29 June – 1 July 2006, Sofia, Bulgaria

356

PSpice Simulation of Atmospheric Pressure Air

Glow Discharge Current-Voltage Characteristic

Peter D. Dineff1, Diliana N. Gospodinova

2 and Elisaveta D. Gadjeva

3

Abstract – The current-voltage characteristic of an Atmospheric

Pressure Air Glow (APAG) discharge has been simulated by

commercial circuit simulation software such as PSpice®. PSpice model has been developed for the plasma discharge in a APAG

discharge applicator, which consists of two parallel electrode

plates with a small gap between electrodes. At least one of the

electrodes is covered by a dielectric barrier. An APAG discharge operating gap can be modeled as an

electric capacitor without plasma, as an air gap containing

plasma. The cold plasma itself has been modeled as a voltage-

controlled current source that switches on when the voltage

across the air gap exceeds the value of the discharge ignition

voltage.

The simulation current-voltage behavior agrees with the

experimental data from an actual parallel-electrode-plate plasma

generator. It has been found that in different operating regimes, the discharge current of the APAG discharge plasma generator is

described by a voltage linear law.

Keywords – Atmospheric pressure air glow (APAG) discharge,

cold plasma, one-atmosphere glow discharge, plasma ignition

voltage, voltage-controlled current source, current-voltage be-

havior, current-voltage characteristic.

I. INTRODUCTION

!The characteristics of many electrical systems can be

simulated with proprietary computing tools such as PSpice®.

Devices employing cold plasmas are embedded in electrical

systems in many situations. It is advantageous to simulate the

complete system, including the plasma as phenomena, with

such commercial software. Previous paper regarding the com-

putational simulation of high pressure plasma in air discharge

were investigated, [2, 3, 4].

Normally the APAG discharge plasma system for plasma-

chemical modification of low energy surfaces consists of a

power supply, transformer, impedance matching network, and

plasma applicator. This electrical system was an object of

simulation with such computational tools [2, 4].

In an electrical discharge system, the inductors and capaci-

tors, in the impedance matching network, the power supply,

and the transformer are ordinary electrical components and

have well-developed PSpice models. However, there is no

1Peter D. Dineff is with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical Uni-

versity of Sofia, Blvd. St. Kliment Ohridski 8, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, E-mail:

dineff_pd@abv.bg. 2Diliana N. Gospodinova is with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tech-

nical University of Sofia, Blvd. St. Kliment Ohridski 8, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria,

E-mail: dilianang@abv.bg. 3Elisaveta D. Gadjeva is with the Faculty of Electronic Engineering and

Technology, Technical University of Sofia, Blvd. St. Kliment Ohridski 8,

1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, E-mail: egadjeva@tu-sofia.bg.

available electrical model in PSpice for the plasma APAG

discharge, so a principal simulation task is to develop such a

model, [3, 4, 6].

J.-R. Roth introduced, on the base of the observed phe-

nomenological characteristic of the normal glow discharge

voltage-current behavior, the name “one-atmosphere uniform

glow discharge” (OAUGD). Other cases of such behavior

have been often reported in the contemporary literature. The

normal glow discharges, as the dielectric-barrier discharges,

ignite and burn at constant plasma ignition (or burning) volt-

age, [2].

R. Gadri shows that an atmospheric RF glow discharge in

helium exhibits the same phenomenology as a current source,

and its output current follows a power law of the applied volt-

age [2].

Fig. 1. Power law model of current-voltage behavior of an APAG

discharge according to J. Roth.

J. Roth reported that the current-voltage (I-U) relationship

of the high-power atmospheric pressure air glow discharge

was I ∝ U2, and I ∝ U

3, depending on the operating regime -

the output current I is defined in Eqn. 1 by a power law func-

tion of the difference between the gap voltage Ug and the

plasma initiation voltage Upi, in order to simulate the current-

voltage behavior in the operating range, Fig. 1 [2]:

(1) ( ) <=

>−

pig

pig

n

pig

UUfor,0

UUfor,UUI

α,

where n is an integer that ranges from 1 to 12 in different air

glow discharge plasma devices.

Upi Ug

I

0

APAG discharge

Air

Operating Area

Peter D. Dineff, Diliana N. Gospodinova, Elisaveta D. Gadjeva

357

Fig. 2. Linear model of the current-voltage behavior of an APAG

discharge in oxygen according to I. Emelyanov.

