With increasing concerns about the harmful effects of conventional liquid fossil fuel emissions, natural gas has become a very attractive alternative fuel to power prime movers and stationary energy conversion devices. This research studies the injection and ignition numerically for natural gas (mainly methane) as a fuel applied to diesel engine. Natural gas injector and glow plug ignition enhancement are two of the most technical difficulties for direct injection natural gas engine design. This thesis models the natural gas injector, and studies the characteristics of the internal flow in the injector and natural gas jet in the combustion chamber during the injection process. The poppet valve model and pintle valve model are the first reported models to simulate the natural gas injector to improve the traditional velocity and pressure boundary conditions. This thesis also successfully models the glow plug assisted natural gas ignition and combustion processes by developing a glow plug discretized model and a novel virtual gas sub-layer model. Glow plug discretized model can describe the transient heat transfer, and adequately represents the thin layers of heat penetration and the local temperature difference due to the cold gas jet impingement. The virtual gas sub-layer model considers complicated physical processes, such as chemical reaction, heat conduction, and mass diffusion within the virtual sub-layers without significantly increasing computational time and load. KIVA-3V CFD code was chosen to simulate the fluid flow. Since the KIVA-3V is designed specifically for engine research application with conventional liquid fuels, many modifications have been implemented to facilitate this research.

With increasing concerns about the harmful effects of conventional liquid fossil fuel emissions, natural gas has become a very attractive alternative fuel to power prime movers and stationary energy conversion devices. This research studies the injection and ignition numerically for natural gas (mainly methane) as a fuel applied to diesel engine. Natural gas injector and glow plug ignition enhancement are two of the most technical difficulties for direct injection natural gas engine design. This thesis models the natural gas injector, and studies the characteristics of the internal flow in the injector and natural gas jet in the combustion chamber during the injection process. The poppet valve model and pintle valve model are the first reported models to simulate the natural gas injector to improve the traditional velocity and pressure boundary conditions. This thesis also successfully models the glow plug assisted natural gas ignition and combustion processes by developing a glow plug discretized model and a novel virtual gas sub-layer model. Glow plug discretized model can describe the transient heat transfer, and adequately represents the thin layers of heat penetration and the local temperature difference due to the cold gas jet impingement. The virtual gas sub-layer model considers complicated physical processes, such as chemical reaction, heat conduction, and mass diffusion within the virtual sub-layers without significantly increasing computational time and load. KIVA-3V CFD code was chosen to simulate the fluid flow. Since the KIVA-3V is designed specifically for engine research application with conventional liquid fuels, many modifications have been implemented to facilitate this research.

The work in this thesis was aimed at the preparation of low energy surfaces via the surface attachment of fluorinated surfactant molecules. Such surface functionalisation routes are highly dependent on the chemical nature of the substrate surface. For this reason the choice of substrate materials is both all important and extremely limited. To make the process of more general appeal a method for pre-treating the substrate, using cold plasma polymerisation reactions, followed by surfactant coupling to the plasma polymer has been devised. Using this approach, the surfactant coupling process is now dependent on the surface chemistry of deposited plasma polymers and independent of substrate characteristics. In order to form highly functionalised surfaces, likely to undergo further reactions, the plasma polymerisation of acrylic acid, ally! amine and allyl alcohol was investigated. Highly functionalised acid, amine and alcohol surfaces, as shown by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), were produced by optimisation of pulsed plasma conditions. Measurement of deposition rates during plasma polymerisation reactions indicated that polymerisation can occur during the off-time of the pulsed plasma period, most likely via free radical polymerisation pathways. Highly functionalised plasma polymer surfaces thus formed were shown to couple to fluorinated surfactant molecules. The mechanism of surfactant attachment has been suggested to be ionic attraction between opposite charges on the surfactant molecule and the plasma polymer in aqueous solution. The surfaces formed give rise to oleophobic/hydrophilic behaviour. This is in marked contrast to the usual liquid repellent attributes of conventional polyelectrolyte- fluorosurfactant complexes formed by solution phase synthesis.

