Actually maybe you can have too much voltage. I suspect it may be more power efficient to maintain a continuous plasma channel with much lower voltages than to produce a succession of high voltage sparks.
Once a plasma channel is established it can be maintained with lower voltage and more efficient AC power supplies. Take TIG welding with high voltage startup as a practical example of this. Or perhaps a Jacobs Ladder. On 30 May 2012 21:28, Axil Axil <janap...@gmail.com> wrote: > *Discharging through 2 spark plugs in parallel will not work either as > the resistance drops massively as soon as a plasma channel forms diverting > all current to one spark plug or other but not both.* > > > > In dusty plasma, it may take some time for the electrical resistance of > the plasma to drop to the level needed to disable the second spark plug. > > > > When the dust is nano-sized, it takes a long time to charge these small > sized dust particles to a high enough level to effectively reduce > resistance throughout the plasma. > > > > Additional plugs might be needed to start the reaction in a rapid time > frame. After the plasma has reached equilibrium the addition plug might not > be needed. > > > > > > > > Cheers: Axil > > > > > On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 3:00 PM, Robert Lynn < > robert.gulliver.l...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Check out he pashen discharge curves: >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paschen_Curves.PNG >> and you will see that spark length is heavily dependent on the gas >> composition and pressure. higher pressure means shorter spark at same >> voltage, you won't get a 12mm spark in high pressure H2 >> >> Discharging through 2 spark plugs in parallel will not work either as the >> resistance drops massively as soon as a plasma channel forms diverting all >> current to one spark plug or other but not both. Connecting the sparkplugs >> in series might work but the driving circuit won't handle it as the reactor >> will need to be at a voltage half way between the two outputs from the >> sparking circuit. Unless you have a lot of additional complications with >> high voltage isolation capable floating power supplies. However powering >> the circuit with a well insulated battery might work. >> >> >> On 30 May 2012 19:25, ecat builder <ecatbuil...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> A quick followup on spark plugs.. I think I found what I was looking >>> for.. A small, cheap, and simple spark gap igniter that takes 5V and >>> produces 1/2" sparks. Less than $20 shipped. >>> >>> http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11218 >>> >>> Skip to 10:45 on the video to see it working. >>> Would be strong enough to drive two spark plugs.. >>> >>> Thoughts? >>> - Brad >>> >>> >> >