I. Emelyanov assumed that the current-voltage relationship

of the atmospheric pressure glow discharge in oxygen was

Iav ∝ Ueff - the output average current Iav is defined in Eqn. 2

by a linear law function of the gap effective voltage Ueff ,

Fig. 2 [3],:

(2) <=

>+=

2UUforUB

2UUforAUBavcreffeff1

creffeff2

I .

P. Dineff and D. Gospodinova reported that the current-

voltage relationship of the atmospheric pressure air glow dis-

charge - APGD, was Iav ∝ Ueff for every of both operating ar-

eas of relationship - the first operating area being that of the

ozone- and oxygen-containing non-equilibrium air plasma,

and the second operating area being that of nitrogen oxides

(NOx)-containing non-equilibrium air plasma, Fig. 3 [3]:

(3) { 2UUforUBI 1creffeff0av <

>+=

>+=

2UUforAUB

2UUforAUBav1creff1eff1

2creff2eff2

I

In this paper, specific circuit PSpice models and PSpice

simulation of the current-voltage relationship of APAG dis-

charge plasma parallel-plate cold plasma generator have been

obtained with the proprietary circuit simulation software

PSpice and compared with experimental data.

Fig. 3. Linear polynomial model of the current-voltage

behavior of an APAG discharge in oxygen after

P. Dineff - D. Gospodinova.

II. PSPICE MODEL FOR SIMULATION OF CURRENT-

VOLTAGE RELATIONSHIP FOR PARALLEL-PLATE

APAG DISCHARGE PLASMA GENERATOR

A parallel-plate APAG discharge plasma generator consists

of two parallel metal electrode plates with a small gap be-

tween them. One of the electrodes is covered with a dielectric

plate or coating.

The APAG discharge burns at constant drop of voltage Ubr

across the operating gap. J. Roth introduced the name “one-

atmosphere uniform glow discharge” (OAUGD

). This fact is

confirmed by multiple researchers [1, 2, 3].

At the same time, however, the current-voltage behavior of

a parallel-plate APAG discharge plasma generator is governed

by a power law in the Roth’s model of current-voltage behav-

ior. In order to satisfy the requirement for constancy of the

voltage drop across the operating gap during the period of

burning of the APAG discharge, the current-voltage relation-

ship should vary linearly with the increase of the applied volt-

age.

This requirement is met in the Emelyanov’s linear model

of current-voltage behavior of the APAG discharge in oxygen.

P. Dineff and D. Gospodinova have proposed a linear

polynomial model of current-voltage behavior of the APAG

discharge in air that contains two operating areas correspond-

ing to the elementary processes (dissociation, ionization, and

chemical processes) conducted with the participation of oxy-

gen - non-equilibrium ozone- and oxygen-containing plasma,

and to the elementary processes conducted with the participa-

tion of nitrogen - non-equilibrium nitrogen-oxides-containing

plasma, Fig. 3 [3].

Ucr1 Ueff

Iav

O

Icr1

Ubr1

Oxygen

Ucr2 Ubr2

B

A

Nitrogen

Icr2

Second Operating

Area

First Operating

Area

Non-Operating

Area

APAG discharge

Air Operating Area

Ucr Ueff

Iav

O

APOG discharge

Icr

Ubr

A

Oxygen

α (tgα = B2)

αtg

IUU cr

crbr −=

PSpice Simulation of Atmospheric Pressure Air Glow Discharge Current-Voltage Characteristic

358

Fig. 4. PSpice circuits simulation model for an APAG discharge plasma generator current-voltage behavior.

This model reflects adequately the specificity of an APAG

discharge current-voltage behavior and represents on the basis

of equality all areas of the characteristic – the first non-

operating area (before discharge ignition) and the two operat-

ing areas of burning APAG discharge.

All this imposed the creation of a new PSpice schematic

model for an APAG discharge plasma generator, which is

governed by the following general relationship reflecting the

stationary regime of burning of the APAG discharge in both

operating areas:

(2) ( )( ){ 2creff1cr1creff11crav

creff2creff22crav

UUUforUUBIII

.UUforUUBIII

<<−=−=

>−=−=

∆

∆ ,

Based on the phenomenology of APAG discharges, the

APAG plasma discharge in the operating gap can be itself

modeled as a voltage-controlled current source that is swit-

ched on as long as the voltage across the gap exceeds the

value of the plasma ignition voltage Ubr [3].

The simulation schematic model is constructed on using dependent current sources GVALUE (from the library abm.slb), for which the control is preset as a mathematical expression (linear relationship), Fig. 4.

