Characteristics of High-Tension-Induced Corona-Discharge Plasma in Ozone Generator Diode

Electric-field-induced oxygen corona in an innovative r-z diode of ozone generator is investigated. The cathode (K) of the diode is made of several sharp-ended nozzles arranged in many radial planes on an axial mast symmetrically located inside an anode cup (A). The resulting high fields over megavolts per meter produced stray field emissions from nozzle pinnacles, which initiated secondary electron emissions that sustained a corona plume encircling the cathode. Electrons in the plume multiplied through avalanche ionizations, which resulted in electron densities over 10¹⁴ -10¹⁵ m^-3 in a self-consistent scheme. This, in a cold corona, formed in a wide A-K gap with a reduced field of E/n_o2 ~ 100 Td in a pressure of P ~ bar and at a temperature of T = 300 K, gave a high ozone formation of ~ 10¹⁹ m^-3. Current transported in short gaps, however, rendered Joule heating and inhibition of ozone genesis.