Formation mechanism of bright and dark concentric-ring pattern in dielectric barrier discharge

In this work,a bright and dark concentric-ring pattern is reported in a dielectric barrier discharge for the first time.The spatiotemporal dynamics of the bright and dark concentric-ring pattern are investigated with an intensified charge-coupled device and photomultiplier tubes.The results indicate that the bright and dark concentric-ring pattern is composed of three concentric-ring sublattices.These are bright concentric-ring structures,dark concentric-ring structures and wider concentric-ring structures,respectively.The bright concentric-ring structures and dark concentricring structures are alternately distributed.The bright concentric-ring structures are located at the centre of the wider concentric-ring structures.The wider concentric-ring structures first form from the outer edge and gradually develop to the centre.The essence of all three concentric-ring structures is the individual discharge filaments.The optical emission spectra of different sublattices are acquired and analysed.It is found that the plasma parameters of the three concentricring sublattices are different.Finally,the formation mechanism of the bright and dark concentricring pattern is discussed.

Flow control performance evaluation of a tri-electrode sliding discharge plasma actuator

Tri-electrode sliding discharge(TED)plasma actuators are formed by adding a direct current(DC)exposed electrode to conventional dielectric barrier discharge(DBD)plasma actuators.There are three TED modes depending on the polarity and amplitude of the DC supply:DBD discharge,extended discharge and sliding discharge.This paper evaluates the electrical,aerodynamic and mechanical characteristics of a TED plasma actuator based on energy analysis,particle image velocimetry experiments and calculations using the Navier-Stokes equation.The flow control performances of different discharge modes are quantitatively analyzed based on characteristic parameters.The results show that flow control performance in both extended discharge and sliding discharge is more significant than that of DBD,mainly because of the significantly higher(up to 141%)body force of TED compared with DBD.However,conductivity loss is the primary power loss caused by the DC polarity for TED discharge.Therefore,power consumption can be reduced by optimizing the dielectric material and thickness,thus improving the flow control performance of plasma actuators.

APPLICATION OF FUZZY CONTROL METHOD WITH SELF-TUNING FACTOR IN JIGGER'S DISCHARGING

Adopting the strategy of fuzzy control with self tuning factor within whole universe of discourse, a kind of fuzzy control method for jigger discharging is put forward. This method has many advantages over the conventional PID controller in terms of response speed, stability and robustness. It is effective to restrain the jig bed from over thick or empty, and the stability of the bed is markedly improved. The good results are obtained in factory tests.

Optimal Scheduling of PEV Charging/Discharging in Microgrids with Combined Objectives

While renewable power generation and vehicle electrification are promising solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it faces great challenges to effectively integrate them in a power grid. The weather-dependent power generation of renewable energy sources, such as Photovoltaic (PV) arrays, could introduce significant intermittency to a power grid. Meanwhile, uncontrolled PEV charging may cause load surge in a power grid. This paper studies the optimization of PEV charging/discharging scheduling to reduce customer cost and improve grid performance. Optimization algorithms are developed for three cases: 1) minimize cost, 2) minimize power deviation from a pre-defined power profile, and 3) combine objective functions in 1) and 2). A Microgrid with PV arrays, bi-directional PEV charging stations, and a commercial building is used in this study. The bi-directional power from/to PEVs provides the opportunity of using PEVs to reduce the intermittency of PV power generation and the peak load of the Microgrid. Simulation has been performed for all three cases and the simulation results show that the presented optimization algorithms can meet defined objectives.

Effect of hospital discharge plan for children with type 1 diabetes on discharge readiness,discharge education quality,and blood glucose control

BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood.The number of type 1 diabetes patients in China still ranks fourth in the world.Therefore,children with type 1 diabetes in China are a group that needs attention.The management of type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)involves many aspects of daily life.It is extremely challenging for children and their families.T1DM children have complex medical care needs.Despite the continuous development of therapeutic medicine and treatment technologies,blood glucose control in children with T1DM is still not ideal.They and their parents need to acquire more knowledge and skills before being discharged.AIM To explore the influence of hospital discharge plan based on parental care needs of children with T1DM on discharge readiness,quality of discharge education and blood glucose control level.METHODS In total,102 parents of children with type 1 diabetes were divided into control group and intervention group according to admission time.Fifty cases from February to June 2019 were selected as the control group,and 52 cases from July to October 2019 were selected as the intervention group to implement the discharge plan.The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale,Hospital Discharged Education Quality Scale and children's blood glucose metabolism indicators were used to compare the differences in discharge preparation,discharge education quality and blood glucose control between the two groups of children and their parents.RESULTS On the day of discharge,the two groups of children had the following scores of readiness for discharge:The intervention group score was 225.34±32.47,and the control group score was 208.68±29.31.The P value was 0.007,and the difference was statistically significant.The discharge education quality scores were as follows:The intervention group score was 135.11±19.86,the control group score was 124.13±15.56,the P value was 0.002 and the difference was statistically significant.Three months after discharge,the blood glucose metabolism indicator showed that the glycosylated hemoglobin value of the two groups was(7.45%±1.04%),and that of the control group was(8.04%±1.27%),P=0.012.Therefore,the improvement of parents'readiness for discharge,quality of discharge education and blood glucose metabolism indicators(glycosylated hemoglobin,fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose)in the intervention group were better than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the difference was statistically significant.CONCLUSION The discharge plan for children with T1DM can help the children and their families realize the transition from hospital care to home self-management and improve the parents'readiness for discharge,thereby improving children’s blood glucose control levels.

