ABSTRACT: The main goal of this work is to verify a newly developed fluid model code and to test its performance. The code is developed in FEniCS, open-source computing platform for solving partial differential equations by the finite element method. This platform is chosen due to support for symbolic representation of the weak form of partial differential equation, which simplifies problem definition significantly. In addition, it supports parallel processing by using MPI and provides various types of finite elements and numerical solvers. The code is verified by benchmarking and by the method of exact solution. Two benchmark studies, 1) modeling of an axisymmetric positive streamer in air, and 2) modeling of a low pressure glow discharge in argon are presented. The results are compared to the benchmark data in the first, and to the results obtained with a commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics® in the second study. In addition, the method of exact solution for a time of flight experiment is used for verification purpose. In all cases good agreement with the reference data is observed and a similar parallel performance as with COMSOL is achieved. Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – project number 407462159. (https://www.dpg-verhandlungen.de/year/2020/conference/hannover/part/p/session/7/contribution/3)

Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – project number 407462159.