Simplified Spark Pulser for Nanoparticles Generation

This article studies the possibility to design high-voltage pulser to sustain spark discharges in dielectric liquid using cheap and simple design. A spark pulser based on a zero-voltage switch oscillating circuit is used to power a high-voltage transformer. Sparks are ignited between copper electrodes in deionized water. The influence of input voltage and electrode gap on voltage and delay before breakdown, deposited charge, and energy is discussed. The effect of a spark gap device is also studied. Parameters of electric discharge are used to determine the capacitance and inductance of generator, through modeling of the equivalent electrical circuit. The utilization of the pulser in nanoparticles synthesis is evaluated by estimating the electrode erosion rate. In addition, the cavitation bubble generated by the spark is used to determine the pressure of the medium in which the spark and nanoparticles formation occur. Results show that the operation is similar to other setups.