Temperature and Nitric Oxide Generation in a Pulsed Arc Discharge Plasma

Nitric oxide （NO） is increasingly being used in medical treatments of high blood pressure, acute respiratory distress syndrome and other illnesses related to the lungs. Currently a NO inhalation system consists of a gas cylinder of N2 mixed with a high concentration of NO. This arrangement is potentially risky due to the possibility of an accidental leak of NO from the cylinder. The presence of NO in the air leads to the formation of nitric dioxide （NO2）, which is toxic to the lungs. Therefore, an on-site generator of NO would be highly desirable for medical doctors to use with patients with lung disease.
To develop the NO inhalation system without a gas cylinder, which would include a high concentration of NO, NAMIHIRA et al have recently reported on the production of NO from room air using a pulsed arc discharge. In the present work, the temperature of the pulsed arc discharge plasma used to generate NO was measured to optimize the discharge condition. The results of the temperature measurements showed the temperature of the pulsed arc discharge plasma reached about 10,000 K immediately after discharge initiation and gradually decreased over tens of microseconds. In addition, it was found that NO was formed in a discharge plasma having temperatures higher than 9,000 K and a smaller input energy into the discharge plasma generates NO more efficiently than a larger one.     

Simulation and Experimental Study of Arc Column Expansion After Ignition in Low-Voltage Circuit Breakers

The dynamic process of arc pressure and corresponding arc column expansion, which is the main feature after arc ignition and has a significant effect on the breaking behaviour of low -voltage circuit breakers, is studied. By constructing a three dimensional mathematical model of air arc plasma and adopting the Control Volume Method, the parameters of arc plasma including temperature and pressure are obtained. The variations of pressure field and temperature field with time are simulated. The result indicates that there are six stages for the process of arc column expansion according to the variation of pressure in arc chamber. In the first stage, the maximal pressure locates in the region close to cathode, and in the second stage the maximal pressure shifts to the region close to the anode. In the third stage, the pressure difference between the middle of arc column and the ambient gas is very large, so the arc column begins to expand apparently. In the fourth stage, the pressure wave propagates towards both ends and the maximal pressure appears at the two ends when the pressure wave reaches both sidewalls. In the fifth stage, the pressure wave is reflected and collides in the middle of the arc chamber. In the last stage, the propagation and reflection of pressure wave will repeat several times until a steady burning state is reached. In addition, the experimental results of arc column expansion, corresponding to the arc pressure variation, are presented to verify the simulation results.     

Improvement on Diamond Nucleation Treated by Pulsed Arc Discharge Plasma

A technique of improvement on diamond nucleation based on pulsed arc discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure was developed. The pulsed arc discharge was induced respectively by nitrogen, argon and methanol gas. After the arc plasma pretreatment, a nucleation density higher than 10^10 cm^-2 may be obtained subsequently in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on a mirror-polished silicon substrate without any other mechanical treatment. The effects of the arc discharge plasma on the diamond nucleation were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and Raman spectroscopy. The enhancement of nucleation is postulated to be a result of the formation of carbonlike phase materials or nitrogenation on the substrate surface without surface defect produced by arc discharge.     

Influence of Copper Vapor on Low-Voltage Circuit Breaker Arcs During Stationary and Moving States

The influence of copper vapor on the low-voltage circuit breaker arcs is studied. A three-dimensional （3-D） magnetohydrodynamics（MHD） model of arc motion under the effect of external magnetic field is built up. By adopting the commercial computational fluid dynamics （CFD） package FLUENT based on control-volume method, the above MHD model is solved. For the mediums of air-1% Cu and air-10% Cu, the distributions of stationary temperature, pressure, electrical potential and the arc motion processes are compared with those of a pure air arc. The copper vapor diffusion process in the arc chamber and the distribution of copper vapor mass concentration are also simulated. The results shows that the copper vapor has a cooling effect on the arc plasma and can decrease the stationary voltage as well. Moreover, the presence of copper vapor can decelerate the arc motion in the quenching chambers. The maximal copper vapor concentration locates behind the arc root because of the existence of a ＂double vortex＂ near the electrodes.     

