Multiscale Finite Element Modeling of Arc Dynamics in a DC Plasma Torch

The dynamics of the electric arc inside a direct current non-transferred arc plasma torch are simulated using a three-dimensional, transient, equilibrium model. The fluid and electromagnetic equations are solved numerically in a fully coupled approach by a multiscale finite element method. Simulations of a torch operating with argon and argon–hydrogen under different operating conditions are presented. The model is able to predict the operation of the torch in steady and takeover modes without any further assumption on the reattachment process except for the use of an artificially high electrical conductivity near the electrodes, needed because of the equilibrium assumption. The results obtained indicate that the reattachment process in these operating modes may be driven by the movement of the arc rather than by a breakdown-like process. It is also found that, for a torch operating in these modes and using straight gas injection, the arc will tend to re-attach to the opposite side of its original attachment. This phenomenon seems to be produced by a net angular momentum on the arc due to the imbalance between magnetic and fluid drag forces.     

Carbon linear chains inside multiwalled nanotubes

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been deposited on graphite cathodes by using an arc discharge technique in He atmosphere, with the insertion of a catalytic Ni-Cr mixture as well as without catalysers. The topography of such deposition has been investigated by SEM, while a parallel micro-Raman study has revealed, in particular regions of the deposited cathodes, strong bands in the range 1780-1860 cm⁻¹, assignable to linear carbon chains inside the nanotubes. The variation of intensity, frequency and bandwidth of such bands has been investigated, in relation with the spectral characters of the host multiwalled carbon nanotube. In the cathode deposited without catalyst a quite ordered configuration of multiwalled carbon nanotubes is obtained in the central zone, while the maximum concentration of linear carbon chains is found in a ring shaped zone just inside the border. In sample obtained with catalyst the deposited multiwalled carbon nanotubes appear always more disordered, and a remarkable concentration of carbon chains appears in some zones, with a more casual distribution.     

A novel rigid wheel for agricultural machinery applicable to paddy field with muddy soil

The working performance of agricultural machinery is largely determined by the walking performance of the wheel when driving in complex unstructured soil. However, the driving performance of existing wheels is not satisfactory for paddy field with muddy soil. The purpose of the current study is therefore to propose a novel rigid wheel for agricultural machinery which is applicable to paddy field with muddy soil. Firstly, a novel arc edge shaped wheel was designed based on the principles of mechanics on the ground. Then the driving performance of this arc edge shaped wheel was evaluated using FE modeling of interaction between rigid wheel and soil. Finally, the structure originally designed arc edge shaped wheel was improved according to FE modeling results, and this improved design was further evaluated by both FE simulation and prototype experiments. Both FE modeling and experimental results indicate that the improved arc edge shaped wheel proposed in this study has a good driving performance with regarding to wheel sinkage and soil reaction force. The proposed arc edge shaped wheel could be used as an effective component of rice harvester for paddy field with muddy soil.     

Large 2-transitive arcs

The projective planes of order n with a collineation group acting 2-transitively on an arc of length v, with n>v?n/2, are investigated and several new examples are provided.     

Study of uniformity of plasmas produced in a wall‐stabilized arc

In this contribution the plasma of an arc discharge in a mixture of helium and argon is studied. The gas mixture is introduced uniformly along the arc column between each of the stabilizing plates. From the measured lateral distribution of radiation (HeI, HI, ArI, ArII, NI, FI line intensity and width measurements), after Abel inversion, the radial temperature distributions were obtained at various positions of the arc column. Beside the expected radial temperature gradients, a distinct temperature gradient along the arc column was found.     

An easy applicable method for the design of asymmetrical finline and slotline tapers

In this paper, some utilities for the developement of asymmetrical circular arc tapes are described. Basing on a polygon-approximation of characteristic impedance a method for to determine the geometrical parameters of the taper is explained. The applicability of the method presented here is proved by extensive measurements.     

A new arc algorithm for unconstrained optimization

The gradient path of a real valued differentiable function is given by the solution of a system of differential equations. For a quadratic function the above equations are linear, resulting in a closed form solution. A quasi-Newton type algorithm for minimizing ann-dimensional differentiable function is presented. Each stage of the algorithm consists of a search along an arc corresponding to some local quadratic approximation of the function being minimized. The algorithm uses a matrix approximating the Hessian in order to represent the arc. This matrix is updated each stage and is stored in its Cholesky product form. This simplifies the representation of the arc and the updating process. Quadratic termination properties of the algorithm are discussed as well as its global convergence for a general continuously differentiable function. Numerical experiments indicating the efficiency of the algorithm are presented.     

电弧-AES法测定金属硅中12个杂质元素

用直流电弧粉末法在氩气气氛中摄谱，消除硅带干扰，采用铍为内标，直接测定金属硅中12个杂质元素，此法较化学光谱法具有操作简便、快速，试剂耗量少；较化学法和分光光度法更加优越，能同时测定12个元素，更能反映金属硅的真实含量。     

Experimental Studies of Demixing in Ar–N Plasmas Produced in a Wall‐Stabilized Arc

Plasmas produced in a wall stabilized arc in mixtures of argon and nitrogen, containing different amounts of these elements have been studied. The plasma composition turns out to be very important to the process of demixing in radial direction. In plasmas containing mainly argon, the argon mass fraction reveals a local minimum on the arc axis while in plasmas containing large amount of nitrogen the argon mass fraction have a maximum on the arc axis. The increase of nitrogen amount in Ar–N plasma influences the radial temperature profile causing a decrease of the temperature in plasma layers close to the stabilizing wall and an increase on the axis of plasma column. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)