A polyphase power supply and peristalaltic flow accelerator system using a One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP)

Summary form only given. In the University of Tennessee Plasma Sciences Laboratory, we developed an apparatus to simultaneously generate a One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP), and effect peristaltic flow acceleration of atmospheric air. Lorentzian momentum transfer from plasma ions can accelerate the embedded neutral gas to several tens of meters per second using paraelectric effects, and potentially to hundreds of meters per second using peristaltic flow acceleration. Peristaltic flow acceleration requires a polyphase power supply to excite the OAUGDP at progressive voltage phase angles on successive linear electrode strips. This excitation produces a traveling wave analogous to the "moving" lights on a theatre marquee, which accelerates the ions and neutral gas to velocities that may approach Mach one. We used LabView/spl copy/ software and data acquisition CAD to generate four polyphase sinusoidal signals, each with a phase angle 45/spl deg/ greater than that preceding. These four signals are fed into four power amplifiers, the outputs of which each drive the primary of a transformer. The transformers are capable of operating at kilohertz frequencies and have a high voltage secondary winding capable of 5-6000 Vrms with a center-tapped ground. The outputs of the four secondary windings provide eight phases separated by 45/spl deg/. The flow accelerator panel consists of 24 parallel continuous electrode strips and three complete phase periods. The operating frequency range is usually 3-10 kHz, the width of each electrode is 0.5 mm, and the distance between two adjacent electrodes is 1 cm. The system is designed to operate without tracking (surface sparking) when operated in normal air, and may accelerate gas flows to a velocity of over 100 m/s. If the system operation is successful, peristaltic flow acceleration should find many applications in subsonic plasma aerodynamics.