Αυτή η εργασία πραγματοποιείται στα πλαίσια της ανάπτυξης της έρευνας και της μελέτης στον τομέα του πλάσματος. Βασικός της στόχος, στο πρώτο μέρος, είναι η μακροσκοπική μελέτη της ηλεκτρικής εκκένωσης αίγλης συνεχούς ρεύματος χαμηλής πίεσης σε άζωτο σε διαφορετικές συνθήκες πίεσης και αντίστασης φορτίου μέσω των χαρακτηριστικών τάσης-ρεύματος (V-I) και των παλμών ρεύματος και φωτός με τη βοήθεια του φωτοπολλαπλασιαστή. Στο δεύτερο μέρος, στόχος είναι η μικροσκοπική μελέτη των εκκενώσεων και των μετα-εκκενώσεων σε παλμική τροφοδοσία κάτω από ροή αερίου σε ατμοσφαιρική πίεση υπό διαφορετικές ηλεκτρικές και χαρακτηριστικές παραμέτρους (συχνότητα, εφαρμοζόμενη ισχύς, ροή αερίου) και διαφορετικά αέρια(άζωτο-άζωτο/οξυγόνο-άζωτο/αργό). Συνεπώς, με μια ποιοτική προσέγγιση, η ταυτοποίηση των αντιδρώντων σωματίων στη φασματοσκοπική μελέτη και η αναφορά της επίδρασης των αερίων μιγμάτων στην παραγωγή τους ολοκληρώνει τη δουλειά αυτής της διπλωματικής / This study was based on the collaboration between the laboratory’ des Gas et des Plasma’ of Pau, France and the laboratory of electrotechnic materials of University of Patras, Greece. In France, the object of this diplomatic work was the study of the discharges in dielectric barrier in different conditions of pressure, power, flow of gas and percentage of gas in different mixture (pure nitrogen, nitrogen-oxygen, and nitrogen-argon) at atmospheric pressure. The microscopic study of glow and afterglow helped us to indentify the species in the plasma and the results were able to be used in applications of treatment of surfaces. In Greece, the object of the diplomatic work was the study of discharges in low pressure in different conditions of pressure and resistance of charge in pure nitrogen. The macroscopic study helped us to analyze the characteristic curve of tendency - current and the vibrations of current and photomultiplier.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-08-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:29:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 moraes_fs_me_bauru.pdf: 757610 bytes, checksum: 7863feccc53b25ea756881d180d9d723 (MD5) / O avanço tecnológico obtido através dos tempos permitiu o surgimento de uma nova classe de materiais, os biomateriais, cujas funções principais são o auxilio ou a substituição de partes do corpo humano. Para a fabricação de próteses e/ou implantes podem ser utilizados os polímeros. A utilização de tais dispositivos médicos pode ocasionar o surgimento de alguns problemas, como a incompatibilidade da prótese com o organismo e a contaminação por bactérias, sendo o último um problema grave, podendo ser fatal. A contaminação por Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Staphylococcus aureus pode causar graves infecções. Uma das formas de se resolver este problema é através do tratamento de superfícies, pois a adesão das bactérias é dependente das propriedades superficiais dos biomateriais. Uma técnica de tratamento superficial bastante promissora é o tratamento a plasma de descarga luminescente. Foram realizados tratamentos de superfícies em poliuretano e silicone utilizando plasmas de 'SF IND. 6' com diferentes condições de tratamento, com o objetivo de se conseguir superfícies hidrofóbicas e a não adesão de microrganismos nessas superfícies. Após o tratamento as amostras foram contaminadas com as bactérias S. aureus e P. aeruginosa. Observou-se que embora o tratamento a plasma tenha conferido comportamento hidrofóbico aos polímeros, ainda não conseguiu-se chegar a superfícies ideais para inibir a adesão de microrganismos. / The technological advance attained through time, allowed the appearance of a new class of materials, the biomaterials, which main functions are: to help or to replace parts or sick organs of the human body. For the manufacture of prosthesis and/or implants, polymers can be used as biomaterials. The use of prosthesis or implants may cause the appearance of some problems, such as the incompatibility between the prosthesis and the organism and the contamination caused by bacteria. This last one is a serious problem, since it may lead to death. The contamination by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus can cause serious infections. One possible way to solve this problem is through the surface treatment, since the adhesion of the bacteria depends on the superficial properties of the biomaterial. A promising technique of superficial modification is the treatment through glow discharge plasma. In this work, polyurethane and silicone coupons were exposed to 'SF IND. 6' glow discharge plasmas with different conditions of treatment. After the treatment, the coupons were contaminated with the P. aeruginosa e S. aureus. Even though the plasma treatment gives a hydrophobic behavior to the polymer, it can´t obtain the ideal surfaces who inhibit the bacterial adhesion.

