AbstractThe energy efficiencies of ozone production by the primary and secondary streamers are studied in pulsed positive corona discharge. In a 20-kV dry air discharge, the two-dimensional distribution of ozone density shows that most of ozone is distributed in the secondary streamer channel, not in the primary one. It demonstrates that most of ozone is produced by the secondary streamer. However, the energies consumed by the primary and secondary streamers are estimated to be approximately equal in the 20-kV discharge. This result indicates that the energy efficiency of ozone production by the secondary streamer is much higher than that by the primary one. It is shown that high voltage operation is favorable for ozone production because the rise in voltage increases the ratio of energy consumed by the secondary streamer to that consumed by the primary one.