Search Results
Ablation-dominated arcs in CO2 atmosphere—Part I: Temperature determination near current zero
2020, Methling, Ralf, Khakpour, Alireza, Götte, Nicolas, Uhrlandt, Dirk
Wall-stabilized arcs dominated by nozzle–ablation are key elements of self-blast circuit breakers. In the present study, high-current arcs were investigated using a model circuit breaker (MCB) in CO2 as a gas alternative to SF6 (gas sulfur hexafluoride) and in addition a long polytetrafluoroethylene nozzle under ambient conditions for stronger ablation. The assets of different methods for optical investigation were demonstrated, e.g., high-speed imaging with channel filters and optical emission spectroscopy. Particularly the phase near current zero (CZ) crossing was studied in two steps. In the first step using high-speed cameras, radial temperature profiles have been determined until 0.4 ms before CZ in the nozzle. Broad temperature profiles with a maximum of 9400 K have been obtained from analysis of fluorine lines. In the second step, the spectroscopic sensitivity was increased using an intensified CCD camera, allowing single-shot measurements until few microseconds before CZ in the MCB. Ionic carbon and atomic oxygen emission were analyzed using absolute intensities and normal maximum. The arc was constricted and the maximum temperature decreased from > 18,000 K at 0.3 ms to about 11,000 K at 0.010 ms before CZ. The arc plasma needs about 0.5–1.0 ms after both the ignition phase and the current zero crossing to be completely dominated by the ablated wall material. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Unified modelling of TIG microarcs with evaporation from copper anode
2021, Baeva, Margarita, Methling, Ralf, Uhrlandt, Dirk
A previously developed unified model of a tungsten-inert gas (TIG) microarc has been extended to take into account the melting of the anode made of copper and the release of copper atoms due to its evaporation. The copper atoms enter the plasma to become excited and ionized. The presence of copper atoms and ions can strongly change the plasma parameters. The extended unified model further includes excited states of copper and collisional and radiative processes between them. Predictions of the parameters of the microarc plasma in the presence of copper species are presented and discussed.
First‐mode of negative streamers: Inception at liquid/solid interfaces
2021, Ariza, David, Beroual, Abderrahmane, Methling, Ralf, Gortschakow, Sergey, Chamorro, Harold R.
An experimental study of the inception of the first-mode negative streamer at liquid/solid interfaces is presented in this article. The study is performed with a point-plane configuration under square high voltage pulses. The electrode configuration is immersed in mineral oil and the liquid/solid interface is assembled in contact with the point electrode or in its vicinity. Four polymers and two impregnated papers have been tested as solids of the liquid/solid interface. Thus, it is possible to compare the influence of different parameter of the solid and the interface on the streamer inception. For example: Permittivity, solid surface roughness, chemical composition, etc. It has been observed that streamer inception voltages at interfaces with solids of higher permittivity to that of the mineral oil are statistically similar. Additionally, streamer inception voltages of streamer initiated free in the oil (no liquid/solid interface) are similar to that of the inception voltage of cases with solids with high permittivity. In contrast, the inception voltage of streamers initiated at permittivity matched interfaces are shown to be highest of the cases. The streamer inception voltage is also studied for different distances between the liquid/solid interface and the point electrode with a permittivity matched interface. The results show a dependency of the inception voltage and the distance between the point electrode and the interface. Finally, an analysis of the observation is performed to show that the Townsend-Meek criterion cannot predict the obtained results.