U

I

+

- ~ V

CDB

730 PF

RDB

100 G

CS1

0.6 uF RS1

100 g

RS2

100 g

Rpl

IN-

IN+

IN+

IN-

OUT+

OUT+ OUT-

OUT-

G32

8 k

G31

GVALUE

0

GVALUE

CS2

0.6 uF

Cg

192 PF

IN-

IN+

IN+

IN-

OUT+

OUT+ OUT-

OUT-

EGND

GVALUE GVALUE

IN-

IN+

IN+

IN-

OUT+

OUT+ OUT-

OUT-

GVALUE GVALUE

G22 G21 G12 G11

(B1*V(Vout) + A1)*1e-6*if(V(k1) = = 1, 1,0) (B2*V(Vout) + A2)*1e-6*if(V(k1) = = 2, 1,0)

(B3*V(Vout) + A3)*1e-6*if(V(k1) = = 3, 1,0)

-(A1*V(Vout) + B1)*1e-6*if (V(k1) = = 1, 1,0) -(A2*V(Vout) + B2)*1e-6*if (V(k1) = = 2, 1,0)

-(A3*V(Vout) + B3)*1e-6*if (V(k1) = = 3, 1,0)

k1

V

if(V(Vout) < Ucr1, 1, if(V(Vout)<Ucr2, 2, 3))

EGND EGND

EGND EGND

EGND EGND EGND

S1

Peter D. Dineff, Diliana N. Gospodinova, Elisaveta D. Gadjeva

359

The control of the three pairs of dependent current sources

G11 and G12, G21 and G22, and G31 and G32, one for each

half-wave of the harmonically varying voltage of the ideal

voltage source V, is realized by voltage-controlled switch S1

(operator for data statements): the pair G11 and G12 operates

when the voltage is below the critical voltage Ucr1, the pair

G21 and G22 when the voltage is below the critical voltage

Ucr2, and the pair G31 and G32 when the voltage is higher

than Ucr2, Fig. 4.

Table 1. Results from accomplished simulations

Active Power PA,

W

Active Power

PA, W

Active Power

PA, W

PSpice simulation power

law model

Experimental

current-voltage

relationship

PSpice simulation

polynomial linear law

model n = 1.6 n = 12

28.1 27.0 38.0 36.0

Relative error, %

base - 3.9 + 35.2 + 28.1

The values of the critical voltages of discharge ignition,

Ucr1 and Ucr2, are entered for each operating area; they have

been calculated in a known manner from the current-voltage

relationship [3].

The behavior of the model in time (Transient Response)

as a result of the effect of the voltage across the electrodes

that varies harmonically with determinate frequency (50 Hz)

with time is investigated, Fig. 6.

An AC analysis is assigned additionally by defining the

active power pA by means of the selected format, Table 1.

In accordance with [4], more comparative investigations

are performed on the PSpice simulation power-law model of a

burning APAG discharge, developed by P. Dineff and D. Go-

spodinova, for two different values of the power exponent n,

Table 1.

Fig. 6. Simulated discharge currents for an APAG discharge plasma

parallel-plate generator according to PSpice simulation polynomial

linear law model (Ueff = 12 kV; 50 Hz; δbar = 3 mm; δgap = 3 mm).

A voltage Ueff is assumed in such a way that simulation will

be realized in the transition area between the two operating

areas, namely 12 kV, because a maximal relative error in

simulation is expected for this transition area.

Results presented in Table 1 demonstrate the improved

accuracy (- 3.9 %) of the proposed simulation model of the

APAG discharge current-voltage behavior. At the same time

the lowest value of relative error (+ 35.2 %) is obtained for the

highest values of the power exponent - n = 12.

III. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The simulation verifies that the amplitude of the simulated

discharge current is determined by four independent variables

- the values of the critical parameters - the voltages Ucr1 and

Ucr2, currents Icr1 and Icr2; dielectric barrier capacitance CDB,

and applied voltage Ueff across the operating gap. It has been

found, too, that the polynomial linear law simulation model

has a minor relative error compared to the power law simula-

tion model.

We have developed a satisfactory PSpice circuit model for

the APAG discharge plasma generator current-voltage behav-

ior simulation.

The variant calculations which allow following the effect

of parameters of the electrode system or the electric circuit,

e. g. those of the matching series capacitor, upon the APAG

discharge current-voltage behavior for different frequencies

may be especially valuable.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and

Science of Bulgaria, is gratefully acknowledged for the finan-

cial support of research project VUF 9/2005 Plasma Assisted

Technologies and Devices for Fire Protection of Polymeric

and Wood Materials.