Oxygen-Free Conversion of Methane to Ethylene in a Plasma-Followed-by-Catalyst （PFC） Reactor

Oxygen-free conversion of methane to ethylene was investigated in a two-stage plasma-followed-by-catalyst （PFC） reactor. In the absence of catalyst, pulsed spark discharges and pulsed corona discharges were compared for methane conversion. The results showed that methane was mainly converted to acetylene, but pulsed spark discharges exhibited distinct advantages over the pulsed corona discharges in methane conversion. Thereby, pulsed spark discharges were employed and followed by Ag-Pd/SiO2 catalyst for achieving ethylene as a target product in the PFC reactor. Using the PFC reactor, a steady single-pass ethylene yield of 57% was obtained at a rate of methane conversion of 74%.     

The Discharge Development and Arc Modes in Vacuum at A Long Gap Distance in Vacuum Interrupters

The influence of an arc current on the discharge development and the arc modes of a single coil type axial magnetic field （AMF） electrode were investigated by a high-speed charge couple device （CCD） video camera in a long gap distance of 40 mm. The distribution of the axial magnetic field of the single coil type AMF electrode was computed. By computational results, the single coil type AMF electrode could generate higher axial magnetic flux density than the slot type AMF electrode. It was found that the single coil type AMF electrode could perform better than the slot type AMF electrode with the same designing parameters. And the development of the arc modes experienced diffuse mode, constricted but unstable mode, and constricted and stable mode with the amplitude of the arc current increasing. The correlation between the vacuum arc and the noise components of arc voltage was investigated too. The interruption capability could be known in a practical commercial vacuum interrupter by the test results in a demountable vacuum interrupter （DVC） with a electrode diameter of 50 mm and a gap distance of 40 mm.The test results could provide reference to design the high voltage vacuum interrupter adopting the single coil type AMF electrode.     

Experimental Study of the Influence of Gassing Material on Blow Open Force and Arc Motion

The study of arc behavior is important to understand the dynamic phenomena concerning the interruption process in a variety of switching devices. This paper is devoted to investigate the influence of gassing material on blow open force and arc motion. To one double- breaker model, measuring the arc current, voltage and force acting on the moving conductor, the characteristics of the ratio of the emerging blow open force over arc power FB/（ui） could be obtained. With the help of a 2-D optical fiber measurement system, to one arc chamber model, arc motion behavior was measured, too. It is demonstrated that, with the action of gassing material, FB/（ui） will increase 2.5 times, and the arc will enter the splitter plates much easier.     

Study of Metal and Ceramic Thermionic Vacuum arc Discharges

The thermionic vacuum arc （TVA） is a new type of plasma source, which generates a pure metal and ceramic vapour plasma containing ions with a directed energy. TVA discharges can be ignited in high vacuum conditions between a heated cathode （electron gun） and an anode （tungsten crucible） containing the material. The accelerated electron beam, incident on the anode, heats the crucible, together with its contents, to a high temperature. After establishing a steadystate density of the evaporating anode material atoms, and when the voltage applied is high enough, a bright discharge is ignited between the electrodes. We generated silver and Al2O3 TVA discharges in order to compare the metal and ceramic TVA discharges. The electrical and optical characteristics of silver and Al2O3 TVA discharges were analysed. The TVA is also a new technique for the deposition of thin films. The film condenses on the sample from the plasma state of the vapour phase of the anode material, generated by a TVA. We deposited silver and Al2O3 thin films onto an aluminium substrate layer-by-layer using their TVA discharges, and produced micro and/or nano-layer Ag-Al2O3 composite samples. The composite samples using scanning electron microscopy was also analysed.     

