Miniaturized Rotating Gliding Arc Plasma Source Utilizing an Improved ZVS Circuit With Adjustable Power and Frequency Control

Abstract

Gliding arc plasma, characterized by high efficiency in generating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and large treatment area, has attracted growing interest in the plasma medicine research field. The power supply used to generate and sustain the gliding arc discharge process is a core component of the plasma source. High-voltage and high-frequency power supply based on Mazzilli’s zero voltage switching (ZVS) circuit have the significant advantages of simplicity, stability, and low cost. However, drawbacks such as heat generation in the drive circuit, limited voltage regulation range, and non-adjustable output frequency have restricted the application of Mazzilli’s ZVS circuit in plasma biomedical research. To overcome these shortcomings, an improved ZVS circuit was designed with power control and switch-capacitor array in this work. A compact rotating gliding arc plasma source was developed with adjustable power and frequency control. Its frequency range is 35–72.5 kHz and the power range is 50–200 W. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) diagnostics indicate that the products of the proposed plasma source can be flexibly regulated. For instance, by fixing the power at 50 W and adjusting the frequency from 35 to 72.5 kHz, the emission intensity of OH increased by 39.7%. Besides, the plasma source can be powered by a lithium battery and weighs only 5 kg.