REFERENCES

[1] U. Kogelschatz. Dielectric-Barrier Discharges: Their History,

Discharge Physics, and Industrial Application. Plasma Chemistry

and Plasma Processing, Vol. 23, No 1, March, 2003, pp. 1÷46.

[2] Z. Chen. PSpice Simulation of One Atmosphere Uniform Glow

Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP) Reactor Systems. IEEE Transactions

on Plasma Science, Vol. 31, No 4, August, 2003, pp. 1÷9.

[3] D. Gospodinova. Technological Processing and Apparatus for

Plasma Surface Treatment of Materials at Atmospheric Pressure. -

Dissertation Thesis. Sofia, Technical University, 2006.

[4] E. Gadjeva, T. Kouyomdjiev, and S. Farhi. Computer Modelling

and Simulation of Electronic and Electrical Circuits with OrCAD

PSpice. Sofia, Heron Press, 2001.

[5] P. Dineff, D. Gospodinova, and E. Gadjeva. PSpice Simulation of

Atmospheric Pressure Air Gow Discharge Plasma Applicator Sys-

tems. XLI. International Scientific C o n f e r e n c e on Information,

Communication and Energy Systems and Technologies “ICEST

2006”, Sofia, Bulgaria, June 29÷ July 01, 2006, P r o c e e d i n g s of

Papers (in press).

50

-

Time, ms

0 10 20 30 40

0

+ 3

- 3

Simulated Discharge Currents, I, mA

29 June – 1 July 2006, Sofia, Bulgaria

360

PSpice Simulation of Atmospheric Pressure Air

Glow Discharge Plasma Applicator Systems

Peter D. Dineff1, Diliana N. Gospodinova

2 and Elisaveta D. Gadjeva

3

Abstract – Electrical characteristics of an Atmospheric Pressure

Air Glow (APAG) discharge plasma applicator system have been

simulated by using commercial circuit simulation software such

as PSpice®. A plasma applicator system integrally includes a

power supply, transformer, impedance matching network, and

plasma applicator. A PSpice® model has been developed for the

plasma discharge in an APAG discharge applicator, which con-

sists of two parallel electrode plates with a small gap between

electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is covered by a dielectric

barrier.

An APAG discharge plasma applicator can be modeled as an

electric capacitor without plasma, and as an air gap containing

plasma. The cold plasma itself has been modeled as a voltage-

controlled current source that switches on when the voltage

across the air gap exceeds the value of the discharge ignition or

plasma initiation voltage.

The simulation results agree with experimental data from

actual applicators. It has been found that in different operating

regimes, the discharge current of the APAG discharge plasma

applicator is described by a voltage linear law.

Keywords – Atmospheric pressure air glow (APAG) discharge,

cold plasma, one-atmosphere glow discharge, discharge ignition

voltage, voltage-controlled current source, current-voltage be-

havior, parallel-plate and coplanar discharge plasma applicators

I. INTRODUCTION

Atmospheric pressure air glow (APAG) discharges, or di-

electric-barrier (simply barrier or silent) discharges, have

been well known for more than a century. First experimental

investigations concentrated on the generation of ozone were

reported by W. Siemens (1857). A few years after Siemens’

original publication, T. Andrews and P. Tait (1860) proposed

the name “silent discharge” (stille Entladung, décharge silen-

tieuse) which is still used frequently in the English, German,

and French scientific literature, [1].

!J.-R. Roth introduced, on the base of the observed phe-

nomenological characteristic of the normal glow discharge

voltage-current behavior, the name “one-atmosphere uniform

glow discharge” (OAUGD). Other cases of such behavior

have been often reported in the contemporary literature. The

normal glow discharges, as the dielectric-barrier discharges,

ignite and burn at constant discharge ignition (or burning)

voltage, [2].

1Peter D. Dineff is with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical Uni-

versity of Sofia, Blvd. Saint Kliment Ohridski 8, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, E-

mail: dineff_pd@abv.bg. 2Diliana N. Gospodinova is with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Blvd.

Saint Kliment Ohridski 8, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, E-mail: dilianang@abv.bg 2Elisaveta D. Gadjeva is with the Faculty of Electronic Engineering and

Technology, Blvd. Saint Kliment Ohridski 8, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, E-mail:

egadjeva@tu-sofia.bg

The characteristics of many electrical systems can be

simulated with proprietary computing tools such as PSpice®.

