Drift characteristics and the multi-field coupling stress mechanism of the pantograph-catenary arc under low air pressure

The fault caused by a pantograph-catenary arc is the main factor that threatens the stability of high-speed railway energy transmission.Pantograph-catenary arc vertical drift is more severe than the case under normal pressure,as it is easy to develop the rigid busbar,which may lead to the flashover occurring around the support insulators.We establish a pantograph-catenary arc experiment and diagnosis platform to simulate low pressure and strong airflow environment.Meanwhile,the variation law of arc drift height with time under different air pressures and airflow velocities is analyzed.Moreover,arc drift characteristics and influencing factors are explored.The physical process of the arc column drifting to the rigid busbar with the jumping mechanism of the arc root on the rigid busbar is summarized.In order to further explore the mechanism of the above physical process,a multi-field stress coupling model is built,as the multi-stress variation law of arc is quantitatively evaluated.The dynamic action mechanism of multi-field stress on arc drifting characteristics is explored,as the physical mechanism of arc drifting under low pressure is theoretically explained.The research results provide theoretical support for arc suppression in high-altitude areas.

Oxidation of Fe-Cr-Ni Alloys in a Low Oxygen Partial Pressure Atmosphere to Mitigate Coke Formation

Anti-coking oxide films were prepared on a 25Cr35Ni and 35Cr45Ni alloy surface under the low oxygen partialpressure atmosphere of a H2-H2O mixture. The composition and phase structure of the oxide films were analyzed by energydispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The anti-cokingperformance of a mini tube made of a HP40 (25Cr35Ni) alloy was evaluated on a bench scale pyrolysis and coking test unit.The results showed that the surface Fe and Ni content decreased after the oxidation of the two alloys in a low oxygen partialpressure atmosphere. The oxide films were mainly composed of MnCr_(2)O_(4) and Cr_(2)O_(3). The average mass of coke in the minitube with oxide film decreased by 87% relative to that of a tube without an oxide film when the cracking temperature was 900℃. The ethylene, propylene, and butadiene yields in the pyrolysis tests were almost the same for the mini tubes withand without an oxide film. The oxide film on the alloy surface effectively inhibited catalytic filamentous coke formation.An industrial test showed that the run length of the cracking furnace with the in-situ coating technology was significantlyextended.

Gating system optimization of low pressure casting A356 aluminum alloy intake manifold based on numerical simulation

To eliminate the shrinkage porosity in low pressure casting of an A356 aluminum alloy intake manifold casting, numerical simulation on fi lling and solidifi cation processes of the casting was carried out using the ProCAST software. The gating system of the casting is optimized according to the simulation results. Results show that when the gating system consists of only one sprue, the fi lling of the molten metal is not stable; and the casting does not follow the sequence solidifi cation, and many shrinkage porosities are observed through the casting. After the gating system is improved by adding one runner and two in-gates, the fi lling time is prolonged from 4.0 s to 4.5 s, the fi lling of molten metal becomes stable, but this casting does not follow the sequence solidifi cation either. Some shrinkage porosity is also observed in the hot spots of the casting. When the gating system was further improved by adding risers and chill to the hot spots of the casting, the shrinkage porosity defects were eliminated completely. Finally, by using the optimized gating system the A356 aluminum alloy intake manifold casting with integrated shape and smooth surface as well as dense microstructure was successfully produced.

Effect of pressurizing speed on filling behavior of gradual expansion structure in low pressure casting of ZL205A alloy

The mold filling behavior of gradual expansion structure in low pressure casting was studied by two phase flow model using the Volume of Fluid method, and was verified by water simulation with a Plexiglas mold. To get smooth mold filling process and provide a guide for the pressurizing speed design in the producing practice, the mathematical model with the pressurizing speed, expansion angle and height of the gradual expansion structure was established. For validation experiments, ZL205 A alloy castings were produced under two different pressurizing speeds. Weibull probability plots were used to assess the fracture mechanisms under different pressurizing speeds. Mechanical properties of ZL205 A alloy were applied to assess the entrainment of oxide film. The results show that the filling process of a gradual expansion structure in a low pressure casting can be divided into the spreading stage and filling stage by gate velocity. The gate velocity continues to increase in the gradual expansion structure, and increases with the increase of pressurizing speed or expansion angle. Under the effect of the falling fluid raised by the jet flow along the sidewall, the fluid velocity decreases in the jet zone from ingate to free surface. As such, oxide film entrainment does not occur when the gate velocity is greater than the critical velocity, andthe gate velocity no longer reflects the real state of the free surface. The scatter of the mechanical properties is strongly affected by the entrainment of oxide films.

