Study of Current-Voltage Characteristics of a Plasmatron With a Liquid Electrolytic Cathode

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the current-voltage characteristics (CVC) of a plasmatron with a liquid electrolytic cathode, utilizing sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), and its calcium-modified variant (Na₂CO₃ + Ca) as electrolytes. The physical processes shaping the nonlinear CVC—including electrolytic dissociation, electrical breakdown, thermionic emission, and plasma channel dynamics—are analyzed. A mathematical model integrating ionic conductivity, electron emission, diffusion, and recombination is developed and calibrated against experimental data. The results demonstrate that calcium additives enhance conductivity by 13% compared to pure Na₂CO₃ and by 34% relative to NaCl, while reducing energy losses by 17%. Optimal operational regimes and stability for each electrolyte are evaluated using a dimensionless coefficient Λ, which accounts for key system parameters. The Na₂CO₃ + Ca electrolyte exhibits superior performance (Λ = 8.7), whereas NaCl (Λ = 6.5) remains a cost-effective solution for low-budget applications. These findings provide a practical framework for electrolyte selection and plasmatron parameter optimization based on technological requirements.