Devices employing cold plasmas are embedded in electrical

systems in many situations. It is advantageous to simulate the

complete system, including the plasma as phenomena, with

such commercial software. Previous papers concerning the

computational simulation of high pressure plasma in air dis-

charge were investigated, [3, 4].

Normally, the APAG discharge plasma applicator (or reac-

tor) system for plasma-chemical modification (or functionali-

zation) of low energy surfaces consists of a power supply,

transformer, impedance matching network, and plasma appli-

cator. This electrical system was an object of simulation with

such computational tools, Fig. 1.

In an electrical discharge system, the inductors and capaci-

tors, in the impedance matching network, the power supply,

and the transformer are ordinary electrical components and

have well-developed PSpice models. However, as there is no

available electrical model in PSpice for the plasma discharge

in an APAG discharge plasma applicator, to develop such a

model is a principal simulation task, [3, 4, 6].

In this paper, specific circuit PSpice models of APAG dis-

charge plasma parallel-plate and coplanar applicator systems

have been obtained with the proprietary circuit simulation

software PSpice and compared with experimental data.

II. PSPICE MODELS FOR PARALLEL-PLATE AND CO-

PLANAR APAG DISCHARGE PLASMA APPLICATORS

A parallel-plate APAG discharge plasma applicator con-

sists of two parallel metal electrode plates, one or two dielec-

tric plates (barriers) with one or two small air gaps between

barriers and electrodes. At least one electrode is covered with

a dielectric plate or coating, as shown in Fig. 2.

Coplanar APAG discharge plasma applicators consist of a

flat panel with multiple coplanar plasma electrode strips alter-

nating in polarity, and with each polarity connected in paral-

lel. The flat panel consists of a thin dielectric plate either with

electrode strips on one or both sides, or with electrode strips

on one side and a metallic electrode sheet on the other. When

a voltage is applied across a flat coplanar panel, a planar plate

plasma layer is generated either on both sides of the dielectric

or only on the side having the electrode strips, depending on

the electrode configuration.

Peter D. Dineff, Diliana N. Gospodinova, Elisaveta D. Gadjeva

361

Fig. 1. Schematic presentation of an APAG discharge plasma applicator system for PSpice circuits simulation

Since the plasma generated on both sides of the coplanar

plasma applicator systems, Fig. 3a, resembles the plasma in

two-operating-gap parallel-plate applicators, Fig. 2c, we can

construct a PSpice model for coplanar applicators based on

the model for parallel-plate applicators.

Since the plasma energized on one of the sides of the co-

planar plasma applicators, Fig. 3b, resembles the plasma in

one-dielectric-barrier parallel-plate applicator systems, Fig. 2b,

we can also construct a PSpice model for coplanar applicators

based on the model for parallel-plate applicators.

Z. Chen provides a general plasma circuit PSpice simula-

tion model – that of a one-dielectric-barrier discharge plasma

applicator, which consists of one operating gap, capable of

incorporation into circuit simulations, Fig. 2 [3].

The PSpice model for the dielectric plate or coating can be

modeled as a capacitor with high parallel resistance, as can the

gap containing the cold plasma. Based on the phenomenology

of normal glow discharges and APAG discharges, Fig. 2, the

APAG discharge plasma itself can be modeled as a voltage-

controlled current source that is switched on as long as the

voltage across the operating gap exceeds the value of the dis-

charge ignition voltage [3].

The current source and its output current vary in accor-

dance with a power law of the applied voltage. R. Gadri

shows that an atmospheric RF glow discharge in helium ex-

hibits the same phenomenology as low-pressure DC glow

discharges.

J. Roth reported that the current-voltage (I-U) behavior of

the high-power glow discharge was I ∝ U2, and I ∝ U

3, de-

pending on the operating regime:

(1) ( ) <=

>−

pig

pig

n

pig

VVfor,0

VVfor,UUI

α,

where n is an integer that ranges from 1 to 12 in different

glow discharge plasma devices, [3].