Effects of Tightening Torque on Dynamic Characteristics of Low Pressure Rotors Connected by a Spline Coupling

A rotor dynamic model is built up for investigating the effects of tightening torque on dynamic characteristics of low pressure rotors connected by a spline coupling.The experimental rotor system is established using a fluted disk and a speed sensor which is applied in an actual aero engine for speed measurement.Through simulating calculation and experiments,the effects of tightening torque on the dynamic characteristics of the rotor system connected by a spline coupling including critical speeds,vibration modes and unbalance responses are analyzed.The results show that when increasing the tightening torque,the first two critical speeds and the amplitudes of unbalance response gradually increase in varying degrees while the vibration modes are essentially unchanged.In addition,changing axial and circumferential positions of the mass unbalance can lead to various amplitudes of unbalance response and even the rates of change.

Study of vortex in flow fields induced by surface dielectric barrier discharge actuator at low pressure based on Q criterion

Flow fields induced by a surface dielectric barrier discharge actuator at low pressure of 7 kPa are measured by particle image velocimetry. The distribution of local vortices in the flow field is revealed by the Q criterion. The reason for the generation of vortices is analyzed and the influence of pulse frequency and duty cycle on vortices is studied. The results show that the Q criterion can reveal the small-scale vortices, which cannot be indicated by the streamline. The direction transition zone where the induced jet moves from the vertical to the tangential and the shear layer between the jet and stationary air are prone to the generation of strong vortices. The influence of pulse frequency on vortices is not obvious, but the variation of duty cycle can significantly affect the strength and distribution of vortices.

THE PRODUCTION OF FOAM ALUMINIUM ALLOY BY LOW-PRESSURE INFILTRATION METHOD

The influence of technical parameters on the infiltrating height of the moltenmetal in the process of Producing aluminium alloy foam by low-pressure infiltration method were investigated.Experiments indicated that the height increases with the preheating temperature of granules,theexternal pressureand the pouring temperature of molten alloy,among which the action of pre heating temperature of granules is more effective.There exists a critical pre heating temperature for different size of granules.

A two-dimensional air streamer discharge modified model based on artificial stability term under non-uniform electric field at low temperature and sub-atmospheric pressure

In this paper, an improved air discharge fluid model under non-uniform electric field is constructed based on the plasma module COMSOL Multiphysics with artificial stability term, and the boundary conditions developed in the previous paper are applied to the calculation of photoionization rate. Based on the modified model, the characteristics of low temperature subatmospheric air discharge under 13 kV direct current voltage are discussed, including needle-plate and needle-needle electrode structures. Firstly, in order to verify the reliability of the model, a numerical example and an experimental verification were carried out for the modified model respectively. Both verification results show that the model can ensure the accuracy and repeatability of the calculation. Secondly, according to the calculation results of the modified model, under the same voltage and spacing, the reduced electric field under low temperature subatmosphere pressure is larger than that under normal temperature and atmospheric pressure. The high electric field leads to the air discharge at low temperature and sub atmospheric pressure entering the streamer initiation stage earlier, and has a faster propagation speed in the streamer development stage, which shortens the overall discharge time. Finally, the discharge characteristics of the two electrode structures are compared, and it is found that the biggest difference between them is that there is a pre-ionization region near the cathode in the needle-needle electrode structure. When the pre-ionization level reaches 1013 cm-3, the propagation speed of the positive streamer remains unchanged throughout the discharge process, and is no longer affected by the negative streamer. The peak value of electric field decreases with the increase of pre-ionization level, and tends to be constant during streamer propagation. Based on the previous paper, this paper constructs the air discharge model under non-uniform electric field, complements with the previous paper, and forms a relatively complete set of air discharge simulation system under low temperature and sub atmospheric pressure, which provides a certain reference for future research.

Characteristics of long-gap AC streamer discharges under low pressure conditions

The generation and propagation of a streamer is a significant physical process of air gap discharge. Research on the mechanism of streamers under low-pressure conditions is helpful for understanding the process of long-gap discharge in a high-altitude area. This paper describes laboratory investigations of streamer discharge under alternating current（AC） voltage in a low pressure test platform for a 60 cm rod–plane gap at 30 kPa, and analyzes the characteristics of streamer generation and propagation. The results show that the partial streamer and breakdown streamer all occur in the positive half-cycle of AC voltage near the peak voltage at 30 kPa. The partial streamer could cause the distortion of current and voltage waveform, and it appears as the branching characteristic at the initial stage. With the extension of the streamer, the branching and tortuosity phenomena become gradually obvious, but the branching is suppressed when the streamer crosses the gap. The low-pressure condition has little influence on the tortuosity length and the tortuosity number of the streamer, but affect the diameter of streamer obviously.

