Estimation for the area of cathode spot of short gap discharge in NO/sub x/ gas

Summary form only given, as follows. This paper proposes a method for the estimation of the area of a cathode spot through observation of the trace of discharge, after the short gap discharge arose in N/sub 2/+NO gas mixed hydrocarbon gas, which was employed as a deoxidized gas for NO/sub x/ gas. The electrode material is Cu and the electrode gap is fixed at 0.3 and 0.5 mm. The power source is 1,500 volts in the peak value that is rectified in half wave. The load resistance was 50, 80, 100, 120 and 150 k/spl Omega/. The content of CH/sub 4/ gas was 0.6%, 2% and 5% and the pressure was 500, 700 and 760 Torr. The authors observe a circular carbonaceous deposit and a carbonaceous heap on the cathode surface and the anode, respectively, after the short gap discharge in N/sub 2/+NO(458 ppm)+CH/sub 4/. And, we can find the linear relation between the area of the circular carbonaceous deposit and the discharge current. The current density, which is the normal conversion current density that is represented by J/sup +//P/sup 2/, was calculated from above relation.