Fig. 2. General model for an APAG discharge plasma applicator

system (with one dielectric barrier) for PSpice circuits simulation -

Roth-Chen’s model

High-Voltage Electrode

CDB RDB

10g

CS1 RS1

10g

RS2

10g

Cg

Rpl

CS2

IN-

IN+

IN+

IN-

OUT+

OUT+

OUT-

OUT- + - ~

V

Earth Electrode EGND

Dielectric Barrier

Sheath 1

Cold Plasma

Sheath 2

G1 G2

~

Power

Supply

1 2

3

4

Equivalent Circuit of a Non-Ideal Transformer

Referred to the Secondary Side

Impedance

Matching Net-

work Cold Plasma

Applicator

Rc

Lm

L1 R1 L2 R2

RL

L

C Plasma

E2

E1

DB

Load

HV

Earth

Ideal Trans-

former

Plasma

PSpice Simulation of Atmospheric pressure Air Glow Discharge Plasma Applicator Systems

362

Fig. 3. Parallel-plate APAG discharges plasma applicators: a – two-dielectric-barriers discharge plasma applicator; b – one-dielectric-barrier

discharge plasma applicator; c – two-operating-gap plasma applicator.

III. NEW PSPICE MODEL FOR APAG DISCHARGE

PLASMA APPLICATOR SYSTEMS

The adopted simulation of an APAG discharge plasma

applicator by using the Roth-Chen’s schematic model, Fig. 2,

has demonstrated some negative aspects: for instance, the

presence of indeterminacy when the voltage applied across the

operating gap is equal to the critical ignition voltage: Ug < Upi;

negative values of current I at n = 2 k - 1 (odd number); un-

stable operation of the simulator due to indeterminacy (the

upper and lower limits of the variation range are not fixed) of

the difference (Ug - Upi)n; the ignition current is never equal to

zero – it has an exactly determined critical value Icr > 0 [4].

All this required the creation of a new PSpice schematic

model for an APAG discharge plasma applicator, which is

governed by the following general relationship reflecting the

stationary burning regime of an APAG discharge [3]:

(2) ( ) <=−

>−−

creffcrav

creff

n

creffcrav

UUfor0II

UUforUUII α,

where Ucr > Ubr (Ubr is the discharge burning voltage) and Icr

are the critical parameters of ignition of an APAG discharge.

The simulation model (schematics) is constructed on the

basis of using a dependent current source GVALUE (from the

library abm.slb - Analog Behavioral Models), for which the

control may be preset as a mathematical expression connect-

ing the output current and the input variable – an e.m.f.

formed at the output of another dependent e.m.f. source

EVALUE, for which the control is also preset as an analytical

expression relating the input voltage Ug - ∆Ub, where ∆Ub is

the voltage drop across the barrier, to the controlling

GVALUE e.m.f., Fig. 5.

Controlling the dependent current sources G1 and G2, one

for each half-wave of the harmonically varying voltage of the

ideal voltage source V, is realized by the dependent e.m.f.

sources E1 and E2 in accordance with Eqn. 2, introducing the

value of the critical ignition voltage Ucr of the discharge.

The limiting element LIMIT with parameters 0 and 500 is

placed at the output of dependent voltage sources. The upper

limit is in conformity with the maximal real values that can be

assumed by the difference (Ug - Ucr)n, (voltage is in kV).

The model behavior in time (Transient Response) as a reac-

tion to the application of a voltage across the electrodes,

which varies with different frequency (50 Hz, 10 kHz,

30 kHz) in time, is investigated.

Fig. 4. Coplanar APAG discharge plasma applicators: a – two-multiple-planar-electrode-strips plasma applicator, or two-(upper and lower)-

side plasma-energized applicator; b – one-multiple-planar-electrode-strips plasma applicator,

or one-(upper)-side plasma-energized applicator.

HIGH VOLTAGE

a) b)

LOWER

MULTIPLE

ELECTRODE

STRIPS

DIELECTRIC

BARRIER

EARTH

UPPER

MULTIPLE

ELECTRODE

STRIPS

LOWER ELECTRODE SHEET

UPPER

MULTIPLE

ELECTRODE

STRIPS

PLASMA

EARTH

HIGH VOLTAGE

PLASMA PLASMA

PLASMA

PLASMA PLASMA

PLASMA

HIGH VOLTAGE

a) b) c)

ELECTRODE

ELECTRODE

DIELECTRIC

BARRIER 2

DIELECTRIC

BARRIER 1

OPERATING GAP PLASMA

SHEATH

SHEATH

EARTH

DIELECTRIC

BARRIER

PLASMA

PLASMA

PLASMA

DIELECTRIC

BARRIER

OPERATING

GAP 1

OPERATING

GAP 2

OPERATING GAP

SHEATH

SHEATH

HIGH VOLTAGE HIGH VOLTAGE

EARTH EARTH

Peter D. Dineff, Diliana N. Gospodinova, Elisaveta D. Gadjeva

363

Fig. 5. New PSpice circuits simulation model for an APAG discharge plasma applicator system (with one dielectric barrier)

IV. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The simulation verifies that the amplitude of the simu-

lated discharge current is determined by four independent

variables - the values of the critical parameters - the voltage

Ucr and current Icr of ignition; the dielectric barrier capaci-

tance, and the applied voltage across the electrodes. It has

been found, too, that the power-law exponent n has a minor

effect on the modeled discharge current waveform, Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 – Comparison of the simulated discharge currents for an

APAG discharge plasma applicator system (with one dielectric

barrier) with different power-law exponent: a - n = 1.4; b - n = 12

(Ueff = 20 kV; δbar = 3 mm; δgap = 3mm).

