Performance of pulsed plasma thruster at low discharge energy

As the size of satellites scales down, low-power and compact propulsion systems such as the pulsed plasma thruster(PPT) are needed for stabilizing these miniature satellites in orbit. Most PPT systems are operated at 2 J or more of discharge energy. In this work, the performance of a PPT with a side-fed, tongue-flared electrode configuration operated within a lower discharge energy range of 0.5-2.5 J has been investigated. Ablation and charring of the polytetrafluoroethylene propellant surface were analyzed through field-effect scanning electron microscopy imaging and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. When the discharge energy fell below 2 J, inconsistencies occurred in the specific impulse and the thrust efficiency due to the measurement of the low mass bit. At energy ≥2 J, the performance parameters are compared with other PPT systems of similar configuration and discussed in depth.

The effects of drainage basin geomorphometry on minimum low flow discharge: the study of small watershed in Kelang River Valley in Peninsular Malaysia

This study investigate the relationships between geomorphometric properties and the minimum low flow discharge of undisturbed drainage basins in the Taman Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia. The drainage basins selected were third-order basins so as to facilitate a common base for sampling and performing an unbiased statistical analyses. Three levels of relationships were observed in the study. Significant relationships existed between the geomorphometric properties as shown by the correlation network analysis; secondly, individual geomorphometric properties were observed to influence minimum flow discharge; and finally, the multiple regression model set up showed that minimum flow discharge(Q min) was dependent of basin area(AU), stream length(LS), maximum relief(Hmax), average relief(HAV) and stream frequency(SF). These findings further enforced other studies of this nature that drainage basins were dynamic and functional entities whose operations were governed by complex interrelationships occurring within the basins. Changes to any of the geomorphometric properties would influence their role as basin regulators thus influencing a change in basin response. In the case of the basin's minimum low flow, a change in any of the properties considered in the regression model influenced the “time to peak' of flow. A shorter time period would mean higher discharge, which is generally considered the prerequisite to flooding. This research also conclude that the role of geomorphometric properties to control the water supply within the stream through out the year even though during the drought and less precipitations months. Drainage basins are sensitive entities and any deteriorations involve will generate reciprocals and response to the water supply as well as the habitat within the areas.

Ar/N2/CH4 Glow Discharge at Low Pressures

Ar/N2/CH4 glow discharge at low-pressure are studied in a closed system. The plasma was produced in 79.6% N2-15.4% Ar- 5.0% CH4 ternary mixture at pressures between 0.5 and 10.0 Torr. The diagnostic has been made by optical emission spectroscopy （OES）. The principal species observed were： N2, N2＋, CH＋, CN, C2, C3, HI3, Ha, C＋ and At. It presents the behaviour of the bands and lines intensities as a function of the pressure. Also, it displays the ratios of intensities of N＋2 （391.44 nm）, CN （392.08 nm）, and H （486.13 nm） to that of the N2 （337.13 rim） as function of pressure. The ratios show a slow decreasing behavior as a function of the pressure. Being the CH/N2 ratio more highest and H/N2 ratio the lowest one. The variations of excited species at different pressures may change the subsequent chemical reactions in the gas phase significantly. The present results suggest that the ion-molecule and molecule-molecule reactions in the gas phase are likely to play a dominant role in the present pressures.

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.

Ion property and electrical characteristics of 60MHz very-high-frequency magnetron discharge at low pressure

The pre-ionized 60 MHz very-high-frequency （VHF） magnetron discharge at low pressure, assisted by inductively coupled plasma （ICP） discharge, was developed. The measurement of ion flux density and ion energy to the substrate was carried out by a retarding field energy analyzer. The electric characteristics of discharge were also investigated by voltage-current probe technique. It was found that by reducing the discharge pressure of VHF magnetron discharge from 5 to 1 Pa, the ion flux density increased about four times, meanwhile the ion energy also increased doubly. The electric characteristics of discharge also showed that a little improvement of sputtering effectiveness was achieved by reducing discharge pressure. Therefore, the deposition property of VHF （60 MHz） magnetron sputtering can be improved by reducing the discharge pressure using the ICP-assisted pre-ionized discharge.

The Realization of Low Loop Voltage Start-up of HT-7 Tokamak Discharge with the Assistance of Lower Hybrid Wave

Low voltage start-up was realized in HT-7 discharges under the assistance of lower hybrid (LH) waves. The use of a strong LH wavet which can Change its N// spectrum in a large range of several milliseconds, made the loop voltage for start-up reduce from around 20 V to less than 5 V. It means that the electric field for HT-7 start-up decreases from 2.5-3 V/m to 0.6 V/m. Some physical phenomena such as the consumption of magnetic flux in start-up phase and the radiation from the initial plasma were observed in this kind of low voltage start-up discharges.

Estimation of the Type of Low Energy Discharge in GIS Adopting Characteristic Gas

In order to guarantee safe operations, low energy discharge within gas insulated switchgear （GIS） should be detected as soon as possible before they develop severely and cause final breakdown failures. This paper aims to present a GIS discharge diagnosis technique adopting gaseous decompositions. To reach this aim, needle-plate electrode and the sphere-plate electrode with metallic particles on the plate are designed to simulate two kinds of low energy discharge, namely, corona discharge and spark discharge, respectively. After sampling and analyzing the gases, different yields of gaseous by-products under different types of low energy discharge are obtained. Based on the decomposition mechanisms reported by previous researches and the experiment results, it can be concluded that S2OF10, SO2F2 , and SO2 can be used as the characteristic gas to identify low energy discharge; the increment of S2OF10 can indicate the occurrence of low energy discharges while the volume ratio between SO2F2 and SO2 can define the type of low energy discharge.