Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Herbert L. Berk. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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Orientador: Konstantin Georgiev Kostov / Coorientador: Vadym Prysiazhnyi / Banca: Olivia Maria Berengue / Banca: Gilberto Petraconi Filho / Banca: Carina Barros Mello / Banca: Munemasa Machida / Resumo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo dos parâmetros que influenciam o comportamento de um jato de plasma em pressão atmosférica e sua aplicação em deposição de filmes poliméricos. Com esta finalidade, foram utilizadas duas diferentes configurações de eletrodos em jatos de argônio: um de eletrodo anular externo e outro com eletrodo cilíndrico interno. Também foram utilizadas três geometrias diferentes de bocal de saída do jato (cônico fechado, reto e cônico aberto), usando um eletrodo cilíndrico interno. Os jatos de plasma de argônio operam em modo filamentar, com os filamentos se espalhando por todo o volume do tubo dielétrico, disposto coaxialmente ao eletrodo. Neste trabalho também foi desenvolvido um jato de plasma para a deposição de filmes poliméricos, constituído de um eletrodo de alta tensão em forma cilíndrica localizado no eixo longitudinal do jato, e um eletrodo aterrado na forma de anel que está fixado ao redor do bocal do jato. O estudo foi iniciado com a comparação de dois métodos utilizados para o cálculo da potência. Para os dois jatos de plasma observou-se que o método mais adequado para calcular a potência de descarga é o método da figura de Lissajous, que fornece um erro experimental menor que 3 %. Após realizar a caraterização elétrica dos jatos de plasma, pode-se observar que a potência e a forma de onda da corrente dependem de diferentes parâmetros, que são apresentados em ordem da maior a menor influência da distância bocal-substrato, ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The goal of this work was to study the parameters which influence the electrical behavior of a atmospheric pressure plasma jet and its application for polymeric films deposition. For this purpose, two different configurations of electrodes were used in argon jets: one with an external annular electrode and the other with an internal cylindrical electrode. Also, three different jet nozzle geometries were adopted using an internal cylindrical electrode: tapered nozzle, straight nozzle and enlarged nozzle. The argon plasma jets operate in filament mode, with the filaments spreading throughout the volume of the dielectric tube, arranged coaxially to the electrode. On this work, a plasma jet system was developed to deposit polymer films, this system consists of a cylindrical high voltage electrode located in the longitudinal axis of the jet, and a grounded electrode in the form of a ring that is fixed around the nozzle of the jet. The study started comparing both methods for calculation of the power of plasma jets. Afterwards, it was concluded that the best method was the Lissajous method giving 3 % of experimental error. After electrical characterization of the plasma jet it was found that the power and current were influenced by different parameters, presented in order of their importance: distance, gas flow, type of substrate and nozzle geometry. The polymer films deposition was influenced by the plasma jet geometry and the gas flow. The films deposited without movement have 1 µm/min of deposition rate. The XPS analysis shows that the films are made mostly from aliphatic groups C-C/C-H and in lesser extension by hydroxyl, ester and carboxylic acid. Through implementation of mobile platform was possible to deposit polymer films over larger area / Doutor

To understand the physical mechanism underlying the cross-field transport of mass and energy in magnetoplasmas is a long-standing problem in fusion research. Woods (1987) has recently developed a second-order transport theory which has been used to explain a number of transport-related phenomena observed in tokamaks. Here, we apply second-order transport theory to the reverse field pinch (RFP) and a phenomenon observed in tokamaks known as 'snakes'. Expressions for the mass and energy confinement times in the RFP, τ_p and τ_e, are deduced and agreement with experimental results from HBTX is found. For typical operating conditions the times τ_p ~ 0.1ms and τ_e ~ 0.2ms are observed in HBTX. Second-order transport theory predicts τ_p ~ 0.4ms and τ_e ~ 0.4ms for this machine. Scaling laws for β_p versus η_e,β_p versus I_φ and τ_e versus I_φ are compared with measurements from HBTX and agree well with observation. Snakes are large density perturbations observed in JET after fuel pellet injection. Typical snakes in JET are remarkably stable and are found to have density decay times longer than predictions based on neoclassical theory (Stringer 1987). After their formation, snakes have even been observed to grow (Weller <i>et al.</i> 1987), which suggests the presence of an inward diffusion mechanism. There is also some evidence for a temperature depression in the snakes region. An explanation of the stability and energy balance in snakes based on second-order transport theory is proposed.