Ablation-dominated arcs in CO2 atmosphere—Part II: Molecule emission and absorption
2020, Methling, Ralf, Götte, Nicolas, Uhrlandt, Dirk
Molecule radiation can be used as a tool to study colder regions in switching arc plasmas like arc fringes in contact to walls and ranges around current zero (CZ). This is demonstrated in the present study for the first time for the case of ablation-dominated high-current arcs as key elements of self-blast circuit breakers. The arc in a model circuit breaker (MCB) in CO2 with and an arc in a long nozzle under ambient conditions with peak currents between 5 and 10 kA were studied by emission and absorption spectroscopy in the visible spectral range. The nozzle material was polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in both cases. Imaging spectroscopy was carried out either with high-speed cameras or with intensified CCD cameras. A pulsed high-intensity Xe lamp was applied as a background radiator for the broad-band absorption spectroscopy. Emission of Swan bands from carbon dimers was observed at the edge of nozzles only or across the whole nozzle radius with highest intensity in the arc center, depending on current and nozzle geometry. Furthermore, absorption of C2 Swan bands and CuF bands were found with the arc plasma serving as background radiator. After CZ, only CuF was detected in absorption experiments. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Positive streamers: inception and propagation along mineral-oil/solid interfaces
2020, Ariza, David, Hollertz, Rebecca, Methling, Ralf, Gortschakow, Sergey
This paper presents an experimental characterization of the prebreakdown phenomena in liquid/solid interfaces. The characterization is devoted to the 2nd mode positive streamers initiated and propagated along interfaces of mineral-oil and solids with different chemical composition and physical properties. Polymers of low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and papers made of kraft paper and a kraft fibril paper (made from cellulosic micro and nano fibrils), lignin-free paper and paper with high lignin content (referred to as k107 kraft paper) are used as the solid to study their influence on the streamer inception and propagation. The streamers are initiated at the interface by applying steps of voltage to a point-plane electrode arrangement with a solid (dielectric barrier) into the gap. The solid is placed diagonal to the oil gap and near to the point electrode. Shadowgraphs, charge and light intensity recordings are obtained during the inception and propagation of the streamers. Thus, estimations of the streamer length, velocity, current and average charge, are also presented. A time delay has been observed before the initiation of the streamer. This delay is probably correlated to the initiation process and formation of the gaseous phase of the streamer near to the interface. The threshold propagation voltage of the 2nd mode streamers at mineral-oil/solid interfaces is shown to be independent of the interface. However, the inception voltage is highly influenced by the interface. Additionally, the observed characteristics of streamers propagation (e.g. current, length, velocity, etc) along the tested interfaces cannot be fully explained by a capacitive coupling effect (permittivity mismatch). This open a discussion for the possibility that properties of the solid such as chemical composition, wettability and surface roughness can influence the streamer propagation.
Lichtquellen für nachhaltige Beleuchtungskonzepte : Schlussbericht zum Teilprojekt 11 im Verbundprojekt: Verlust der Nacht: Ursachen und Folgen künstlicher Beleuchtung für Umwelt, Natur und Mensch ; Projektlaufzeit: 01.05.2010 - 31.12.2013
2014, Uhrlandt, Dirk, Franke, Steffen, Methling, Ralf, Schöpp, Heinz, Barkowski, Karina, Zalach, Jacob
[no abstract available]
Plasma-based VAD process for multiply doped glass powders and high-performance fiber preforms with outstanding homogeneity
2020, Trautvetter, Tom, Schäfer, Jan, Benzine, Omar, Methling, Ralf, Baierl, Hardy, Reichel, Volker, Dellith, Jan, Köpp, Daniel, Hempel, Frank, Stankov, Marjan, Baeva, Margarita, Foest, Rüdiger, Wondraczek, Lothar, Wondraczek, Katrin, Bartelt, Hartmut
An innovative approach using the vapor axial deposition (VAD), for the preparation of silica-based high-power fiber laser preforms, is described in this study. The VAD uses a plasma deposition system operating at atmospheric pressure, fed by a single, chemically adapted solution containing precursors of laser-active dopants (e.g., Yb2O3), glass-modifier species (e.g., Al2O3), and the silica matrix. The approach enables simultaneous doping with multiple optically active species and overcomes some of the current technological limitations encountered with well-established fiber preform technologies in terms of dopant distribution, doping levels, and achievable active core diameter. The deposition of co-doped silica with outstanding homogeneity is proven by Raman spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis. Yb2O3 concentrations are realized up to 0.3 mol% in SiO2, with simultaneous doping of 3 mol% of Al2O3.
Properties of vacuum arcs generated by switching RMF contacts at different ignition positions
2020, Gortschakow, Sergey, Franke, Steffen, Methling, Ralf, Gonzalez, Diego, Lawall, Andreas, Taylor, Erik D., Graskowski, Frank
The influence of initiation behavior of the drawn arc on the arc motion, on arc characteristics during the active phase, as well as on the post-arc parameters, was studied. The study was focused on arc dynamics, determination of the anode surface temperature after current interruption, and diagnostics of metal vapor density after current zero crossing. Different optical diagnostics, namely high-speed camera video enhanced by narrow-band optical filters, near infrared spectroscopy, and optical absorption spectroscopy was applied. The initiation behavior of the drawn arc had a clear influence on arc parameters. Higher local electrode temperature occurs in case of the electrodes with ignition point near the outer electrode boundary. This further causes an enhanced density of chromium vapor, even in cases with lower arc duration. The results of this study are important for design development of switching RMF contacts for future green energy applications. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.