Analysis of flow separation control using nanosecond-pulse discharge plasma actuators on a flying wing

Dielectric barrier discharge （DBD） plasma is one of most promising flow control method for its several advantages. The present work investigates the control authority of nanosecond pulse DBD plasma actuators on a flying wing model＇s aerodynamic characteristics. The aerodynamic forces and moments are studied by means of experiment and numerical simulation. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with experiment results. Both results indicate that the NS-DBD plasma actuators have negligible effect on aerodynamic forces and moment at the angles of attack smaller than 16-. However, significant changes can be achieved with actuation when the model＇s angle of attack is larger than 16° where the flow separation occurs. The spatial flow field structure results from numerical simulation suggest that the volumetric heat produced by NS-DBD plasma actuator changes the local temperature and density and induces several vortex structures, which strengthen the mixing of the shear layer with the main flow and delay separation or even reattach the separated flow.

Experimental Study on Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuator with Different Encapsulated Electrode Widths for Airflow Control at Atmospheric Pressure

The surface dielectric barrier discharge （SDBD） plasma actuator has shown great promise as an aerodynamic flow control device. In this paper, the encapsulated electrode width of a SDBD actuator is changed to study the airflow acceleration behavior. The effects of encapsulated electrode width on the actuator performance are experimentally investigated by measuring the dielectric layer surface potential, time-averaged ionic wind velocity and thrust force. Experimental results show that the airflow velocity and thrust force increase with the encapsulated electrode width. The results can be attributed to the distinct plasma distribution at different encapsulated electrode widths.

Simulation analysis on microscopic discharge characteristics of the bipolar corona of a floating conductor

A floating conductor exhibits a bipolar corona phenomenon with microscopic discharge characteristics that are still unclear.In this study,a plasma simulation model of the bipolar corona with 108 chemical reaction equations is established by combining hydrodynamics and plasma chemical reactions.The evolution characteristics of electrons,positive ions,negative ions and neutral particles,as well as the distribution characteristics of space charges are analyzed,and the evolutionary flow of microscopic particles is summarized.The results indicate that the positive end of the bipolar corona initiates discharge before the negative end,but the plasma chemistry at the negative end is more vigorous.The electron generation rate can reach 1240 mol(m^(3) s)^(-1),and the dissipation rate can reach 34 mol(m^(3) s)^(-1).The positive ion swarm is dominated by O_(4)^(+),and the maximum generation rate can reach 440 mol((m^(3) s)^(-1).The negative ion swarm is mainly O_(2) and O_(4).The O_(2) content is approximately 1.5-3 times that of O_(4),and the maximum reaction rate can reach 51 mol(m^(3) s)^(-1).The final destination of neutral particles is an accumulation in the form of O_(3) and NO,and the amount of O3 produced is approximately 4-6 times that of NO.The positive end of the bipolar corona is dominated by positive space charges,which continue to develop and spread outwards in the form of a pulse wave.The negative end exhibits a space charge distribution structure of concentrated positive charges and diffused negative charges.The validity of the microscopic simulation analysis is verified by the macroscopic discharge phenomenon.

Rotor performance enhancement by alternating current dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuation

An experimental system was established to explore the plasma flow control effect for helicopter rotors in hover mode.With the plasma actuator applied at the leading edge of the rotor blades,alternating current dielectric barrier discharge(AC-DBD) plasma actuation was generated by a sinusoidal AC high-voltage generator.By direct force measurement,the influence of actuation parameters on the aerodynamic performance of the rotor was investigated at a tip Reynolds number of 1.7 × 105.AC-DBD actuation can delay the blade stall to more than 3° with a 20%increase of about in the thrust coefficient at the post-stall pitch.At a constant motor power driving the rotor,AC-DBD actuation could reduce the rotor’s torque at the stalled pitch and increase the rotational speed of the rotor.Also,AC-DBD actuation could maintain a relatively high hover efficiency of the rotor at large collective pitches.In a wide range of actuation parameters,AC-DBD plasma actuation could improve the rotor’s aerodynamic performance at large blade pitches.High-speed photography of the tuft motion on the blade’s upper surface showed that AC-DBD plasma actuation could promote the reattachment of the blade’s separation flow.

