Two-dimensional numerical simulation of radical generation in the positive corona discharge

By a two-dimensional (2-D) numerical simulation of positive corona with extensive chemical reactions, two parameters such as E/N_eff (effective electric field for electrical energy transfer) and G-factor are calculated. E/N_eff weakly depends on the humidity but strongly depends on the applied voltage. As the applied voltage increases, the corona formation and propagation time decrease, but the other parameters show very weak dependence. Electron collision G-factors of OH, O radicals reach their maximum value at E/N_eff N~150 Td but electron collision G-factor of N radical increase with E/N. Full chemical reaction considered G-factor shows different time evolution characteristics with E/N_eff. Since the dominant reaction process for the N, O radical is through the electron collision, the electron collision G-factor and E/N_eff well represent the full chemical reaction considered G-factor. But the OH radical is dominantly generated by the radical reactions. The G-factor of OH radical shows a time-delayed characteristic