Voltage–current characteristics of low-pressure discharges in vapors of several alcohols

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results for voltage-current (V-i) characteristics of dc lowpressure low to moderate current discharges in vapours of alcohols: methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol vapours. These electrical measurements are supported by optical recordings of axial emission profiles from low-current to high-current regimes. The voltage-current characteristics and the corresponding distribution of emission intensities were typically recorded for two pd values, in the left-hand branch of the Paschen curve (0.15 Torr cm) and in the minimum of the Paschen curves (ranging from 0.30 Torr cm to 0.40 Torr cm for different alcohols selected here). In the recorded V-i characteristics the different discharge regimes of discharge operation are easily distinguished. Axial profiles of emitted light from the low-current to high-current regimes reveal that heavy particles make up a significant contribution to excitation part in alcohol vapours discharges. In the region of transition from normal to abnormal glow in methanol vapour discharge, sudden changes of the regime of operation were observed and several diagnostic techniques have been applied to them.

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“…[88][89][90][91] The voltage and current characteristics of low-pressure, low to moderate DC current discharges in vapors of alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol, were reported. 92) Further investigation showed that the effective ionization coefficients for the alcohol vapors were measured by breakdown voltage and emission profile measurements in low-pressure DC discharges. 93) Electron collision cross-sections of dimethyl ether (DME, C 2 H 6 O) were measured under a constant electric field and crossed electric and magnetic fields through the standard swarm analysis.…”