Fir tree root forms are one way to retain turbine blades in turbine disks. These features are ruled surfaces that span the entire thickness of the disk and are usually machined by broaching. With increasing use of new heat resistant and difficult-to-machine materials, mechanical machining methods exhibit severe problems with tool wear and surface integrity. To mitigate these problems, thermal material removal processes such as Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM) are being considered in the aerospace industry. Developments in turbine design have led to a root form geometry in the form of an arc across the thickness of the disk in order to decrease the contact stress by increasing the contact area between blade and disk. A curved surface such as this cannot be produced by conventional WEDM as it is not a ruled surface. A novel WEDM process is being developed where an arc shaped curve is formed from an axially moving wire to allow for the production of such curved surfaces. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Turbine blades are attached to turbine disks with specially shaped, straight slots called Fir Tree Root Forms (FTRF) that can be cut with broaching tools. Broaches wear out quickly because the disk is made of very difficult to cut material and the aerospace industry is starting to use Wire Electric Discharge Machining (WEDM), instead of broaching, to cut these slots since it can easily cut the material used. New turbine disk designs have curved slots, which can not be cut with a straight broach or wire, and a new process is therefore being developed which uses an arc-shaped wire to cut the desired curved shapes.

Esta dissertação descreve um experimento de Townsend pulsado cuja finalidade foi obter experimentalmente parâmetros de transporte de elétrons em gases, em particular em nitrogênio e isobutano, em uma faixa de campo elétrico reduzido entre 130 Td e 210 Td. Os parâmetros de transporte obtidos foram a velocidade média do centro de massa da nuvem eletrônica, a taxa de ionização e o coeficiente de ionização (primeiro coeficiente de Townsend). Essas grandezas foram determinadas a partir da análise do sinal eletrônico induzido pelos elétrons em deslocamento entre dois eletrodos de placas paralelas. Para efetuar essa análise, foi desenvolvido um modelo que relaciona a dinâmica dos elétrons no meio gasoso com o sinal induzido. Esse modelo permitiu a dedução de uma função explícita do tempo e de parâmetros relacionados com os parâmetros físicos, que foram estimados por meio do ajuste da função aos resultados experimentais pelo método dos mínimos quadrados. Além do método de análise, este trabalho descreve um código computacional de aquisição e controle, especialmente desenvolvido para integrar as diversas operações de controle instrumental e aquisição de dados. Foram realizadas várias séries de medições nas mesmas condições e verificou-se a repetitibilidade dos resultados. Os parâmetros de transporte em nitrogênio reproduziram os resultados da literatura e de cálculos teóricos dentro dos limites de erro dos resultados experimentais. No caso do isobutano, cujos parâmetros de transporte em elétrons são escassos na literatura, verificou-se que a estimativa do coeficiente de ionização é consistente com os resultados da literatura baseados em medições em um intervalo de campo elétrico reduzido mais elevado. / This thesis describes a pulsed Townsend experiment whose purpose was to obtain experimentally the transport parameters of electron in gases, particularly nitrogen and isobutane, within a range of reduced electric field between 130 Td and 210 Td. The transport parameters obtained were the average speed of center of mass of the electron cloud, the ionization rate and ionization coefficient (first Townsend coefficient). These quantities were obtained from the analysis of the electronic signal induced by electrons moving between two parallel plate electrodes. To perform this analysis, we developed a model that relates the dynamics of electrons in gaseous medium with the induced signal. This model allowed the deduction of an explicit function of time and parameters related to the physical parameters, which were estimated by fitting the function to the experimental results by the method of least squares. Besides the method of analysis, this paper describes a computer program especially designed to integrate the various processes of instrumental control and data acquisition. We performed several sets of measurements under the same conditions and verified the repeatability of results. The transport parameters in nitrogen reproduced the results of the literature and theoretical calculations within the error limits of the experimental results. In the case of isobutane, whose electron transport parameters have been poorly studied, it was found that the estimation of ionization coefficient agrees well with the literature results based on measurements in a range of higher reduced electric field.

Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo do transporte de partículas em um plasma, confinado em um campo magnético uniforme, devido às ondas eletrostáticas de deriva. O modelo adotado consiste em descrever o movimento do centro de guia de uma partícula no campo magnético perpendicular a um campo elétrico radial perturbado pelas ondas de deriva. Usamos uma descrição Hamiltoniana para o movimento dos centros de guia. A velocidade de deriva produzida pelo campo elétrico radial é representada pela parte integrável da Hamiltoniana e a esta foram adicionadas perturbações periódicas representando as flutuações do campo elétrico associadas às ondas de deriva. Assim, obtemos órbitas caóticas que determinam o transporte radial das partículas. Apresentamos, para várias condições de equilíbrio, a variação do transporte radial de partículas com a amplitude da perturbação. Utilizamos dados experimentais, sobre a turbulência eletrostática no tokamak TBR-1, para verificar a validade do modelo e a importância das ondas de deriva no transporte radial das partículas. Comparamos os valores do coeficiente de difusão experimental com os do modelo e obtivemos os resultados com a mesma ordem de grandeza. / In this work we have studied the transport of particles in a magnetically confined plasma, due to electrostatic drift waves. The adopted model describes the trajectory of the guiding center of a particle in a uniform magnetic field perpendicular to a radial electric field perturbed by drift waves. We have used the Hamiltonian description for the guiding center trajectory. The drift produced by the radial electric field is represented by the integrable part of the Hamiltonian, while the other part contains periodic perturbations representing the fluctuations of the electric field associated to the drift waves. In this way we obtain chaotic orbits that determine the particles radial transport. For several balance conditions, we present the variation of the radial transport of particles with the amplitude of the perturbation. V/e have used the experimental data of the electrostatic turbulence measured in TBR-1 tokamak to verify, the validity of the model and the importance of the drift waves in the particles radial transport. We have also compared the values of the experimental diffusion coefficient with those provided by using the model, obtaining results with the same order of magnitude.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Physics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / Beyond conventional intercalation chemistry, reaction of lithium with sulphur and oxygen (so-called “Li-air” batteries) have the potential to provide 2 to 5 times the energy density of current Li-ion battery systems. However, both Li/S and Li/O2 systems suffer from cycling performance issues that impede their commercial applications: Li/O2 cycling is limited by electrolyte decomposition and large cell polarization; Li/S suffers from the low conductivity of S and the solubility of intermediary polysulfide species during cycling. It has been reported that Se and mixed SexSy represent an attractive new class of cathode materials with promising electrochemical performance in reactions with both Li and Na ions. Notably, unlike existing Li/S batteries that only operate at high temperature, these new Se and Li/SexSy electrodes are capable of room temperature cycling. Initially, stabilities of insoluble discharge products of oxygen and sulphur in the Li-S and Li-O2 batteries were investigated using density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation, and these were deduced from their structural, electronic and mechanical properties. The structural properties are well reproduced and agree to within 3% with the available experimental data. Li2S, Li2O and Li2O2 and Li2S2 structures all have negative heats of formations indicating that they are stable, however, that of Li2S2 structure was relatively high compared to others. Calculated phonon dispersion and elastic properties revealed that Li2O, Li2S and Li2O2 structures are mechanically stable and great agreement with experimental work. The Li2S2 structure displayed soft modes associated mainly with sulphur atoms vibrations in the a-b plane, hence it is not mechanically stable in agreement with the negative C13. Stable Li2S2 polymorphs were extracted from soft modes of calculated phonon dispersions along the gamma direction in the Brillioun zone. Temperature is known to have a significant impact on the performance, safety, and cycle lifetime of lithium-ion batteries (LiB). In order to explore properties of discharge products associated with Li/S and Li/Se batteries at different temperatures, molecular dynamics and cluster expansion methods were employed. The former was achieved by firstly deriving empirical interatomic potentials of Li2S and Li2Se which were fitted to experimental and DFT calculated data. The potentials were validated against available experimental and calculated structure, elastic properties and phonon spectra. In addition, complex high temperature transformations and melting of Li2S and Li2Se were reproduced, as deduced from molecular dynamics simulations. Both Li2S and Li2Se were found to withstand high temperatures, up to 1250K each which is a desirable in future advanced battery technologies. Furthermore, cluster expansion and Monte-Carlo simulations were employed to determine phase changes and high temperature properties of mixed Li2S-Se. The former generated 42 new stable multi-component Li2S-Se structures and ranked metastable structures by enthalpy of formation. Monte Carlo simulations produced thermodynamic properties of Li2S-Se system for the entire range of Se concentrations obtained from cluster expansion and it demonstrated that Li2S-Se is a phase separating system at 0K but changes to mixed system at approximately 350K which was confirmed by constructed by phase diagram of Li2S-Se system. It was finally demonstrated that molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations techniques yield consistent results on phase separation and high temperature behavior of Li2S-Se at 50% of sulphur and selenium.

