Controlling the breakdown delay time in pulsed gas discharge

In experiment and 2D3V PIC MCC simulations, the breakdown development in a pulsed discharge in helium is studied for U=3.2 kV and 10 kV and P=100 Torr. The breakdown process is found to have a stochastic nature, and the electron avalanche develops in different experimental and simulation runs with time delays ranging from 0.3 to 8 μs. Nevertheless our experiments demonstrate that the breakdown delay time distribution can be controlled with a change of the pulse discharge frequency. The simulation results show that the breakdown process can be distinguished in three stages with a) the ionization by seed electrons, b) the ions drift to the cathode and c) the enhanced ionization within the cathode sheath by the electrons emitted from the cathode. The effects of variation of seed electron concentrations, voltage rise times, voltage amplitudes and ion-electron emission coefficients on the breakdown development in the pulsed gas discharge are reported.

Elastic breakdown via multi-core high frequency discharge for lean-burn ignition

An advanced ignition technique is developed to achieve multi-event breakdown and multi-site ignition using a single coil for ignition quality improvements. The igniter enables a unique elastic breakdown process embracing a series of high-frequency discharge events at the spark gap. The equivalent electric circuits and current/voltage equations are identified and verified for the first time to explain the working principle that governs such an elastic breakdown process. Benchmarking tests are first performed to compare the elastic breakdown ignition with the conventional and advanced multi-electrode ignition systems. The elastic breakdown and spark events are thereafter analyzed through current and voltage measurements and high-speed imaging techniques. Finally, ignition tests in combustion chambers are performed to examine the effects on the ignition process in comparison with conventional coil-based ignition systems. The experiments show that, the elastic breakdown ignition can distribute multiple high-frequency breakdown events at all electrode pairs of a multi-electrode sparkplug while using only one ignition coil, thereby offering significant cost saving advantage and packaging practicability.

Investigation on Charge Transport in Polypropylene Film under High Electric Field by Experiments and Simulation

The charge transport in polypropylene was studied under DC electric fields at different temperatures. By the experimental measurement and simulation of the BCT model, we studied conduction currents, breakdown strength, and space charge distribution. In particular, the conduction characteristics under high temperature and high field, especially the conduction characteristics before the breakdown, were studied by systematic experiments, and the conduction characteristics and the breakdown mechanism were further studied by simulation. The results show that in the process of measuring conduction currents until breakdown, both high temperature and high electric field will promote charge transport. However, the free volume will increase at high temperature, which will easily lead to faster charge transport and breakdown. In the breakdown process at different temperatures, there are different breakdown mechanisms. At 20–60 °C, the electric breakdown process has mainly occurred in polypropylene film, and the breakdown strength is almost unchanged. At 80 °C, electric breakdown and thermal breakdown act together, and the charge transport is faster, and the breakdown field becomes smaller. Finally, we conclude that thermal stress plays a very important role in charge transport. In a high-temperature environment, the volume expansion of polypropylene will promote charge transport, and the insulation of polypropylene capacitor films will be damaged.

Research on the influence of the discharge breakdown process on the crater formation during EDM

PurposeThis paper aims to study the breakdown, oscillation and vanishing of the discharge channel and its influence on crater formation with simulation and experimental methods. The experiment results verified the effect of the oscillating characteristics of the discharge channel on the shape of the crater.Design/methodology/approachA mathematical model that considers the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and the discharge channel oscillation was established. The micro process of discharging based on magnetic-fluid coupling during electrical discharge machining (EDM) was simulated. The breakdown, oscillation and vanishing stage of the discharge channel were analyzed, and the crater after machining was obtained. Finally, a single-pulse discharge experiment during EDM was conducted to verify the simulation model.FindingsDuring the breakdown of the discharge channel, the electrons move towards the center of the discharge channel. The electrons at the end diverge due to the action of water resistance, making the discharge channel appear wide at both ends and narrow in the middle, showing the pinch effect. Due to the mutual attraction of electrons and positive ions in the channel, the transverse oscillation of the discharge channel is shown on the micro level. Therefore, the position of the discharge point on the workpiece changes. The longitudinal oscillation in the discharge channel causes the molten pool on the workpiece to be ejected due to the changing pressure. The experimental results show that the shape of the crater is similar to that in the simulation, which verifies the correctness of the simulation results and also proves that the crater generated by the single pulse discharge is essentially the result of the interaction between transverse wave and longitudinal wave.Originality/valueIn this paper, the simulation of the discharge breakdown process in EDM was carried out, and a new mathematical model that considers the MHD and the discharge channel oscillation was established. Based on the MHD module, the discharge breakdown, oscillation and vanishing stages were simulated, and the velocity field and pressure field in the discharge area were obtained.