6938
• DOI: 10.1134/S1063780X21060131

— The effect of electrode polarity in the pin-to-rod geometry on the development of pulsed electric discharge in water with specific electrical conductivity of (90 ± 10) µS/cm with and without air microbubbles was experimentally studied. It was found that the initiation of the plasma channel at the anode in water occurs near the metal–liquid–insulation contact in both anode geometries under study. In the presence of microbubbles at an increased voltage, the development of plasma channels after initiation occurs in the direction opposite to the discharge gap along the insulated surface of the electrodes. In the presence of microbubbles, the breakdown voltage decreases, and the delay to discharge initiation and the total time of breakdown development by the channel propagating from the pin anode also decrease. When the voltage is increased, the development of the closing channel occurs from the cathode, regardless of its geometry.