Thickening and Rheological Properties of Crystalline Polyester Used in Low Pressure Sheet Molding Compounds

Low pressure sheet molding compound （LPMC,1.0-3.0 MPa,95-103 ℃） is a new kind of thermosetting material with crystalline polyester as a physical thickenner.LPMC is different from conventional SMC using an earth oxide thickening agent （e.g.MgO） as chemical thickenner,it relies on the physical thickening of crystalline polyester.Crystalline polyester resin is the key material to mold LPMC parts.Currently there was no report about the thickening mechanism of crystalline polyester in LPMC.In this article,crystalline polyester resins,whose melting points were between 45 ℃ and 89 ℃,were synthesized by a two-step esterification.The melt points of crystalline polyesters are controlled by regulating the mol ratio of the two glycols and the two acids.And by means of varying the content of crystalline polyester resin,the thickening effect on resin paste is investigated.In addition,the thickening mechanism of crystalline polyester in LPMC was investigated by FTIR and DSC analysis.The effects of the diameters and viscosity of crystalline polyester on the rheological property and fiber distribution of LPMC sheets were studied,too.Results show that the thickening effect is excellent when the weight content of crystalline polyester resin is 3%.And there exists three kinds of functions acting in the process of thickening：swelling,hydrogen bonds and induction crystallization.During the preparing process of resin paste in LPMC,the temperature of resin paste must be kept at 90 ℃.In addition,crystalline polyester make LPMC have a perfect fluid property.When the viscosity of LPMC sheet is beyond 1 kPa s,the fiber orientation is not obvious.But when the viscosity of LPMC sheet is about 500 Pa s,the fiber shows a certain degree of orientation.Moreover the study of physical and chemical thickening mechanism of crystalline polyester and the rheological discipline of LPMC sheets in the hot mould will provide the researchers and enterprises with theory guidance.

Silicon Epitaxial Wafer for X Band Double Read－type DDR IMPATT Diodes by Atmosphere／Low Pressure Growth Techniqt

The silicon epitaxial wafter for X band double Read-type DDR IMPATT diodes has been fabricatedby normal-low pressure growth technique. The hyperabrupt impurity profile and very thin p-layer, n-layerwere achieved.

Cure Reaction Kinetics of Low Pressure Sheet Molding Compound System Thickened by Crystalline Polymer

Several kinetic models for unsaturated polyester cure reaction and some existing parameter estimation techniques of these models were introduced. Correlated kinetic parameters and kinetic equations of the autocatalytic empirical kinetic model of LPSMC system were determined by using isothermal DSC to scan the system which was thickened by crystalline polymer （PEG-MAH）. Through using a serial curing degree of the system to validate the model, the experimental results were basically identical with the predictions of the autocatalytic empirical kinetic model. This model could provide a theoretical reference to the determination of molding techniques of low pressure SMC.

Similarity principle of microwave argon plasma at low pressure

In order to validate the similarity principle of microwave breakdown, a two-dimensional （2D） fluid model of low- pressure microwave argon plasma is established and solved by the finite-element method. Proportional conditions are used in this model to build three different breakdown processes that meet the premise of a similarity principle, and these breakdown processes are called ＂similar cases＂ in this paper. Similar cases have proportionately sized breakdown regions, where the ratio of frequency of incident microwave f to gas pressure p （f/p）, and the reduced field E/p in them are kept the same. All the important physical parameters such as electron density, electron temperature, and reduced electric field can be obtained from the simulation of this model. The results show that the parameters between similar cases are in constant ratio without changing with time, which means that the similarity principle is also valid in microwave breakdown.

Self-organized pattern on the surface of a metal anode in low-pressure DC discharge

Self-organization phenomena on the surface of a metal electrode in low-pressure DC discharge is studied. In this paper, we carry out laboratory investigations of self-organization in a lowpressure test platform for 100–200 mm rod-plane gaps with a needle tip, conical tip and hemispherical tip within 1–10 k Pa. The factors influencing the pattern profile are the pressure value, gap length and shape of the electrode, and a variety of pattern structures are observed by changing these factors. With increasing pressure, first the pattern diameter increases and then decreases. With the needle tip, layer structure, single-ring structure and double-ring structure are displayed successively with increasing pressure. With the conical tip, the ring-like structure gradually forms separate spots with increasing pressure. With the hemispherical tip, there are anode spots inside the ring structure. With the increase of gap length, the diameter of the selforganized pattern increases and the profile of the pattern changes. The development process of the pattern contains three key stages： pattern enlargement, pattern stabilization and pattern shrink.

Investigation on the Effects and Mechanisms of PTFE Surface Modification by Low Pressure Plasma

Using argon as the work gas, the effects and mechanisms of poly（tetrafluoroethylene） （PTFE） film surface modification were investigated in a low pressure plasma reactor. Results show that higher hydrophilicity with little degradation, in terms of the scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, was obtained after treatment, especially when the sample was placed in the post-discharge area. More polar functional groups and higher surface free energy, especially the polar component, formed on the PTFE surface were responsible for the modification. For the relatively high purity radicals and rare discharge particles in the post-discharge area, the etching was restrained and the introducing reactions were enhanced, and thus, a better modification occurred there.