Model-based adaptive locomotion and clustering control of microparticles through ultrasonic topological charge modulation

We present a novel motion control technique for microrobot clusters to exploit the characteristics of the ultrasonic field.The method comprises two steps,i.e.,introducing an ultrasonic actuation(UA)linear model for three-dimensional(3D)locomotion and controlling the topological charge(TC)in the ultrasonic vortex for microrobot clustering.Here,the TC is a controllable parameter for the expansion and contraction of the pressure null space inside the vortex.We present a TC control method to cluster sporadically distributed microrobots in a specific workspace.To validate the concept,a UA system composed of 30 ultrasonic transducers with 1 MHz frequency is fabricated,and the characteristics of the generated acoustic pressure field are analyzed through simulations.Subsequently,the performances of the adaptive controller for precise 3D locomotion and the TC control method for clustering are evaluated.Finally,the UA technology,which performs both clustering and locomotion in a complex manner,is validated with a gelatin phantom in an in-vitro environment.

Experimental Investigation of Flow Separation Control Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators

Influence of plasma actuators as a flow separation control device was investigated experimentally. Hump model was used to demonstrate the effect of plasma actuators on external flow separation, while for internal flow separation a set of compressor cascade was adopted. In order to investigate the modification of the flow structure by the plasma actuator, the flow field was examined non-intrusively by particle image velocimetry measurements in the hump model experiment and by a hot film probe in the compressor cascade experiment. The results showed that the plasma actuator could be effective in controlling the flow separation both over the hump and in the compressor cascade when the incoming velocity was low. As the incoming velocity increased, the plasma actuator was less effective. It is urgent to enhance the intensity of the plasma actuator for its better application. Methods to increase the intensity of plasma actuator were also studied.

High dV/dt immunity MOS controlled thyristor using a double variable lateral doping technique for capacitor discharge applications

An analysis model of the dV/dt capability for a metal-oxide-semiconductor （MOS） controlled thyristor （MCT） is developed. It is shown that, in addition to the P-well resistance reported previously, the existence of the OFF-FET channel resistance in the MCT may degrade the dV/dt capability. Lower P-well and N-well dosages in the MCT are useful in getting a lower threshold voltage of OFF-FET and then a higher dV/dt immunity. However, both dosages are restricted by the requirements for the blocking property and the forward conduction capability. Thus, a double variable lateral doping （DVLD） technique is proposed to realize a high dV/dt immunity without any sacrifice in other properties. The accuracy of the developed model is verified by comparing the obtained results with those from simulations. In addition, this DVLD MCT features mask-saving compared with the conventional MCT fabrication process. The excellent device performance, coupled with the simple fabrication, makes the proposed DVLP MCT a promising candidate for capacitor discharge applications.

Structure-dependent behaviors of diode-triggered silicon controlled rectifier under electrostatic discharge stress

The comprehensive understanding of the structure-dependent electrostatic discharge behaviors in a conventional diode-triggered silicon controlled rectifier （DTSCR） is presented in this paper. Combined with the device simulation, a mathematical model is built to get a more in-depth insight into this phenomenon. The theoretical studies are verified by the transmission-line-pulsing （TLP） test results of the modified DTSCR structure, which is realized in a 65-nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor （CMOS） process. The detailed analysis of the physical mechanism is used to provide predictions as the DTSCR-based protection scheme is required. In addition, a method is also presented to achieve the tradeoff between the leakage and trigger voltage in DTSCR.

Forebody asymmetric vortex control with extended dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators

Plasma control of forebody asymmetric vortices is mostly achieved by means of dielectric barrier discharge(DBD)plasma actuators. However, DBD actuators suffer from some disadvantages such as a weak induced body force, a singledirection induced jet, and an unclear control mechanism. We carry out wind tunnel experiments involving the forebody vortex control of a slender body at high angles of attack using an innovative extended DBD actuator, which has a stronger capacity to induce an electric wind than a DBD actuator. Through synchronous measurements of the pressure distribution and particle image velocimetry(PIV), the spatiotemporal evolution of the dynamic interactions between plasma-actuationinduced vortices and forebody asymmetric vortices is analyzed. The influence of plasma discharge on the boundary layer separation around a slender body and the spatial topological structures of asymmetric vortices are further surveyed, as the optimized actuation parameters. Extended DBD actuators are found to be more capable of controlling asymmetric vortices than DBD actuators, and a linear proportionality of the sectional lateral force versus the duty ratio is achieved.There exists an optimal normalized reduced frequency( f+= 2π fpd/U∞= 2.39) for asymmetric vortex control under the present experimental conditions. The research results can provide technical guidance for the control and reuse of forebody asymmetric vortices.

