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.

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.

UAV flight test of plasma slats and ailerons with microsecond dielectric barrier discharge

Plasma flow control（PFC） is a promising active flow control method with its unique advantages including the absence of moving components, fast response, easy implementation, and stable operation. The effectiveness of plasma flow control by microsecond dielectric barrier discharge（μs-DBD）, and by nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge（NS-DBD） are compared through the wind tunnel tests, showing a similar performance between μs-DBD and NS-DBD. Furthermore, theμs-DBD is implemented on an unmanned aerial vehicle（UAV）, which is a scaled model of a newly developed amphibious plane. The wingspan of the model is 2.87 m, and the airspeed is no less than 30 m/s. The flight data, static pressure data,and Tufts images are recorded and analyzed in detail. Results of the flight test show that the μs-DBD works well on board without affecting the normal operation of the UAV model. When the actuators are turned on, the stall angle and maximum lift coefficient can be improved by 1.3° and 10.4%, and the static pressure at the leading edge of the wing can be reduced effectively in a proper range of angle of attack, which shows the ability of μs-DBD to act as plasma slats. The rolling moment produced by left-side μs-DBD actuation is greater than that produced by the maximum deflection of ailerons,which indicates the potential of μs-DBD to act as plasma ailerons. The results verify the feasibility and efficacy of μs-DBD plasma flow control in a real flight and lay the foundation for the full-sized airplane application.

Effects of reservoirs on seasonal discharge of Irtysh River measured by Lepage test

The Irtysh River is an intemational river partially joining the territories of China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Cascade reservoirs have been constructed in the upper reaches of the river and their effects on the seasonal discharge of the middle and lower reaches were analyzed considering the mean and dispersion of the seasonal discharge. The Lepage test, which is a nonparametric, two-sample test for detecting location and dispersion, was used to measure the significance of difference between the pre-dam and post-dam seasonal discharge. The results show that the reservoirs＇ effects on the seasonal discharge varied with the season. In the middle reaches of the river, the summer and autumn discharge decreased significantly and their inter-annual variabilities also decreased significantly. The summer and autumn precipitation over the Irtysh River Basin changed little before and after the operation of the reservoir, which indicates that the discharge changes mainly due to water storage of the reservoirs. The reservoirs store water in summer and autumn and store more water in a wet year, which leads to the reduction of the mean and dispersion of the summer and autumn discharge. The winter discharge increased significantly because the reservoirs released water for power generation. The spring discharge changed slightly. In the lower reaches, only the winter discharge increased significantly, and the other seasonal discharge changed slightly. The reservoirs＇ effects on the seasonal discharge are more significant in the middle reaches than in the lower reaches.

Analysis of capacitive voltage rise during off-line partial discharge tests on power transformers

Partial discharge test on a transformer is carried out according to the items in IEC 60. During the test, unproved measuring system is calibrated by proved system at a voltage no less than 50% the rated testing voltage. The result is then extrapolated linearly, leading to an error related to the distribution of stray capacitance, which varies with the testing frequency, especially to large transformers. In this paper a factor, named the capacitive rise fact, is introduced to assess the rise. The factor can be adjusted to some extent by changing the reactance that is connected to the LV side of the testing circuit to lower the capacity of the power source. However, the factor changes when the voltage divider on the high voltage side is removed after the voltage ratio has been calculated, and a great error is resulted under unfavorable conditios.

Improving the Interfacial Mechanical Property of Fiber Reinforced Cement with Dielectric Barrier Discharge 1:The Pul - out Test

The effect of dielectric barrier discharge(DBD)on the interfacial mechanical property of polypropylene fiber reinforced cement is investigated with the aid of single fiber pull out test.The result shows that the DBD treatment improved the adhesion between the PP fiber and the surrounding cement matrix considerably without serious aging.Keywords:dielectric barrier discharge,single fiber pull-out test.

