Non-equilibrium microsecond pulsed spark discharge in liquid as a source of pressure waves

The present study investigated the ability of non-equilibrium microsecond pulsed spark discharge in liquid to generate pressure waves and the application of these waves as a source of small-scale compression. The spark pressure wave generator utilized the pressure waves produced by high energy pulsed spark discharge in water to produce usable pressure output in the form of a piston. Pin-to-pin spark generated inside of distilled water was observed in experiments to determine the spark temperature, pressure wave speed and pressure, water displacement, and piston output pressure and frequency. Pressure of 1.87 atm was produced by the piston from a pressure wave pressure of 6.15×105 atm generated by the 5500 K temperature spark. These results indicate that spark in water can be used as a source of small-scale compression.