Treatment of Dyeing Wastewater by Using Positive Pulsed Corona Discharge to Water Surface

This study investigated the treatment of textile-dyeing wastewater by using an electrical discharge technique （positive pulsed corona discharge）. The high-voltage electrode was placed above the surface Of the wastewater while the ground electrode was submerged in the wastewater. The electrical discharge starting at the tip of the high voltage electrode propagated toward the surface of the wastewater, producing various oxidative radicals and ozone. Oxygen was used as the working gas instead of air to prevent nitrogen oxides from forming. The simulated wastewater was made up with amaranth, which is a kind of azo dye. The results obtained showed that the chromaticity of the wastewater was almost completely removed within an hour. The ultraviolet/visible spectra of the wastewater treated by the electrical discharge revealed that the total hydrocarbon level also decreased significantly.     

Analysis of Arc Characteristics and Flow Field in Arc Chamber of High-Voltage SF6 Auto-Expansion Circuit Breaker

A new magnetic hydro-dynamics model for nozzle arc emphasizing the interaction of arc with PTFE （polytetrafluorethylene） vapour is established based on the conservation equations. The interruption of auto-expansion circuit breaker is simulated numerically by finite element method and the influence of PTFE vapour on the arc is analysed with this model. The results reveal that the flow field inside the arc chamber is determined by the arc current, the arcing time, the nozzle arc and the clogging of its thermal boundary. The establishment of quenching pressure relies on both SF6 gas and PTFE vapour that absorbed arc energy in the nozzle. The PTFE vapour leads to an increase in the pressure of nozzle arc obviously, and a decrease in the temperature of arc. But it enhances the temperature of arc at zero current and slows down the decreasing rate of arc temperature as the current decreases.     

Role of Duty Ratio in Diamond Growth by Pulsed DC-Bias Enhanced Hot Filament Chemical Vapour Deposition

In this study, the role of the pulse duty ratio was investigated during the deposition of diamond films in a hot filament chemical vapour deposition reactor with a pulsed-tic biased substrate positively relative to the hot filaments. The voltage-current characteristics showed that the discharge current rose with the increase of biasing voltage, which was modified by the duty ratio. Before deposition, two approaches were adopted for the pre-treatment of the silicon substrates, respectively, and the substrates were scratched by diamond paste or seeded by diamond powders using the so-called ＇soft dry polished＇ technique. Diamond films were deposited under a fixed discharge power by changing the duty ratios. In the first group with scratched substrates, it was found that under a high duty ratio the diamond grew slowly with quite poor nucleation, while in the second case a high duty ratio induced a high deposition rate and good diamond qual- ity. Reactive hydrocarbon species with high energy are essential for the initial nucleation process, which is more effectively achieved at a high biasing voltage in the condition of a low duty ratio. In the film growth process, the large discharge current at a high duty ratio represents an increased concentration of electrons and reactive species as well, promoting the growth of diamond films.     

Research on a Folded Blumlein Line Using Kapton Film as Dielectrics

In this project, a Blumlein line with a folded parallel-plates configuration using Kapton film as dielectrics was investigated. The characteristic parameters of this Blumlein line were analysed theoretically. The electric field distributions under different inner radii of the folded part were simulated. The output waveforms on the match load were also simulated by means of an equivalent electric circuit. According to the results of the theoretecal analysis and simulation, a Blumlein line with the folded parallel-plates configuration with an output voltage of 500 kV, a pulse duration of 100 ns, and a characteristic impedance of 4.773Ω was designed and manufactured. The experimental results properly demonstrated the wave transmitting process in the Blumlein line, and provided the voltage waveform of 500 kV and the current waveform of 50 kA with a pulse duration of 150 ns. Some engineering problems such as the edge electric breakdown and measuring precision by a resistance divider were revealed, which must be solved in future work to produce a more compact transmission line.     

