Energy Characterisation of Spark Discharges in Water

Pulsed spark discharges in water generate transient plasma, leading to various physical and chemical effects with applications in water treatment, material processing, and biomedical technologies. A critical factor in optimising these processes is the accurate calculation of energy dissipation during discharge events. This study investigates the energy distribution in a pulsed discharge system by analysing the relationship between plasma resistance and electrode gap distance. Experimental results demonstrate that plasma resistance increases with gap distance, leading to a higher proportion of energy being dissipated within the plasma channel. This proportionality suggests that as the gap distance increases, a greater fraction of the total input energy is consumed in sustaining the plasma discharge rather than being lost to external circuit elements. These findings provide valuable insights into optimising pulsed power systems for efficient energy utilisation, contributing to advancements in plasmaassisted applications.