A nanosecond pulsed discharge circuit model for engine applications

Non-equilibrium plasma discharges in spark gaps have been an increasingly studied method for alleviating cycle to cycle variation in lean and dilute combustion environments. However, ignition models that account for streamer propagation, cathode fall, and transmission line amplification over nanosecond time scales have so far not been developed. The present study develops such a model, with emphasis on the energy delivered from circuit to cylinder. Key pieces of the relevant physics and chemistry are summarized, simplified, and systematically coupled to one another. The set of parameters is limited to a handful of key observables and modeled using Modelica. Results show non-trivial behavior in the energy delivery characteristics of such discharges with important implications for ignition.

Influence of Silicone Rubber Coating on the Characteristics of Surface Streamer Discharge

A pollution flashover along an insulation surface—a catastrophic accident in electrical power system—threatens the safe and reliable operation of a power grid. Silicone rubber coatings are applied to the surfaces of other insulation materials in order to improve the pollution flashover voltage of the insulation structure. It is generally believed that the hydrophobicity of the silicone rubber coating is key to blocking the physical process of pollution flashover, which prevents the formation of continuously wet pollution areas. However, it is unclear whether silicone rubber coating can suppress the generation of pre-discharges such as corona discharge and streamer discharge. In this research, the influence of silicone rubber coating on the characteristics of surface streamer discharge was researched in-depth. The streamer ‘stability’ propagation fields of the polymer are lower than that of the polymer with silicone rubber coating. The velocities of the streamer propagation along the polymer are higher than those along the polymer with silicone rubber coating. This indicates that the surface properties of the polymer with the silicone rubber coating are less favorable for streamer propagation than those of the polymer.

Oscillation of Gas Density in the Gas Filament Remained by a Streamer Discharge in Water

When a streamer discharge occurs in water, several luminous plasma filaments will be created in the water during the discharge. After the discharge, these plasma filaments turn into neutral gas phase and remain in water. The gas filament remained in water is a good object for studying the basic processes involved in the streamer propagation. We investigated the evolution of the gas filaments remained in water after a streamer discharge at different experimental conditions. We recorded eight successive images during one discharge pulse. The density of gas in the gas filament and the radius of the gas filament were measured from the obtained images. We found that the radius of the gas filament and the density of gas in the gas filament are almost not influenced by the impulse voltage within the range studied. While the conductivity of water has strong effect on the radius of the gas filament and the density of gas in the gas filament. The radius of the gas filament becomes thicker and expands faster as the conductivity of water becomes larger. The density of gas in the gas filament remained in water oscillates between 400 to 800 kg/m3 with an duration of ~10 μs during the expansion period of 4–39 μs after the HV pulse starts. Both the impulse voltage and the conductivity of water do not affect the oscillation duration of the density of gas in the gas filament.

Finite Element Based Comparative Analysis of Positive Streamers in Multi Dispersed Nanoparticle Based Transformer Oil

The dispersion of dissimilar nanoparticles (NPs) in transformer oil (TO) has a major impact on fast propagating positive streamers. This work investigates the positive streamer dynamics in TO modified by dispersing both Fe3O4 and Al2O3 NPs at a homogenous concentration. The hydrodynamic drift diffusion model of positive streamer evolution and propagation are solved using the commercial software package COMSOL Multiphysics. The impact of multiple NPs (MNPs) has been analysed for streamer propagation, electric field intensity, electron density, and space charge density of modified TO. MNPs successfully reduce streamer propagation velocity by 50%, 17%, and 37.5% comparing to pure oil, Fe3O4 based nanodielectric fluids (NDFs), and Al2O3 based NDFs, respectively. The spatial distribution of electron density reveals the loss of electrons from the ionization region until the saturation of NPs. A comparative study demonstrates that MNPs significantly alter the streamer dynamics and augment the dielectric strength of TO compared to individual NPs.

STREAMER MODE OF POSITIVE CORONA

One cycle of quasi-periodic streamer mode of positive corona at constant voltage is considered. The calculation results for the streamer propagation at a voltage near to threshold of the streamer mode and for the stage of partial release of the gap from the ions are presented. The simplified model of ionization development near the anode before the start of the next streamer is considered and it is estimated the ionized space size, from which the streamer propagation begins.

A Computational Study of the Thermodynamic Conditions Leading to Autoignition in Nanosecond Pulsed Discharges

Nanosecond pulsed discharges have attracted the attention of engine manufacturers due to the possibility of attaining distributed ignition sites that accelerate burn rates while resulting in very little electrode erosion . Multidimensional modeling tools currently capture the electrical structure of such discharges accurately, but resolving the chemical structure remains a challenging problem owing to the disparity of time-scales in streamer propagation (nanoseconds) and ignition phenomena (microseconds). The purpose of this study is to extend multidimensional results towards resolving the chemical structure in the wake of streamers (or the afterglow) by using a batch reactor model. This can afford the use of very detailed chemical kinetic information. The full non-equilibrium nature of the electrons is taken into account, along with fast gas heating, shock wave propagation, and thermal diffusion. The results shed light on ignition phenomena brought about by such discharges.