Study and Measurement of Glidarc Driven by Magnetic Field

Non-thermal plasma at atmosphere was generated through glidarc discharge driven by magnetic field and observed by using a high speed charge coupled device （CCD） and photo multiplier tube （PMT）. The arc diameter projecting in the direction of arc motion （front-viewed diameter） and the diameter projecting in the perpendicular direction of arc motion （side-viewed diameter） were measured. The effect of both the arc current and the magnetic field was analysed. The front-viewed diameter was compared with the side-viewed one. Simultaneously the electricfield intensity was measured directly and analysed by considering the effect of the external magnetic field and arc current.     

Study of Multi-Function Micro-Plasma Spraying Technology

A multi-functional micro-arc plasma spraying system was developed according to aerodynamics and plasma spray theory. The soft switch IGBT （Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor） invert technique, micro-computer control technique, convergent-divergent nozzle structure and axial powder feeding techniques have been adopted in the design of the micro-arc plasma spraying system. It is not only characterized by a small volume, a light weight, highly accurate control, high deposition efficiency and high reliability, but also has multi-functions in plasma spraying, welding and quenching. The experimental results showed that the system can produce a supersonic flame at a low power, spray Al2O3 particles at an average speed up to 430 m/s, and make nanostructured AT13 coatings with an average bonding strength of 42.7 MPa. Compared to conventional 9M plasma spraying with a higher power, the coatings with almost the same properties as those by conventional plasma spray can be deposited by multi-functional micro-arc plasma spraying with a lower power plasma arc due to an improved power supply design, spray gun structure and powder feeding method. Moreover, this system is suitable for working with thin parts and undertaking on site repairs, and as a result, the application of plasma spraying will be greatly extended.     

Dual Torch Plasma Arc Furnace for Medical Waste Treatment

In this paper, characteristics of a treatment and operated at atmospheric pressure dual torch plasma arc used for hazardous waste are studied, and also compared with those of the multi-torch plasma arc and the single torch plasma arc. The dual torch plasma arc is generated between the cathode and anode with argon as the working gas. The temperature distributions of the plasma arc are measured using a spectroscope and line pair method with the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium （LTE） for the DC arc current I=100 A and argon flow rate Q = 15 slpm. The measurements show that the temperatures of the dual torch arc plasma in the regions near the cathode, the anode and the center point are 10,000 K, 11,000 K and 9,000 K, respectively. And the high temperature region of the multi torch plasma arc is of double or much wider size than that of a conventional dual torch plasma arc and single plasma torch. Based on the preceding studies, a dual torch plasma arc furnace is developed in this study. The measured gas temperature at the center region of the argon arc is about 11,000 K for the case of I=200 A and Q=30 slpm operated in atmosphere.     

Simulations of Stimulated Raman Scattering in Low-Density Plasmas

Stimulated Raman particle-in-cell （PIC） simulations scattering （SRS） in a low-density The backward stimulated Raman plasma slab is investigated by scattering （B-SRS） dominates initially and erodes the head of the pump wave, while the forward stimulated Raman scattering （F-SRS） subsequently develops and is located at the rear part of the slab. Two-stage electron acceleration may be more efficient due to the coexistence of these two instabilities. The B-SRS plasma wave with low phase velocities can accelerate the background electrons which may be further boosted to higher energies by the F-SRS plasma wave with high phase velocities. The simulations show that the peaks of the main components in both the frequency and wave number spectra occur at the positions estimated from the phase-matching conditions.     

Transient Ablation Regime in Circuit Breakers

Nozzle wall ablation caused by high temperature electric arcs is studied in the context of high voltage SF6 circuit breakers. The simplified ablation model used in litterature has been updated to take into account the unsteady state of ablation. Ablation rate and velocity are now calculated by a kinetic model using two layers of transition, between the bulk plasma and the ablating wall. The first layer （Knudsen layer）, right by the wall, is a kinetic layer of a few mean-free path of thickness. The second layer is collision dominated and makes the transition between the kinetic layer and the plasma bulk. With this new coupled algorithm, it is now possible to calculate the temperature distribution inside the wall, as well as more accurate ablation rates.     