An ongoing experiment is described to demonstrate the principle of multi-pulse laser wakefield acceleration, in which a plasma wakefield is resonantly excited by a train of laser pulses, spaced by the plasma wavelength. Particle-in-cell simulations of the initial single-pulse experimental setup are presented, in order to calculate the expected signal. Preliminary results are presented and future plans, based on work done so far, are discussed. Part of this work involves the implementation of a single-shot wakefield diagnostic - frequency-domain holography, which records the phase shift caused by passage of a probe pulse through the plasma. This implementation is described in detail, along with the associated analysis procedure. Practical difficulties encountered while implementing the diagnostic are discussed, along with possible ways of mitigating them in the future. A method is presented by which the noise level in the resulting phase measurements can be predicted, much more accurately than any previously published method for this technique. Methods of generating pulse trains for use in future multi-pulse laser wakefield acceleration experiments are presented. These include techniques proposed for use in this demonstration experiment, as well as one intended for use in a dedicated high-efficiency, high repetition-rate, multi-pulse driver laser. This last method, based on programmable pulse shaping using a spatial light modulator, requires a suitable mask to be computed based on the parameters of the required pulse train; an algorithm is described to perform this computation.

The problem of how the Sun's corona is heated is of central importance to solar physics research. In this thesis we model three main areas. The first, annihilation, is a feature of non-ideal MHD and focusses on how magnetic field of opposite polarity meets at a null point and annihilates, after having been advected with plasma toward a stagnation point in the plasma flow. Generally, the null point of the field and the stagnation point of the flow are coincident at the origin, but in chapter 2 a simple extension is considered where an asymmetry in the boundary conditions of the field moves the null point away from the origin. Chapter 3 presents a model of reconnective annihilation in three dimensions. It represents flux being advected through the fan plane of a 3D null, and diffusing through a thin diffusion region before being annihilated at the spine line, and uses the method of matched asymptotic expansions to find the solution for small values of the resistivity. The second area of the thesis covers null collapse. This is when the magnetic field in close proximity to a null point is disturbed, causing the field to fold up on itself and collapse. This is a feature of ideal MHD, and causes a strong current to build up, allowing non-ideal effects to become important. When using linearised equations for the collapse problem, we are in fact looking at a linear instability. If this instability initiates a collapse, this is only a valid model until non-linear effects become important. By talking about collapse in chapters 4 and 5 (as it is talked about in the literature), we mean that the linear instability initiates collapse, which in principle, non-linear effects could later stop. Chapter 4 introduces a two-dimensional model for collapse, using the ideal, compressible, linearised MHD equations. It is a general solution in which all spatially linear nulls and their supporting plasma flows and pressure gradients can be checked for susceptibility to collapse under open boundary conditions. Chapter 5 uses the model introduced in chapter 4 to investigate the collapse of three-dimensional, potential nulls (again, spatially linear) for all possible supporting plasma flows and pressure gradients. Using this model, all nulls under consideration are found to collapse and produce large currents, except for a group of 2D O-type nulls supported by highly super-Alfvenic plasma flows. The third area of this thesis involves numerically simulating a model of heating by coronal tectonics (Priest et al, 2002). A simple magnetic field is created and the boundary is driven, also in a simple manner. Current sheets which scale with grid resolution are seen to build up on the quasi-separatrix layers, and there is some evidence of magnetic reconnection.