A Study on Physical Model Test for Cheongpyeong Dam Discharge Recalculation

Cheongpyeong Dam was built in 1943 for the purpose of power generation. Since its construction, discharge flow data based on a theoretical formula have been used to the present times and this leads to a problem of accurate discharge flow information not being available. In particular, Cheongpyeong Dam has been partially repaired and modified to maintain the dam structure over a long period of time and is not being properly reflected with changes at the downstream of the river caused by river improvement projects and sedimentation in reservoir. With a goal to improve Cheongpyeong Dam discharge flow calculation, this study aimed at verifying discharge capability and discharge flow by damper opening in relation to the previously suggested discharge flow through a hydraulic model test based on an accurate reproduction of the dam structure and surrounding topographies as in the present conditions. In this study, a hydraulic model test was conducted to examine the discharge flow of Cheongpyeong Dam. In addition, a comparative examination was carried out against the existing discharge flow proposed using theoretical equations. As a verification of the discharge flow of Cheongpyeong Dam, discharge flows in all sluices and a single sluice were examined. Then, the impact of sluice interference caused by the dam structure consisting with 24 sluices was investigated. As a result of the examination, it was found that the difference between discharge flow calculated using the existing theoretical equations and discharge flow derived from the hydraulic model test was insignificant. Based on the results of hydraulic model test, a formula to estimate stage-discharge flow at a sluice was derived and suggested.

Review of the Lightning Shielding Against Direct Lightning Strokes Based on Laboratory Long Air Gap Discharges

长间隙放电是研究地面物体雷电屏蔽问题的最有效手段之一。首先介绍了国内外在雷电击距、直击雷防护措施的屏蔽性能试验和雷电迎面先导过程研究3个方面所取得的进展，并结合最新开展的长达6m问隙尺度的放电试验观测，对现阶段上述3个方面研究所存在的问题进行了分析。认为基于雷电击距建立的电气几何模型（electricgeometrymodel，EGM）仅适用于小尺度目标物的雷电屏蔽性能分析，现有的雷电屏蔽模拟试验方法仅能近似模拟不存在雷电迎面先导时的雷击过程，无法完全证明以提前流注发射模型装置为代表的非传统防雷装置具有比传统措施更优越的屏蔽性能。大尺度目标物的雷电屏蔽问题应聚焦于雷电迎面先导过程的研究，建立并完善雷电迎面先导过程的模拟试验方法和物理仿真模型。

Development and Application of a Shaft-type Tubular Pumping System with a Siphon Discharge Passage

Based on the characteristics of large flow rate , low head , short annual operation time , and high reliability of the city flood-control pumping stations , a new-type shaft tubular pumping system featuring a shaft suction box and a siphon-type discharge passage with a vacuum breaker as the cutoff device was developed , which possesses such advantages as simple structure , reliable cutoff , and high energy performance.Taking some pumping stations as the case studies , in the light of the specified operation conditions , the hydraulic optimal design of the shaft-type tubular pumping system was determined and the optimized shape of the system was recommended.The performance prediction based on the computational fluid dynamics methodology was determined and the model test verification was conducted.The results show that the predicted data agree with the experimental head and efficiency so that both methods can be used to determine the performance of a real pumping station.Finally , the in-situ measurements of a pumping station during the commissioning period further verified that the shaft-type tubular pumping station with a siphon discharge passage is of higher efficiency , more reliable and stable.

Characteristics of charge and discharge of PMMA samples due to electron irradiation

In this study, using a comprehensive numerical simulation of charge and discharge processes, we investigate the formation and evolution of negative charge and discharge characteristics of a grounded PMMA film irradiated by a non- focused electron beam. Electron scattering and transport processes in the sample are simulated with the Monte Carlo and the finite-different time-domain （FDTD） methods, respectively. The properties of charge and discharge processes are presented by the evolution of internal currents, charge quantity, surface potential, and discharge time. Internal charge accumulation in the sample may reach saturation by primary electron （PE） irradiation providing the charge duration is enough. Internal free electrons will run off to the ground in the form of leakage current due to charge diffusion and drift during the discharge process after irradiation, while trapped electrons remain. The negative surface potential determined by the charging quantity decreases to its saturation in the charge process, and then increases in the discharge process. A larger thickness of the PMMA film will result in greater charge amount and surface potential in charge saturation and in final discharge state, while the electron mobility of the material has little effects on the final discharge state. Moreover, discharge time is less for smaller thickness or larger electron mobility. The presented results can be helpful for estimating and weakening the charging of insulating samples especially under the intermittent electron beam irradiation in related surface analysis or measurement.

