Study of a DC Glow Discharge Supplied by a Flyback Converter

An experimental method aimed to study the characteristics of the equivalent electrical circuit for the dc glow discharges is described. The high voltage necessary to initiate and sustain the discharge is provided by a self-oscillating flyback converter. The flyback converter is also used to detect the discharge changes. The detection principle is based on the variation of the flyback converter electrical parameters (supply current, duty cycle and operating frequency) as a function of the load characteristics