Aerodynamic actuation characteristics of radio-frequency discharge plasma and control of supersonic flow

In this paper, aerodynamic actuation characteristics of radio-frequency(RF) discharge plasma are studied and a method is proposed for shock wave control based on RF discharge. Under the static condition, a RF diffuse glow discharge can be observed; under the supersonic inflow, the plasma is blown downstream but remains continuous and stable.Time-resolved schlieren is used for flow field visualization. It is found that RF discharge not only leads to continuous energy deposition on the electrode surface but also induces a compression wave. Under the supersonic inflow condition, a weak oblique shock wave is induced by discharge. Experimental results of the shock wave control indicate that the applied actuation can disperse the bottom structure of the ramp-induced oblique shock wave, which is also observed in the extracted shock wave structure after image processing. More importantly, this control effect can be maintained steadily due to the continuous high-frequency(MHz) discharge. Finally, correlations for schlieren images and numerical simulations are employed to further explore the flow control mechanism. It is observed that the vortex in the boundary layer increases after the application of actuation, meaning that the boundary layer in the downstream of the actuation position is thickened. This is equivalent to covering a layer of low-density smooth wall around the compression corner and on the ramp surface, thereby weakening the compressibility at the compression corner. Our results demonstrate the ability of RF plasma aerodynamic actuation to control the supersonic airflow.

Mesoporous molecular sieve confined phase change materials with high absorption,enhanced thermal conductivity,and cooling energy charging/discharging capacity

The biggest challenge for organic phase change materials(PCMs)used in cold energy storage is to maintain high heat storage capacity while reducing the leakage risk of PCMs during the phase transition process.This is crucial for expanding their applications in the more demanding cold storage field.In this study,novel formstable low-temperature composite PCMs are prepared with mesoporous materials,namely SBA-15 and CMK-3(which are prepared using the template method),as supporting matrices and dodecane as the PCM.Owing to the combined effects of capillary forces within mesoporous materials and interactions among dodecane molecules,both dodecane/SBA-15 and dodecane/CMK-3 exhibit outstanding shape stability and thermal cycling stability even after 200 heating/cooling cycles.In comparison to those of dodecane/SBA-15,dodecane/CMK-3 exhibits superior cold storage performance and higher thermal conductivity.Specifically,the phase transition temperature of dodecane/CMK-3 is-8.81℃ with a latent heat of 122.4 J·g^(-1).Additionally,it has a thermal conductivity of 1.21 W·m^(-1)·K^(-1),which is 9.45 times that of dodecane alone.All these highlight its significant potential for applications in the area of cold energy storage.

Using Poloidal Flux as Feedback Control Signal for Injected Power of LHCD in Long Pulse Discharge on HT-7 Tokamak

Long pulse discharge is one of the important goals of HT-7 superconducting tokamak experiments. For ITER （International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor） or a tokamak reactor, carrying out a steady operation is one of the main techniques. For long pulse discharges on HT-7 the poloidal flux is used as the feedback signal to control the injected power of LHCD （Low Hybrid Current Drive） system. Experimental results are presented.

Discharge Control on Boundary of Tidal Models and Measuring Techniques of Low Current Velocity

This paper describes the discharge control technique on boundary used in two models, one is the model of hot water drainning in Dayawan Nyclear Power Plant, Guangdong, and the other is the model for trainhing the sand bar at the Guanhe Estuary, Jiangsu. Many years of application shows that this technique has the advantages of good reliability, repeatability and validity. The speedometer of hydrogen bubble is also introduced in this paper. The device can display and store tracing lines in a computer, and help operators to obtain the value and direction of transient velocity of a nonsteady current, thus, the problem of measurment of low current velocity in tidal model tests is solved and the automation of the measurement of current velocity is realized.

Charging System of ECRH High-Voltage Power Supply and its Control System

High-voltage power supply (HVPS) of Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) for HT-7 and HT-7U is presently being constructed. The high voltage (100 kV) energy of HVPS is stored in the capacitor banks, and they can power one or two gyrotrons. All the operation of the charging system will be done by the control system, where the field signals are interfaced to programmable logic controller (PLC). The use of PLC not only simplifies the control system, but also enhances the reliability. The software written by using configuration software installed in the master computer allows for remote and multiple operator control, and the status and data information is also remotely available.