In order to study the electrical characteristics and arc gliding modes of AC rotating gliding arc discharge

we measured the electrical signal and took discharge images of rotating gliding arc discharge by AC powered under atmospheric pressure. The results show that there are two kinds of gliding modes in the whole discharge process

namely

the Steady Arc Gliding（A-G） mode and Breakdown Gliding（B-G） mode. The current peak in the B-G mode varies between 1 and 40 A

belonging to the ampere-class

and the current peak in A-G mode varies between negative 900 mA and positive 900 mA

belonging to the milliampere-class. The sliding mode of the arc is affected by the voltage and air flow. The process from arc generation to extinguishment is consistent with the physical process of arc approaching ‘zero’ duration

arc burning

and arc extinction. In addition

after describing the voltage-current characteristics by segmentation fitting

we find that the U-I curve in the zero-off phase of the arc in the positive half-cycle of the discharge satisfies the step function. During the process of increasing arc current in the arc stabilized combustion stage

the U-I curve satisfies the inverse proportional function. In the process of reducing arc current

the U-I curve satisfies the linear function. The U-I curve of the negative half cycle of the discharge satisfies the mathematical function characteristic similar to the positive half cycle

but the voltammetric characteristic curve is not symmetrical about the origin. Finally

the discharge images show that the region of the strongest arc emission intensity is always located at the cathode of the root arc.