No description available.

This thesis is on the topic of investigation of the characteristics of DC Glow Discharge plasmas. Emphasis is given on characterizing the plasma electron density. The methods of generating and detecting THz pulses are described. THz transmission spectroscopy and plasma emission spectroscopy is examined. Transmission spectrum is taken for Air, gaseous Nitrogen and Argon plasmas. Moreover, emission spectrum of Air, N2 and Ar plasma analysis were done respectively. It was found that the transmission of terahertz pulses through nitrogen plasma was considerably affected compared to that of the argon plasma. Initially Drude model theory of electron conduction is employed to analyze the plasma density.

Διηλεκτρικά υγρά (έλαια) χρησιμοποιούνται ευρέως για τη μόνωση κύριων τμημάτων του εξοπλισμού υψηλών τάσεων. Ειδικά τα φυτικά έλαια εμφανίζουν αυξανόμενο ενδιαφέρον έναντι των ορυκτών ελαίων, λόγω των ιδιαίτερων φυσικοχημικών χαρακτηριστικών τους (π.χ. υψηλότερη διηλεκτρική αντοχή, βιοδιάσπαση κτλ). Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία, πραγματοποιήθηκε μελέτη ηλεκτρικών φαινομένων και φαινομένων οπτικής εκπομπής κατά τη διάρκεια καταπόνησης φυτικού ελαίου FR3TM σε ανομοιογενές ηλεκτρικό πεδίο. Συγκεκριμένα, χρησιμοποιήθηκε διαμόρφωση ηλεκτροδίων ακίδας-πλάκας (1 cm και 2 cm) και εφαρμόστηκε τυποποιημένη διακοπτική κρουστική υψηλή τάση. Μεταξύ άλλων, εξήχθησαν συμπεράσματα σχετικά με τη φάση προεκκένωσης εντός του ελαίου υποβαλλόμενου σε αυτό το ανομοιογενές πεδίο. Αυτά εμφανίζουν πρακτικό ενδιαφέρον αφού στον εξοπλισμό υψηλών τάσεων τα διάκενα είναι ομοιόμορφα σε λίγες μόνο περιπτώσεις. Η όλη πειραματική εργασία εκτελέσθηκε στο Εργαστήριο Υψηλών Τάσεων του Τμήματος Ηλεκτρολόγων Μηχανικών και Τεχνολογίας Υπολογιστών της Πολυτεχνικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών. / Dielectric liquids (oils) are widely used for the insulation of main parts of high voltage equipment. Especially, vegetable oils have increasing interest compared to mineral oils, due to their particular physicochemical features (e.g. higher dielectric strength, biodegradability etc). In the present diploma thesis, a study of electrical and optical emission effects was realized during the stressing of vegetable oil FR3TM in an inhomogeneous electric field. More specific, point-to-plane electrode configuration was used (1 cm and 2 cm) and standard switching high voltage was applied. Among other results, conclusions related to the pre-breakdown phase in the oil subjected to this inhomogeneous field were figured out. These conclusions have interest from the practical point of view since in the high voltage equipment the gaps are uniform in a few cases only. The experimental work as a unit was carried out in the High Voltage Laboratory of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the Engineer Faculty of the University of Patras.

Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo do transporte de partículas em um plasma, confinado em um campo magnético uniforme, devido às ondas eletrostáticas de deriva. O modelo adotado consiste em descrever o movimento do centro de guia de uma partícula no campo magnético perpendicular a um campo elétrico radial perturbado pelas ondas de deriva. Usamos uma descrição Hamiltoniana para o movimento dos centros de guia. A velocidade de deriva produzida pelo campo elétrico radial é representada pela parte integrável da Hamiltoniana e a esta foram adicionadas perturbações periódicas representando as flutuações do campo elétrico associadas às ondas de deriva. Assim, obtemos órbitas caóticas que determinam o transporte radial das partículas. Apresentamos, para várias condições de equilíbrio, a variação do transporte radial de partículas com a amplitude da perturbação. Utilizamos dados experimentais, sobre a turbulência eletrostática no tokamak TBR-1, para verificar a validade do modelo e a importância das ondas de deriva no transporte radial das partículas. Comparamos os valores do coeficiente de difusão experimental com os do modelo e obtivemos os resultados com a mesma ordem de grandeza. / In this work we have studied the transport of particles in a magnetically confined plasma, due to electrostatic drift waves. The adopted model describes the trajectory of the guiding center of a particle in a uniform magnetic field perpendicular to a radial electric field perturbed by drift waves. We have used the Hamiltonian description for the guiding center trajectory. The drift produced by the radial electric field is represented by the integrable part of the Hamiltonian, while the other part contains periodic perturbations representing the fluctuations of the electric field associated to the drift waves. In this way we obtain chaotic orbits that determine the particles radial transport. For several balance conditions, we present the variation of the radial transport of particles with the amplitude of the perturbation. V/e have used the experimental data of the electrostatic turbulence measured in TBR-1 tokamak to verify, the validity of the model and the importance of the drift waves in the particles radial transport. We have also compared the values of the experimental diffusion coefficient with those provided by using the model, obtaining results with the same order of magnitude.

Esta dissertação descreve um experimento de Townsend pulsado cuja finalidade foi obter experimentalmente parâmetros de transporte de elétrons em gases, em particular em nitrogênio e isobutano, em uma faixa de campo elétrico reduzido entre 130 Td e 210 Td. Os parâmetros de transporte obtidos foram a velocidade média do centro de massa da nuvem eletrônica, a taxa de ionização e o coeficiente de ionização (primeiro coeficiente de Townsend). Essas grandezas foram determinadas a partir da análise do sinal eletrônico induzido pelos elétrons em deslocamento entre dois eletrodos de placas paralelas. Para efetuar essa análise, foi desenvolvido um modelo que relaciona a dinâmica dos elétrons no meio gasoso com o sinal induzido. Esse modelo permitiu a dedução de uma função explícita do tempo e de parâmetros relacionados com os parâmetros físicos, que foram estimados por meio do ajuste da função aos resultados experimentais pelo método dos mínimos quadrados. Além do método de análise, este trabalho descreve um código computacional de aquisição e controle, especialmente desenvolvido para integrar as diversas operações de controle instrumental e aquisição de dados. Foram realizadas várias séries de medições nas mesmas condições e verificou-se a repetitibilidade dos resultados. Os parâmetros de transporte em nitrogênio reproduziram os resultados da literatura e de cálculos teóricos dentro dos limites de erro dos resultados experimentais. No caso do isobutano, cujos parâmetros de transporte em elétrons são escassos na literatura, verificou-se que a estimativa do coeficiente de ionização é consistente com os resultados da literatura baseados em medições em um intervalo de campo elétrico reduzido mais elevado. / This thesis describes a pulsed Townsend experiment whose purpose was to obtain experimentally the transport parameters of electron in gases, particularly nitrogen and isobutane, within a range of reduced electric field between 130 Td and 210 Td. The transport parameters obtained were the average speed of center of mass of the electron cloud, the ionization rate and ionization coefficient (first Townsend coefficient). These quantities were obtained from the analysis of the electronic signal induced by electrons moving between two parallel plate electrodes. To perform this analysis, we developed a model that relates the dynamics of electrons in gaseous medium with the induced signal. This model allowed the deduction of an explicit function of time and parameters related to the physical parameters, which were estimated by fitting the function to the experimental results by the method of least squares. Besides the method of analysis, this paper describes a computer program especially designed to integrate the various processes of instrumental control and data acquisition. We performed several sets of measurements under the same conditions and verified the repeatability of results. The transport parameters in nitrogen reproduced the results of the literature and theoretical calculations within the error limits of the experimental results. In the case of isobutane, whose electron transport parameters have been poorly studied, it was found that the estimation of ionization coefficient agrees well with the literature results based on measurements in a range of higher reduced electric field.

No description available.