Decay characters of charges on an insulator surface after different types of discharge

In an insulating system including solid and gas dielectrics, discharge type has a strong impact on charge accumulation at the interface between two dielectrics, and hence charge decay. In order to clarify the influence, a surface charge measurement system was constructed, and three types of discharge, i.e. surface discharge, and low intensity and high intensity coronas, were introduced to cause surface charge accumulation. The decay behavior of surface charges after different types of discharge was obtained at various temperatures. It was found that total surface charges monotonically decreased with time, and the decay rate became larger as temperature increased. However, after a surface discharge or a high intensity corona, surface charge density in the local area appeared to fluctuate during the decay process. Compared with this, the fluctuation of surface charge density was not observed after a low intensity corona. The mechanisms of surface charge accumulation and decay were analysed. Moreover, a microscopic physical model involving charge production, accumulation, and decay was proposed so that the experimental results could be explained.

A Repetitive Nanosecond Pulse Source for Generation of Large Volume Streamer Discharge

Using a unipolar pulse with the rise time and the pulse duration in the order of microsecond as the primary pulse, a nanosecond pulse with the repetitive frequency of several kilohertz is generated by a spark gap switch. By varying both the inter-pulse duration and the pulse frequency, the voltage recovery rate of the spark gap switch is investigated at different working conditions such as the gas pressure, the gas composition as well as the bias voltage. The results reveal that either increase in gas pressure or addition of SF6 to the air can increase the voltage recovery rate. The effect of gas composition on the voltage recovery rate is discussed based on the transferring and distribution of the residual space charges. The repetitive nanosecond pulse source is also applied to the generation of large volume, and the discharge currents are measured to investigate the effect of pulse repetition rate on the large volume streamer discharge.

Simulation Studies of Rib Structure Effect on Discharge Characteristics of Plasma Display Panel

To investigate the effect of the rib structure on the discharge characteristics of the plasma display panel, the potential distribution, particles density distribution and ions incident angle distribution were examined by simulation of a two-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision, with two kinds of rib structure： the stripe rib structure and the Waffle rib structure. The results showed that the distribution of electric potential at the corner of the discharge cell was almost the same for these two rib structures while in the centre there was a difference between these two rib structures. The striation phenomenon could be observed in both cases. The distribution of density also indicated that the striation phenomenon was accompanied by the firing of discharge, and the Waffle rib structure might reduce the density humps. In the cell with a stripe rib structure, the profiles of the surface charge density along the sustained dielectric layer presented a better fluctuating distribution than that in the cell with a Waffle rib structure. The spatial potential and particle density in the discharge bulk showed that the Waffle ribs could weaken the striation phenomenon, which could be explained by the decrease in the particle numbers in the discharge cell. The simulation results of the ion incident angle showed that most ions impacted the sustained dielectric layer in the normal stripe rib cell with an incident angle in the range of 6° to 19° while with the Waffle rib structure the incident angle of most ions was in the range of 4° to 19°. The Waffle rib structure did not affect the angle distribution of incident ions significantly.

3D Carbon Frameworks for Ultrafast Charge/Discharge Rate Supercapacitors with High Energy‑Power Density

Carbon-based electric double layer capacitors(EDLCs)hold tremendous potentials due to their high-power performance and excellent cycle stability.However,the practical use of EDLCs is limited by the low energy density in aqueous electrolyte and sluggish diffusion kinetics in organic or/and ionic liquids electrolyte.Herein,3D carbon frameworks(3DCFs)constructed by interconnected nanocages(10-20 nm)with an ultrathin wall of ca.2 nm have been fabricated,which possess high specific surface area,hierarchical porosity and good conductive network.After deoxidization,the deoxidized 3DCF(3DCFDO)exhibits a record low IR drop of 0.064 V at 100 A g^−1 and ultrafast charge/discharge rate up to 10 V s^−1.The related device can be charged up to 77.4%of its maximum capacitance in 0.65 s at 100 A g^−1 in 6 M KOH.It has been found that the 3DCF-DO has a great affinity to EMIMBF4,resulting in a high specific capacitance of 174 F g^−1 at 1 A g^−1,and a high energy density of 34 Wh kg^−1 at an ultrahigh power density of 150 kW kg^−1 at 4 V after a fast charge in 1.11 s.This work provides a facile fabrication of novel 3D carbon frameworks for supercapacitors with ultrafast charge/discharge rate and high energy-power density.