A Novel Low Air Pressure-Assisted Approach for the Construction of Cells-Decellularized Tendon Scaffold Complex

Objective The goal of this study was to develop a decellularized tendon scaffold(DTS)and repopulate it with adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)assisted by low air pressure(LP).Methods The porcine superficial flexor tendons were processed into the DTSs using a combination of physical,chemical,and enzymatic treatments.The effectiveness of decellularization was verified by histological analysis and DNA quantification.The properties of the DTSs were evaluated by quantitative analysis of biochemical characterization,porosimetry,in vitro biocompatibility assessment,and biomechanical testing.Subsequently,the ADSCs-DTS complexes were constructed via cell injection assisted by LP or under atmospheric pressure.The differences in cell distribution,biomechanical properties,and the total DNA content were compared by histological analysis,biomechanical testing,and DNA quantification,respectively.Results Histological analysis confirmed that no cells or condensed nuclear materials were retained within the DTSs with widened interfibrillar space.The decellularization treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the content of DNA and glycosaminoglycans,and a significant increase in the porosity.The DTSs were cytocompatible in vitro and did not show reduced collagen content and inferior biomechanical properties compared with the fresh-frozen tendons.The assistance of LP promoted the broader distribution of cells into the adjacent interfibrillar space and cell proliferation in DTSs.The biomechanical properties of the scaffolds were not significantly affected by the recellularization treatments.Conclusion A novel LP-assisted approach for the construction of cells-DTS complex was established,which could be a methodological foundation for further bioreactor and in vitro studies.

Influence of low ambient pressure on the performance of a high-energy array surface arc plasma actuator

In order to solve the problem of single arc plasma actuator's failure to suppress the boundary layer separation, the effectiveness of the array surface arc plasma actuator to enhance the excitation intensity is verified by experiment. In this study, an electrical parameter measurement system and high-speed schlieren technology were adopted to delve into the electrical, flow field, and excitation characteristics of the high-energy array surface arc plasma actuator under low ambient pressure. The high-energy array surface arc discharge released considerable heat rapidly;as a result, two characteristic structures were generated, i.e., the precursor shock wave and thermal deposition area. The duration increased with the increase in environmental pressure. The lower the pressure, the wider the thermal deposition area's influence range. The precursor shock wave exhibited a higher propagation speed at the initial phase of discharge;it tended to decay over time and finally remained at 340 m/s. The lower the environmental pressure, the higher the speed would be at the initial phase. High-energy array surface arc plasma actuator can be employed to achieve effective high-speed aircraft flow control.

Monte Carlo Simulation of Laser-Ablated Particle Splitting Dynamic in a Low Pressure Inert Gas

A Monte Carlo simulation method with an instantaneous density dependent meanfree-path of the ablated particles and the Ar gas is developed for investigating the transport dynamics of the laser-ablated particles in a low pressure inert gas.The ablated-particle density and velocity distributions are analyzed.The force distributions acting on the ablated particles are investigated.The influence of the substrate on the ablated-particle velocity distribution and the force distribution acting on the ablated particles are discussed.The Monte Carlo simulation results approximately agree with the experimental data at the pressure of 8 Pa to 17 Pa.This is helpful to investigate the gas phase nucleation and growth mechanism of nanoparticles.

Characterization of Femtosecond Laser-Induced Plasma under Low Pressure in Argon

An experiment of femtosecond laser-induced breakdown in argon with a pressure below normal atmospheric pressure is performed. The breakdown spectrum is mainly due to the electronic relaxation of excited Ar atoms and Ar ions. The lifetimes and characteristics of the Ar plasma are extensively studied by the time-integrated and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy technique, which is also discussed. Under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium （LTE）, the plasma temperature is calculated. Moreover, the electron density is accessed from the Stark broadening of the ionized argon lines. Finally, the validity of applications of LTE is also discussed.

Intelligent production optimization method for a low pressure and low productivity shale gas well

Shale gas wells frequently suffer from liquid loading and insufficient formation pressure in the late stage of production.To address this issue,an intelligent production optimization method for low pressure and low productivity shale gas well is proposed.Based on the artificial intelligence algorithms,this method realizes automatic production and monitoring of gas well.The method can forecast the production performance of a single well by using the long short-term memory neural network and then guide gas well production accordingly,to fulfill liquid loading warning and automatic intermittent production.Combined with adjustable nozzle,the method can keep production and pressure of gas wells stable automatically,extend normal production time of shale gas wells,enhance automatic level of well sites,and reach the goal of refined production management by making production regime for each well.Field tests show that wells with production regime optimized by this method increased 15%in estimated ultimate reserve(EUR).Compared with the development mode of drainage after depletion recovery,this method is more economical and can increase and stabilize production effectively,so it has a bright application prospect.