Title: Study of Glow Discharge in Oxygen and its Mixtures at Medium Pressures Author: Lukáš Schmiedt Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: Doc. RNDr. Věra Hrachová, CSc. Department of Surface and Plasma Science Abstract: The positive column of DC glow discharge sustained in oxygen and oxygen-argon mixtures has been studied in two discharge tubes of the same shape made from different materials (Silica and Pyrex glass) for total pressures 200 - 1750 Pa and discharge currents up to 40 mA. Parameters of the discharge - electric field strength and emission spectra - were studied with respect to existence of the low- and high-gradient forms of the positive column of the discharge. We have focused on the qualitative analysis of the differences in emission spectra for both particular forms, as well as on possibility of determination of the rotational temperature of oxygen molecule under various discharge conditions, particularly with respect to the relative amount of the admixture. Keywords: glow discharge; oxygen; medium pressures; emission spectra

Avanços recentes no processo de Metalurgia do Pó possibilitaram a produção de ligas de alumínio com ótimas propriedades e capazes de serem aplicadas nas indústrias automotiva e aeroespacial. Dentre as principais vantagens destas ligas, estão, a baixa relação peso/resistência, a alta condutividade térmica e elétrica, e a alta resistência à corrosão sob vários ambientes. Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo de um processo alternativo de sinterização do alumínio baseado na aplicação de plasma produzido por descarga incandescente anômala. Pó de alumínio comercial foram misturadas com 1% em peso de estearato de zinco (como lubrificante) e então compactadas sob pressão de 600 Mpa. A dimensões das amostras compactadas (verdes) ficaram em aproximadamente 13mm de altura e 10mm de diâmetro e massa controlada em torno de 3,5g. A fim de analisar as diferenças das amostras antes e após o processo de sinterização, foram calculadas as densificações para cada corpo de prova produzido. Posteriormente, as amostras verdes compactadas passaram pelo processo de sinterização a plasma e convencional, ambas com temperatura (500ºC) e atmosfera definidas. A sinterização convencional foi realizada utilizando duas atmosferas, argônio puro e nitrogênio puro, e o processo a plasma empregou, além de argônio e nitrogênio, o gás hidrogênio. Após a sinterização as amostras foram caracterizadas quanto a densificação, dureza, composição química e rugosidade superficial, além disso, uma análise metalográfica foi realizada por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (com EDS). Embora todas as atmosferas foram efetivas na sinterização a plasma, o nitrogênio foi capaz de produzir a menor redução de densificação nas amostras, bem como a maior dureza e a menor rugosidade, dentre as amostras tratadas a plasma. A utilização do plasma também gerou uma melhor extração do lubrificante, porém com um aumento significativo da rugosidade com relação ao processo convencional devido à ação do sputtering gerado pelo bombardeamento iônico. / The recent advances in Powder Metallurgy make possible the production of Aluminum alloys with great properties and applicable in the automotive and aerospace industries. Among the main advantages of these alloys, the low weight to strength rate, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and the high corrosion resistance under several environments can be pointed out. This work had as aim the investigation of an alternative sintering process for Aluminum based on plasma glow discharge. Aluminum commercial powder was mixed with 1 weight-% of Zinc Stearate (as lubricant) and then compacted under 600 MPa pressure. The dimension of the as compacted (green) samples were about 13mm of height and 10mm of diameter and the mass around 3.5g. In order to analyze the differences of samples before and after e sintering process, the densification was calculated for each sample individually. After that, the green samples were sintered by plasma and in a conventional resistive furnace with protected atmosphere, using predefined temperature (500ºC) and gas atmospheres. The conventional sintering was carried out using two different atmospheres pure Argon and pure Nitrogen, and in the plasma sintering, besides Argon and Nitrogen, Hydrogen was used. After sintering the samples were investigated for densification, hardness, chemical composition and roughness, besides that metallography analysis by Electronic Microscopy with EDS were performed. Although all atmospheres were effective in the plasma sintering, the Nitrogen was able to produce the lowest reduction in density, the highest hardness and the lowest roughness, among all tested plasma conditions. The use of plasma also was responsible for an more efficient extraction of the lubricant, however with a significant increase of the roughness in relation to the conventional process, which was attributed to the sputtering effect by ion bombardment.