Synergistic Decolouration of Azo Dye by Pulsed Streamer Discharge Immobilized TiO2 Photocatalysis

Photocatalyst was prepared by immobilizing TiO2 on glass beads using the traditional sol-gel method. Ultraviolet light （UV） produced by pulsed streamer discharge was then used to induce photocatalytic activity of TiO2 photocatalyst. Decolouration efficiency of the representative azo dye （acid orange 7, AOT） was investigated using the synergistic system of pulsed streamer discharge plasma and TiO2 photocatalysis. The obtained results showed that the decolouration rate of AO7 could be increased by 16.7% under the condition of adding supported TiO2 in the pulsed streamer discharge system, compared to that in the sole pulsed streamer discharge plasma system, due to the synergistic effect of pulsed streamer discharge and TiO2 photocatalysis induced by pulsed streamer discharge. The synergistic system of pulsed streamer discharge and TiO2 photocatalyst was found to have more reactive radicals for degradation of organic compounds in water.     

Degradation of Dye Wastewater by Pulsed High-Voltage Discharge Combined with Spent Tea Leaves

Degradation of methylene blue （MB） was performed using the pulsed discharge process （PDP） combined with spent tea leaves （STLs）. The effects of STL dosage, concentration of initial solution, and pH were analyzed in the combined treatment. Results showed that the combined treatment was effective for dye wastewater degradation; when the dosage of STLs was 3.2 g/L, the degradation efficiency reached 90% after 15 rain treatment, and STLs showed a good repeatability. The degradation rate decreased with increasing initial MB concentration but not related to the solution pH in the combined treatment. Fourier-transform infrared spectra and N2 adsorption suggested that the number of acidic and basic groups in the STL surface increased after the treatment, but the surface area and pore volume remained unchanged.     

Degradation of Acid Orange 7 Dye in Two Hybrid Plasma Discharge Reactors

To get an optimized pulsed electrical plasma discharge reactor and to increase the energy utilization efficiency in the removal of pollutants, two hybrid plasma discharge reactors were designed and optimized. The reactors were compared via the discharge characteristics, energy transfer efficiency, the yields of the active species and the energy utilization in dye wastewater degradation. The results showed that under the same AC input power, the characteristics of the discharge waveform of the point-to-plate reactor were better. Under the same AC input power, the two reactors both had almost the same peak voltage of 22 kV. The peak current of the point-to-plate reactor was 146 A, while that of the wire-to-cylinder reactor was only 48.8 A. The peak powers of the point-to-plate reactor and the wire-to-cylinder reactor were 1.38 MW and 1.01 MW, respectively. The energy per pulse of the point-to-plate reactor was 0.2221 J, which was about 29.4% higher than that of the wire-to-cylinder reactor （0.1716 J）. To remove 50% Acid Orange 7 （AO7）, the energy utilizations of the point-to-plate reactor and the wire- to-cylinder reactor were 1.02×10^-9 mol/L and 0.61×10^-9 mol/L, respectively. In the point-to- plate reactor, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in pure water was 3.6 mmol/L after 40 min of discharge, which was higher than that of the wire-to-cylinder reactor （2.5 mmol/L）. The concentration of liquid phase ozone in the point-to-plate reactor （5.7×10^-2 mmol/L） was about 26.7% higher than that in the wire-to-cylinder reactor （4.5×10^-2 mmol/L）. The analysis results of the variance showed that the type of reactor and reaction time had significant impacts on the yields of the hydrogen peroxide and ozone. The main degradation intermediates of AO7 identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry （GCMS） were acetic acid, maleic anhydride, p- benzoquinone, phenol, benzoic acid, phthalic anhydride, coumarin and 2-naphthol. Proposed degradation pathways were elucidated in light of the ana