Optical emission analysis of hybrid air-water discharges

In this paper, hybrid air-water discharges were used to develop an optimal condition for providing a high level of water decomposition for hydrogen yield. Electrical and optical phenomena accompanying the discharges were investigated along with feeding gases, flow rates, and point-to-plane electrode gap distance. The primary focus of this experiment was put on the optical emission of the near UV range, with the energy threshold sufficient for water dissociation and excitation. The $OH(A^{2+},'=0\;X^2,"=0$) band's optical emission intensity indicated the presence of plasma chemical reactions involving hydrogen formation. In the gaseous atmosphere saturated with water vapor the OH(A-X) band intensity was relatively high compared to the liquid and transient phases although the optical emission strongly depended on the flow rate and type of feeding gas. In the gaseous phase discharge phenomenon for Ar carrier gas transformed into a gliding arc via the flow rate growth. OH(A-X) band's intensity increased according to the flow rate or residence time of He feeding gas. Reciprocal tendency was acquired for $N_2$ and Ar carrier gases. The peak value of OH(A-X) intensity was observed in the proximity of the water surface, however in the cases of Ar and $N_2$ with 0.5 SLM flow rate peaks shifted to the region below the water surface. Rotational temperature ($T_{rot}$) was estimated to be in the range of 900-3600 K, according to the carrier gas and flow rate, which corresponds to the arc-like-streamer discharge.