The enhanced aerosol deposition by bipolar corona discharge arrays

The corona discharges provide an efficient way to induce precipitation or eliminate fog by increasing ion density in the open air.In this paper,one bipolar corona discharge array(positive and negative high voltage coupled simultaneously)which can generate high densities of positive and negative ions is developed.The comparison between bipolar corona discharge array and unipolar corona discharge array(positive or negative coupled only)indicates that bipolar corona discharge array can generate~3 times higher ion density than unipolar corona discharge array.More charged aerosols are produced through collisions between ions and aerosols.The collision rate between aerosols is increased substantially by the attractive forces between positively and negatively charged aerosols.The deposition of aerosols induced by bipolar discharges is 25.7%higher than that of unipolar discharges at the humidity super-saturation condition.Therefore,the bipolar corona discharge system is a new option for the large scale ion sources used for artificial weather modification.

Charge-discharge process of MnO_2 supercapacitor

Mechanochemical synthesis of α-MnO2 was carried out with KMnO4 and Mn(CH3COO)2 in 1:1 mole ratio. The electrochemical performance of MnO2 electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammograms and alternating current impedance. The charge-discharge process of MnO2 supercapacitor in 6 mol/L KOH was studied within 1.2 V at 200 mA/g, suggesting that it displays double-layer capacibility in low potential scope and pseudo-capacitance properties in high potential scope. It is found that Mn3O4, an electrochemical inert, mainly forms in the initial 40 charge-discharge cycles. During cycling, the pseudo-capacitance properties disappear and the discharge curves are close to ideal ones, indicating double-layer capability. The maximum capacitance of MnO2 electrode is as high as 416 F/g, and retains 240 F/g after 200 cycles. The equivalent series resistance increases from 17 to 41 Ω.

Effect of Barrier Materials on Discharge Properties in Air at Low Pressure

Dielectric barrier discharge(DBD) is widely investigated in order to obtain uniform low-temperature plasma.Many studies have proved that some barrier materials,especially electrets,can improve the uniformity of discharge.It is regarded as an available way to get atmospheric pressure glow discharge(APGD).In this paper,discharge forms with 4 different barrier materials(alumina,quartz,PTFE and PET) are investigated,and the transition of discharge form depending on the air pressure are recorded to estimate the influence of barrier materials on discharge.By using electrets as barrier materials,homogeneous discharges can be obtained in a more wide pressure range.Under the same experimental conditions,discharges with electrets are more uniform or have larger uniform areas due to the storage and desorption of charges on the surface of electrets.The electrons deposited in the surface layer can be released on next half cycle when the polarity of the applied voltage changes,and provide a number of seed electrons,which makes the discharge more homogeneous.The capacitance and the permittivity of barrier materials have no effect on the discharge form directly.

Comparison Between Thermally Stimulated Discharge Method and Photo-stimulated Discharge Method for Measuring Space Charge Traps Energy

The space charge behavior of a dielectric under HVDC is influenced by the charge trap energy distribution in it. Hence, we in- vestigated the charge trap distributions in several kinds of typical polymer materials using thermally stimulated discharge (TSD) and photo-stimulated discharge (PSD) methods, respectively. The experimental results show that,there is a significant difference between the trap energy distributions obtained by the two methods, but the difference decreases with the increase of the melting point of polymers. This is attributed to the change of the trap center environment during TSD caused by the increasing movements of both main chains and branched chains in polymers. PSD method is more accurate for investigating charge trap distribution in dielectrics, especially for polymers with low melting points.

Structural characteristics of spherical Ni(OH)_2 and its charge/discharge process mechanism

Spherical Ni（OH）2 particles were prepared by an aqueous solution precipitation route. The structure of spherical Ni（OH）2 was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and compared with that of traditional Ni（OH）2. The results show that the spherical nickel hydroxide consists of （Ni（OH）2） spheres with a reticulate structure of platelet-like, which is almost arranged radially and the crystalline grains intervene and connect with each other to form a three-dimensional net. The spherical Ni（OH）2 particle is full of pores, crannies between cleave planes. It is supposed that this structure is beneficial to the structural stability for the spherical particles during the charge/discharge processes and can improve the cycle life of the electrode; the pores and the crannies in spherical particles can shorten the proton diffusion distance and speed its velocity, which may result in that the local polarization is lowered. The electrochemical performances of the spherical Ni（OH）2 are improved by enhancing the conducting properties of the crystalline lattice due to its quick proton diffusion.