Nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge-based plasma-assisted anti-icing: modeling and mechanism analysis

Abstract The characteristics of nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (nSDBD) in an anti-icing configuration is studied. The mechanisms and energy characteristics of the nSDBD-based plasma-assisted anti-icing are analyzed using a numerical model and existing experimental data. Two-dimensional simulations based on PASSKEy (PArallel Streamer Solver with KinEtics) code are conducted. The code couples a self-consistent fluid model with detailed kinetics, an efficient photo-ionization model, Euler equations and a heat transfer equation for solid materials. The results of icing wind tunnel experiments conducted by two groups are analyzed together. The reduced electric field and the electron density are examined for high-voltage pulses with 800 ns and 20 ns width. The ‘merge’ of counter-propagating surface streamers with the same polarity is numerically observed under high-voltage amplitude. The effects of gas heating and solid heating in time scales of one pulse and one duty cycle are compared, and the key mechanism for icing prevention is direct fast gas-heating energy transfer from gas to ice/water accumulated on the surface in each duty cycle.