We have developed a satisfactory PSpice circuit model for

APAG discharge plasma applicator systems.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and

Science of Bulgaria, is gratefully acknowledged for the fi-

nancial support of research project VUF 9/2005 Plasma

Assisted Technologies and Devices for Fire Protection of

Polymeric and Wood Materials.

REFERENCES

[1] U. Kogelschatz. Dielectric-barrier Discharges: Their History,

Discharge Physics, and Industrial Application. Plasma Chem-

istry and Plasma Processing, Vol. 23, No 1, March, 2003,

pp. 1÷46.

[2] Z. Chen. PSpice Simulation of One Atmosphere Uniform

Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP) Reactor Systems. IEEE

Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 31, No 4, August, 2003,

pp. 1÷9.

[3] D. Gospodinova. Technological Processing and Apparatus for

Plasma Surface Treatment of Materials at Atmospheric Pres-

sure. - Dissertation Thesis. Sofia, Technical University, 2006.

[4] E. Gadjeva, T. Kouyomdjiev, and S. Farhi. Computer Model-

ling and Simulation of Electronic and Electrical Circuits with

OrCAD PSpice. Sofia, Heron Press, 2001.

U

I

EGND

CDB

3 uF

RDB 100 g

CS1

0.6 uF RS1 100 g

RS2 100 g

Rpl

8 k

IN-

IN+

IN+

IN-

OUT+

OUT+ OUT-

OUT-

G2 G1

EGND

GVALUE GVALUE

CS2

0.6 uF

EGND

E1

OUT-

OUT+ IN+

IN-

500

0

R7 10 g

E2

OUT-

OUT+ IN+

IN-

EGND

500

0

R8 10 g

EVALUE

EVALUE

Cg

0.25 uF

LIMIT

LIMIT

arg 1

arg 2

V (arg 1)*V V (arg 2)*V

EGND

EGND

EGND +

- ~ V

50

-

Time, ms

0 10 20 30 40

0

+ 10

- 10

Time, ms

0 10 20 30 40

0

+ 10

50

a)

b)

Simulated Discharge Currents, I, mA

- 10

448

AAAAUTHOR INDEX

A

Abdel-Salam, H., 5 Acevski, N., 399 Ackovski, R., 399 Acovic, M., 418 Aleksić, S., 45 Anchev, V., 364 Andonov, A., 129 Andonova, A., 262 Angelov, K., 102, 106 Angelov, Y., 312 Apostolov, P., 140 Arnaudov, R., 148, 342 Arsić, M., 328, 340 Atamian, D., 125 Atanasovski, M., 391 Awadalla, K., 5 B

Baev, S., 21 Bekiarski, A., 260, 342 Blad, Grz., 262 Bogdanov, M., 165 Bogdanovic, J., 212 Bogoeska, Z., 109 Borozan, V., 391 C

Cherneva, G., 129 Cvetković, Z., 45

D

Denić, D., 328 Deradonis, C., 252 Despotović, V., 403, 406 Dimitrijevic, B., 395 Dimitrov, D. P., 266 Dimitrov, D. Tsv., 308 Dimitrov, D. Tz., 428, 431 Dimitrov, D. V., 83, 87 Dineff, P., 356, 360, 371 Djordjević, J., 340 Dochev, I., 342 Dodov, N., 3, 13, 21 Donćov, N., 37 Donev, V., 345 Đorđević-Kajan, S., 232 Dostanic, A., 418 Draca, D., 91 Draganov, A., 348 Draganov, I., 177 E

El-Awady, R., 161 Enev, S., 352 Even, J., 260

F

Filev, Ts., 244 Froloshki, H., 113

G

Gadjeva, E., 356, 360 Genchev, A., 414

Genkov, D., 250 Georgieva, A., 65 Georgieva, V., 185, 434 Gmitrović, M., 61 Golev, K., 125 Goleva, M., 125 Goleva, R., 125 Golubičić, Z., 75 Gospodinova, D., 356, 360 Grillot, F., 260 H