Avanços recentes no processo de Metalurgia do Pó possibilitaram a produção de ligas de alumínio com ótimas propriedades e capazes de serem aplicadas nas indústrias automotiva e aeroespacial. Dentre as principais vantagens destas ligas, estão, a baixa relação peso/resistência, a alta condutividade térmica e elétrica, e a alta resistência à corrosão sob vários ambientes. Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo de um processo alternativo de sinterização do alumínio baseado na aplicação de plasma produzido por descarga incandescente anômala. Pó de alumínio comercial foram misturadas com 1% em peso de estearato de zinco (como lubrificante) e então compactadas sob pressão de 600 Mpa. A dimensões das amostras compactadas (verdes) ficaram em aproximadamente 13mm de altura e 10mm de diâmetro e massa controlada em torno de 3,5g. A fim de analisar as diferenças das amostras antes e após o processo de sinterização, foram calculadas as densificações para cada corpo de prova produzido. Posteriormente, as amostras verdes compactadas passaram pelo processo de sinterização a plasma e convencional, ambas com temperatura (500ºC) e atmosfera definidas. A sinterização convencional foi realizada utilizando duas atmosferas, argônio puro e nitrogênio puro, e o processo a plasma empregou, além de argônio e nitrogênio, o gás hidrogênio. Após a sinterização as amostras foram caracterizadas quanto a densificação, dureza, composição química e rugosidade superficial, além disso, uma análise metalográfica foi realizada por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (com EDS). Embora todas as atmosferas foram efetivas na sinterização a plasma, o nitrogênio foi capaz de produzir a menor redução de densificação nas amostras, bem como a maior dureza e a menor rugosidade, dentre as amostras tratadas a plasma. A utilização do plasma também gerou uma melhor extração do lubrificante, porém com um aumento significativo da rugosidade com relação ao processo convencional devido à ação do sputtering gerado pelo bombardeamento iônico. / The recent advances in Powder Metallurgy make possible the production of Aluminum alloys with great properties and applicable in the automotive and aerospace industries. Among the main advantages of these alloys, the low weight to strength rate, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and the high corrosion resistance under several environments can be pointed out. This work had as aim the investigation of an alternative sintering process for Aluminum based on plasma glow discharge. Aluminum commercial powder was mixed with 1 weight-% of Zinc Stearate (as lubricant) and then compacted under 600 MPa pressure. The dimension of the as compacted (green) samples were about 13mm of height and 10mm of diameter and the mass around 3.5g. In order to analyze the differences of samples before and after e sintering process, the densification was calculated for each sample individually. After that, the green samples were sintered by plasma and in a conventional resistive furnace with protected atmosphere, using predefined temperature (500ºC) and gas atmospheres. The conventional sintering was carried out using two different atmospheres pure Argon and pure Nitrogen, and in the plasma sintering, besides Argon and Nitrogen, Hydrogen was used. After sintering the samples were investigated for densification, hardness, chemical composition and roughness, besides that metallography analysis by Electronic Microscopy with EDS were performed. Although all atmospheres were effective in the plasma sintering, the Nitrogen was able to produce the lowest reduction in density, the highest hardness and the lowest roughness, among all tested plasma conditions. The use of plasma also was responsible for an more efficient extraction of the lubricant, however with a significant increase of the roughness in relation to the conventional process, which was attributed to the sputtering effect by ion bombardment.

