Unveiling the Voltage-Current Characteristics of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma in Interaction With Water Droplets at Varied Temperatures

Abstract Plasma-droplet interaction is a widely observed phenomenon in various applications, such as environmental cleanup, additive manufacturing, aviation, and fusion energy. The characteristics of plasma discharge can be greatly altered during these complex multiphase interactions. In this paper, we aim to investigate the voltage-current (V-I) properties of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator when interacting with a droplet impacting on the plasma surface. Specifically, this study explores the complex interactions between DBD plasma and water droplets at ambient temperature and in a 0°C temperature condition. The V-I profiles of the DBD plasma actuator are recorded throughout the entire process of droplet-plasma interaction, i.e., before, during, and after droplet impact. Lissajous graphs are also plotted to reveal the distinct discharge profiles of the DBD plasma actuator during droplet-plasma interactions. Our findings show that the impact of water droplets led to an increase in current magnitude while voltage magnitude remained the same. The results highlight that the interactions between liquid droplets and DBD plasma bring changes in the current amplitude before and after impact, and this fluctuation in current amplitude becomes more evident at higher input voltages. The Lissajous figures and time-dependent current profiles revealed that the plasma’s reaction to water droplets is significantly different depending on the temperature of the droplets. Specifically, droplets at room temperature resulted in more noticeable alterations in the behavior of the plasma discharge.