CNPq; CAPES / A limpeza a plasma é uma tecnologia promissora para a preparação de superfícies que receberão tratamentos, pois possui a habilidade de reduzir a quantidade de resíduos orgânicos em uma superfície através da combinação de agentes físicos e químicos. Apesar do interesse tecnológico, seu uso é ainda limitado, pois seus mecanismos ainda não são bem compreendidos. Tal dificuldade se deve à grande variedade química de contaminantes orgânicos, e a complexidade destes, que via de regra são compostos, e não substâncias simples. Esse trabalho busca investigar o efeito das variáveis de processo como potência aplicada, pressão, fluxo de gás e temperatura da amostra, sobre a capacidade do sistema em gerar degradação de uma molécula orgânica. Para acompanhamento da evolução físico-química das amostras tratadas, foi utilizado como contaminante modelo o ácido esteárico (C18H36O2), que é constituído por uma cadeia carbônica linear, com 18 carbonos, contendo em uma das extremidades uma função ácido carboxílico. O estudo experimental foi realizado utilizando uma descarga gerada por fonte de radiofrequência de 13,56 MHz indutivamente acoplada, com misturas gasosas de Ar e Ar-10%O2 e com a amostra imersa na descarga. A taxa de variação de massa foi utilizada como uma caracterização direta do processo de degradação e análises de espectroscopia do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) foram realizadas para investigar modificações moleculares residuais. Foi possível obter redução de massa da amostra quando esta é exposta ao plasma para todas as condições de tratamento em que a amostra permaneceu sólida durante a exposição ao plasma. As caracterizações realizadas mostraram que é possível obter uma taxa de gravura elevada, principalmente na exposição ao plasma de Ar-10%O2 e desde que a amostra permaneça em estado sólido durante o tratamento, nenhuma modificação estrutural foi observada. / Plasma cleaning is a promising technology in surface treatments, with the ability to reduce the amount of organic residues in a surface throught chemical and physical interactions. Despite technological interest, its use is limited because its mechanisms still are not entirely understood. Such difficulties are related to the large chemical variety of existent organic contaminants and the use of compounds instead of single molecules. This work aims to evaluate how the applied power of plasma affects its capabilities to degrade an organic molecule. To follow the physic-chemical evolution of treated samples, a chemical model was used, known as stearic acid (C18H36O2), that is a linear chain of 18 carbons with a acid function on a extremity. The experimental study was made by using an inductively coupled RF discharge at 13,56 MHz, with Ar and Ar-10%O2 gas mixtures, being the sample immerse in the discharge. Sample temperature control was made with a water cooling system and introducing steps of plasma on and off during the experiment. Mass variation rate was used as a direct characterization of degradation process. Fourier transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) were performed to search for residual molecular modifications. In all experimental conditions was possible to attain mass reduction from the sample when exposed to plasma if the sample was kept in the solid state. The material characterization shows the possibility of attain a high etch rate, where no structural modifications are detected.

CNPq; CAPES / A limpeza a plasma é uma tecnologia promissora para a preparação de superfícies que receberão tratamentos, pois possui a habilidade de reduzir a quantidade de resíduos orgânicos em uma superfície através da combinação de agentes físicos e químicos. Apesar do interesse tecnológico, seu uso é ainda limitado, pois seus mecanismos ainda não são bem compreendidos. Tal dificuldade se deve à grande variedade química de contaminantes orgânicos, e a complexidade destes, que via de regra são compostos, e não substâncias simples. Esse trabalho busca investigar o efeito das variáveis de processo como potência aplicada, pressão, fluxo de gás e temperatura da amostra, sobre a capacidade do sistema em gerar degradação de uma molécula orgânica. Para acompanhamento da evolução físico-química das amostras tratadas, foi utilizado como contaminante modelo o ácido esteárico (C18H36O2), que é constituído por uma cadeia carbônica linear, com 18 carbonos, contendo em uma das extremidades uma função ácido carboxílico. O estudo experimental foi realizado utilizando uma descarga gerada por fonte de radiofrequência de 13,56 MHz indutivamente acoplada, com misturas gasosas de Ar e Ar-10%O2 e com a amostra imersa na descarga. A taxa de variação de massa foi utilizada como uma caracterização direta do processo de degradação e análises de espectroscopia do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) foram realizadas para investigar modificações moleculares residuais. Foi possível obter redução de massa da amostra quando esta é exposta ao plasma para todas as condições de tratamento em que a amostra permaneceu sólida durante a exposição ao plasma. As caracterizações realizadas mostraram que é possível obter uma taxa de gravura elevada, principalmente na exposição ao plasma de Ar-10%O2 e desde que a amostra permaneça em estado sólido durante o tratamento, nenhuma modificação estrutural foi observada. / Plasma cleaning is a promising technology in surface treatments, with the ability to reduce the amount of organic residues in a surface throught chemical and physical interactions. Despite technological interest, its use is limited because its mechanisms still are not entirely understood. Such difficulties are related to the large chemical variety of existent organic contaminants and the use of compounds instead of single molecules. This work aims to evaluate how the applied power of plasma affects its capabilities to degrade an organic molecule. To follow the physic-chemical evolution of treated samples, a chemical model was used, known as stearic acid (C18H36O2), that is a linear chain of 18 carbons with a acid function on a extremity. The experimental study was made by using an inductively coupled RF discharge at 13,56 MHz, with Ar and Ar-10%O2 gas mixtures, being the sample immerse in the discharge. Sample temperature control was made with a water cooling system and introducing steps of plasma on and off during the experiment. Mass variation rate was used as a direct characterization of degradation process. Fourier transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) were performed to search for residual molecular modifications. In all experimental conditions was possible to attain mass reduction from the sample when exposed to plasma if the sample was kept in the solid state. The material characterization shows the possibility of attain a high etch rate, where no structural modifications are detected.