Hikal, N., 161 Hinov, H., 308 Huczala, M., 218 I

Ignjatović, A., 403, 406 Ivanov, R., 364 Ivanova, E., 240 J

Janevski, T., 109 Janković, D., 221 Joković, J., 41 Jordanova, L., 98 Jordanova, S., 345 Jovanović, A., 200 Jovanović, G., 286 Jović, M., 340 K

Kanchev, A., 181 Karadzhov, Ts., 294 Karailiev, H., 300, 304 Karailiev, V., 304 Karova, M., 229 Klepacki, D., 262 Koitchev, K., 102, 106 Kolev, I., 297 Korsemov, Ch., 236 Kostic, V.324 Kostov, M., 421 Kountchev, R., 153, 157, 161, 173, 185 Kountcheva, R., 153, 157 Koynov, S., 236 Krstevski, T., 379 Krstić, D., 67, 71 L

Le, Quoc, Vuong, 79 Levchev, Ch., 17 Lishkov, S., 434 Loualiche, S., 260 Lukl, T., 136 Lyubenov, B., 290 M

Manevska, V., 367 Manojlović, P., 75 Manolov, E., 290 Marinchev, I., 246

Marinković, Z., 57 Marinov, M. S., 83, 87 Marković, V., 53, 57 Merdjanov, P., 125 Mikhov, M. R., 316, 320 Milanović, O., 200 Miletiev, R., 148 Milijić, M., 49 Milivojević, D., 403, 406 Miljković, G., 328 Milovanović, B., 25, 37, 41, 49 Milovic, D., 91 Mironov, R., 173 Mirtchev, S., 121 Mitić, M., 282 Mitrovic, N., 324 Mitrovski, C., 421 Mojsoska, N., 383 Monov, K., 216 N

Nesic, M., 212 Nikolić, B., 45 Nikolić, J., 197 Nikolić, P., 71 Nikolova, M., 348 Nikolova, Z., 144 Noulis, T., 252, 256 O

Octavio, M., 375 P

Pachamanov, A., 387 Panajotovic, A., 91 Pandiev, I., 274, 278 Penchev, P., 117 Pencheva, E., 113 Perić, Z., 197, 200 Petkova, E., 297 Petkova, Y., 169 Petkovski, K., 367 Petronijevic, M., 324 Petrov, P., Tz., 440, 444 Petrova, P., 270 Petrova, U., 437 Peulic, A., 418 Pleshkova-Bekjarska, S., 204 Pokrajac, D., 193 Popova, A., 177, 181 Popovic, B., 189 Potencki, J., 262 Pronić, O., 57 R

Radevska, M., 367 Radmanović, M., 132 Rajković, P., 221 Ranđelović, I., 328 Randjic, S., 418 Rankovska, V., 300, 304 Ratz, N., 387

S

Sadinov, S., 102, 106 Sarevska, M., 25 Shaalan, A., 5, 9, 161 Simic, M., 395 Sirakov, E., 208 Sirkova, I., 29, 33 Siskos, S., 252, 256 Sivkov, Y., 348 Slavev, S., 364 Slavtchev, Y., 375 Smarkov, V., 229 Smiljaković, V., 75 Song, L., 424 Spalević, P., 67 Spasic, A., 212 Spasov, G., 336 Spirovski, M., 399 Stanimirović, A., 232 Stankov, I., 336 Stanković, Z., 25, 49 Statev, S., 121 Stefanov, M., 3 Stefanova, I., 13 Stefanova, M., 332 Stefanović, M., 67, 91 Stoeva, M., 169 Stoilov, T., 225 Stoilova, K., 225 Stoimenov, L., 232 Stojanovic, I., 165 Stojanovic, M., 410 Stojčev, M., 282, 286 Stošić, A., 53 Stošić, B., 61 Stoyanov, G., 144 Stoyanov, N., 17 T

Tasic, D., 410 Tasić, V., 403, 406 Todorov, G., 387 Todorov, V., 153, 157 Topchiev, V., 98 Toshev, H., 236 Trifonov, D., 364 Tzeneva, R., 371, 375 V

Veselinov, K., 260 Vrána, J., 136 Vučković, D., 221 W

Wang, Q., 424 Wang, Y., 424 Z

Zainud-Deen, S., 5 Zeljkovic, V., 193 Živanović, D., 340 Zwetkov, Zw., 95