Simulation study on the characteristics of dielectric barrier discharge with the non-uniform coating layer

Abstract To further improve the efficiency of DBD applications, the design concept of non-uniform electrode-coated catalysts is proposed in this study. A two-dimensional fluid simulation model of plate dielectric barrier discharge is established to study the impact of the relative dielectric constant, thickness, and width of the non-uniform coating layer on the discharge characteristic. The discharge current, electric field strength, and electron density are analyzed respectively from positive and negative half cycles. The findings show that the coating layer’s addition can promote the discharge current to some extent. When the relative dielectric constant of the coating layer increases, the peak value of positive and negative discharge current, the maximum electron density, and the maximum electric field strength in the positive half-cycle increase, while the negative half-cycle decreases. With the rise of the coating layer thickness, the peak discharge current, the maximum electric field strength, and the maximum electron density in positive and negative half-cycles decrease gradually. As the width of the coating layer increases, the maximum field strength and maximum electron density at the time of the negative half-cycle decrease, while the positive half-cycle increases. The results provide a basis for further studying the effect of the non-uniform coating layer on dielectric barrier discharge.