Orientador: Carlos Alberto Luengo / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T03:13:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Capobianco_Gino_D.pdf: 12351248 bytes, checksum: f4842f51b128dadf5f45b6fa8ce145c4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: Este trabalho consiste no estudo de um processo híbrido para obtenção de peneiras moleculares de carbono (PMC) a partir de madeiras e ou resíduos agrícolas tais como: casca de macadâmia e mesocarpo do coco verde que são insumos de origem renovável. A seguir descrevem-se as seguintes etapas do processo: seleção e conformação da matéria-prima; carbonização e pré-ativação (envolvendo tecnologias convencionais de ativação física ou química) e finalmente a obtenção de PMC em um reator de plasma com catodo oco para ativação. O estudo incluiu o projeto e construção de equipamentos para sua implementação em uma unidade piloto, a realização dos testes operacionais, a apreciação da influência dos parâmetros de processo (monitorados com caracterizações dos precursores em cada etapa) até a obtenção das PMC. Também a avaliação de possíveis aplicações em indústrias energo intensivas (eletro-metal e químicas), realizou-se através de estudo de caso (a remoção de metais pesados nos efluentes industriais), comparando o desempenho das PMC com os de amostras comerciais disponíveis no mercado. Finalmente, para análise da viabilidade técnico-econômico-financeira, foram realizados um levantamento da evolução da exportação e importação de carvão ativado (CA) no Brasil, sua demanda e oferta, assim como aquelas dos principais consumidores (setor industrial e setores ligados ao saneamento básico e saúde). Observa-se a que o país é auto-suficiente na produção do CA convencional, entretanto a produção de CAs com características e propriedades especificas, tipo PMC, ainda é incipiente, sendo necessário à importação de 3.000 toneladas/ano. Então, para a realização dos cálculos considera-se a capacidade de atender inicialmente, até 10 % da demanda nacional, correspondente a uma planta industrial de 300 toneladas/ano. As PMC produzidas podem ser utilizadas nas mais diversas aplicações, tais como: tratamento de efluentes líquidos e gasosos, tanques de sorção para remoção e recuperação de solventes orgânicos, entre outras. Por isso este projeto insere-se, no desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias para o país / Abstract: This work is presented an study of a hybrid process to obtain carbon molecular sieves (CMS) from pine wood or agricultural residues such as macadamia shell or green coconut mesocarp, alI of them are renewable precursors. This process embraces the following stages: selection and conformation of the raw material, carbonization and pré-activation, involving conventional physical or chemical activation technologies, finally activation using the hollow cathode plasma technology to obtain the CMS. The experimental part included design and equipment construction for implementation in a pilot unit, including operational tests, studies of the influence of process parameters, monitored with characterizations of the precursors in each stage, until obtaining CMS. To evaluate possible applications in intensive energy industries such as metal-electric industries or chemistries it was developed a case study in which the CMS efficiency for the removal of heavy metaIs in the industrial effluents was compared with that obtained using samples commercially available. For analyzing the techno economic feasibility, it was obtained the historical evolution of export and import quantities of activated carbon (AC) in Brazil, the evolution of demand and offer, as well as those of main consumer sections, industrial section and those related to basic sanitation and health.Through this analysis, it was observed that the country is self-sufficient in the production of the conventional AC, however the production of AC with special characteristic and properties, like CMS, is still incipient, being needed to import around 3.000 ton/year. Thus, the calculations are for a manufacturing capacity capable to attend up to 10% of the demand, corresponding to an industrial plant with a capacity for CMS production of 300 ton/year. The produced CMS has several applications, such as: treatment of liquid and gas effluents, sorption tanks for removal and recovery of wasted organic solvents, among others. So, this whole work, may be thought as the development of a new technology for the country / Doutorado / Doutor em Planejamento de Sistemas Energéticos