Modeling and Analysis of a Micromotor with an Electrostatically Levitated Rotor

The modeling and evaluation of a prototype rotary micromotor where the annular rotor is supported electrostatically in five degrees of freedom is presented in order to study the behavior of this levitated micromotor and further optimize the device geometry. The analytical torque model is obtained based on the principle of a planar variable-capacitance electrostatic motor while the viscous damping caused by air film between the stator and rotor is derived using laminar Couette flow model. Simulation results of the closed-loop drive motor, based on the developed dynamic model after eliminating mechanical friction torque via electrostatic suspension, are presented. The effects of the high-voltage drive, required for rotation of the rotor, on overload capacity and suspension stiffness of the electrostatic bearing system are also analytically evaluated in an effort to determine allowable drive voltage and attainable rotor speed in operation. The analytical results show that maximum speed of the micromotor is limited mainly by viscous drag torque and stiffness of the bearing system. Therefore, it is expected to operate the device in vacuum so as to increase the rotor speed significantly, especially for those electrostatically levitated micromotors to be used as an angular rate micro-gyroscope.

Space Materials Science in China:Ⅱ.Ground-based Researches and Academic Activities

Activities of space materials science research in China have been continuously supported by two main national programs.One is the China Space Station(CSS)program since 1992,and the other is the Strategic Priority Program(SPP)on Space Science since 2011.In CSS plan in 2019,eleven space materials science experimental projects were officially approved for execution during the construction of the space station.In the SPP Phase Ⅱ launched in 2018,seven pre-research projects are deployed as the first batch in 2018,and one concept study project in 2019.These pre-research projects will be cultivated as candidates for future selection as space experiment projects on the recovery of scientific experimental satellites in the future.A new apparatus of electrostatic levitation system for ground-based research of space materials science and rapid solidification research has been developed under the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.In order to promote domestic academic activities and to enhance the advancement of space materials science in China,the Space Materials Science and Technology Division belong to the Chinese Materials Research Society was established in 2019.We also organized scientists to write five review papers on space materials science as a special topic published in the journal Scientia Sinica to provide valuable scientific and technical references for Chinese researchers.

Electrostatic levitation under the single-axis feedback control condition

An electrostatic levitator with a single-axis feedback control system was developed on the basis of electric field analysis and optimum design for levitation electrodes. In order to realize the stable levitation of various types of materials such as metals, inorganic materials and polymers, we made both experimental and theoretical investigations to solve the four key problems of electric field optimization, sample position detecting, sample charging control and levitation voltage minimization. Under the capacitive induction charging condition, a sample with the size of 2.6–4.5 mm usually bears positive charges amounting to 10-9 Coulomb. Because the single-axis feedback control system responds quickly, it takes the levitated sample only 0.1 s from leaving the bottom electrode until attaining a stable levitation in the upright direction. The levitated sample displays satisfactory levitation stability in both the upright and the horizontal directions owing to the constraining force produced by spherical electrodes.

Geometric optimization of electrostatic fields for stable levitation of metallic materials

Experimental and computational methods are used to optimize the electrostatic field for levitating metallic materials.The calculated launch voltage increases linearly with the distance between top and bottom electrodes.The combination of a larger top electrode diameter with a smaller bottom diameter may enhance the levitation ability because the electric field intensity near the levitated sample is strengthened.Top convex and bottom concave electrodes can guarantee good levitation stability but decrease the levitation force.The design of bottom electrode is crucial to attain not only a stable levitation state but also a higher levitation capability.As a measure characterizing the intrinsic levitation ability of various materials,the product of density and diameter of levitated samples can be used to determine the launch voltage for counteracting gravity according to a power relationship.

Metastable liquid properties and rapid crystal growth of Ti-Ni-Al alloy investigated by electrostatic levitation and molecular dynamics simulation

Electrostatic levitation technique and molecular dynamics simulation were performed to investigate the thermophysical properties,liquid structure and crystal growth dependence on undercooling of Ti_(85)Ni_(10)Al_(5) alloy.The liquid Ti_(85)Ni_(10)Al_(5) alloy was substantially undercooled up to 335 K(0.18T_(L)).As undercooling increased,the potential energy of the liquid alloy decreased and the alloy entered into a high metastable state.At this state,the atoms tended to bond with each other and the clusters were inclined to convert into high-coordinated clusters,as confirmed by the fraction of the high-coordinated clusters variation.The enlarged clusters and enhanced local structure stability contributed to the increase of the thermophysical parameters and crystal growth velocity,and eventually dendrite refinement.The density,the specific heat and the surface tension of liquid alloy exhibited a linear relation with temperature and the shear viscosity of liquid alloy showed exponential variation which showed good agreement with the calculation results by molecular dynamics simulation.The growth velocity first increased slowly and then dramatically once the undercooling exceeded the threshold.The achieved maximum crystal growth velocity was 12.4 m s^(−1) and it was up to 326 times of the value at 94 K undercooling.

Dust levitation and transport over the surface of the Moon

Exposed to space plasma and solar radiation, electrostatic potential may build up in the lunar regolith, leading to a wealth of dust phenomena, including levitation, oscillation, and transport over the surface. Based on plasma sheath theory,the global near-surface plasma environment is modeled, and the dynamics of charged dust are investigated. Results show that sub-micron sized dust particles can be levitated by the electric field over the surface, forming a dust belt that changes in position and thickness depending on the solar zenith angle. On the dayside of the Moon, stably levitated particles are about ten times smaller, and collect in a thinner belt closer to the surface than do those on the nightside. Although the size and charge of stably levitated dust particles are dependent on ambient plasma conditions, initial charge and velocity, which are closely related to the dynamics of dust particles including charging, oscillation, and damping, will determine whether, or not, a particle can attain stable levitation. Horizontal electrostatic dust transport near to the terminator region may lead to net deposition of dust from the dark into the sunlit hemisphere. Finally, because of different charging processes that result due to rotation of the Moon, before precipitation,dust particles in the dusk terminator region may be transported much longer distances and oscillate to much higher altitude than these in the dawn terminator.