Characteristics of the bipolar pulsed discharge in the water-air-solid particle mixture

Water treatment by bipolar pulsed discharge in the water-air-solid particle three-phase mixture is a newly developed and promising technology. In our present investigation, discharge characteristics of the bipolar pulsed discharge in the water-air-solid particle three-phase mixture have been investigated using a wire-cylinder electrode reactor packed with solid particles. Effect of the solid particles (conducting stainless steel fragments, dielectric glass beads and ceramic spheres) on the discharge characteristics has been studied. Experimental results show that electrical discharge occurs easily in the water-air-solid particle mixture than in water-air mixture for the same applied voltage. In addition, physical and dialectical characteristics of the solid particle significantly affect the applied voltage and the discharge current. A steeper front-edged and low tailing pulsed load voltage can be obtained when the discharge reactor is packed with dielectric spheres. At the same time, electrical discharges proved to be much stronger for the reactor packed with dielectric spheres than conductance material.