Nas décadas de 1960 e 1970, as primeiras investigações de dosímetros termoluminescentes (TLD), especificamente, os picos dosimétricos, rapidamente revelaram um número surpreendente de fenômenos que poderiam estar diretamente relacionados à densidade de ionização. Um pouco mais tarde, nos anos 80 e no início dos anos 90, a radiação aparentemente desconectada induziu fenômenos que foram descobertos em outros sistemas baseados em fluoreto de lítio (LiF). A última década, no entanto, testemunhou o surgimento de vários modelos, encabeçado através de uma compreensão mais profunda dos mecanismos TL subjacentes, bem como na modelagem micro dosimétrica e especificamente desenvolvida para explicar fenômenos de densidade de ionização. Muitas aplicações em radioterapia fornecem níveis de dose de radiação superiores a 1 Gy, porém em radiodiagnóstico estão na faixa de alguns mGy, e níveis muito altos de precisão são necessárias para promover o tratamento ideal. Isto exige uma atenção muito cuidadosa aos protocolos de medição altamente detalhados, bem como à calibração demorada de todos os TLDs para corrigir a não-linearidade da resposta à dose. Essas propriedades podem variar de lote para lote e também podem ser uma função da exposição à radiação, do aquecimento e histórico de manuseio. Deste modo, mesmo com excelentes avanços nos estudos do TLD com relação aos tratamentos térmicos e às formas de análise da curva de emissão TL, é necessário continuar os estudos a fim de possibilitar uma melhor utilização desta técnica na clínica. Uma análise computadorizada da curva de emissão (CGCA do inglês, computadorized glow curve analisys) foi implementada utilizando dados provenientes do software WinREMS de dosímetros TL que absorvem e armazenam a energia da radiação ionizante, reemitida na forma de fóton na região do ultravioleta visível. A luz emitida é, então, detectada por uma fotomultiplicadora e correlacionada à dose absorvida recebida pelo material. Os picos de emissão foram ajustados por meio de um algoritmo no programa MATLAB adotando-se o modelo de cinética de primeira ordem. O material testado foi o LiF:Mg,Ti (fluoreto de lítio dopado com magnésio e titânio) da marca Harshaw e a qualidade do ajuste foi determinada por um parâmetro chamado figura de mérito (FOM - do inglês, figure of merit). O menor FOM obtido para o grupo de dosímetros foi de 1,04 % e o maior foi de 9,79 %. Também foi avaliada a dose mínima detectável, utilizando o parâmetro que apresentou melhor desempenho, segundo a homogeneidade do grupo de dosímetros. O valor médio de dose mínima apresentado foi 28 µGy. Os resultados de reprodutibilidade, índice de variabilidade do detector (DVI - do inglês, device variability index) foi 14,01 %, que pode ser explicado pelo alto número de dosímetros no lote. Então, com a diminuição do tempo de preparo do dosímetro e com a análise computadorizada da curva de emissão, a utilização clínica do TLD torna-se mais viável, visto que não houve interferência na sensibilidade do dosímetro. Apesar de a reprodutibilidade ter sido a cima do esperado, é indicado uma correção individual para cada dosímetro e o descarte daqueles que apresentarem valores mais discrepantes comparado ao lote. / In the decades of 1960 and 1970, the first investigations of termoluminescentes dosimeters (TLD), specifically, the dosimetric peaks quickly revealed a surprising number of phenomena that could be directly related to the density of ionization. A little later, in the years 80 and 90 at the beginning of the year, seemingly disconnected radiation induced phenomena were discovered on other systems based on lithium fluoride (LiF). The last decade, however, has witnessed the emergence of several models, spearheaded through a deeper understanding of the underlying TL mechanisms as well as in modeling specifically developed for microdosimetric and explain phenomena of ionization density. Many applications in radiation oncology provide levels of radiation dose in excess of 1 Gy, however in diagnostic radiology are in the range of a few mGy, and very high levels of precision are necessary to promote the ideal treatment. This requires careful attention to the highly detailed measurement protocols, as well as the time-consuming calibration of all TLDs to correct the non-linearity of dose-response. These properties can vary from batch to batch, and can also be a function of exposure to radiation, heating and handling history. In this way, even with excellent advances in the studies of the TLD for the heat treatment and the ways of issuing TL curve analysis, it is necessary to continue studies in order to enable a better use of this technique in the clinic. A computerized analysis of the emission curve (CGCA computadorized glow curve analysis) was implemented using data from the WinREMS software of TL dosimeters that absorb and store energy from ionizing radiation, reissued in the form of photon in the visible ultraviolet. The light emitted is then detected by a photomultiplier and correlated to the absorbed dose received by the material. The emission peaks were adjusted by means of an algorithm in MATLAB program by adopting the model of first-order kinetics. The material tested was the LiF: Mg, Ti (lithium fluoride doped with magnesium and titanium) brand Harshaw and the quality of the fit was determined by a parameter called figure of merit (FOM- figure of merit). The smallest FOM obtained for the group of dosimeters was 1.04% and the highest was 9.79%. Also minimum detectable dose was evaluated, using the parameter that showed better performance, according to the homogeneity of the Group of dosimeters. The average value of minimum dose presented was 28 µGy. The results of reproducibility, index of variability of the detector (DVI-English, device variability index) was 14.01%, which can be explained by the high number of dosimeters in the batch. Then, with the decrease in the time of preparation of the dosimeter and the computerized analysis of the emission curve, the clinical use of the TLD becomes more viable, since there was no interference on sensitivity of the dosimeter. Although the reproducibility have been above expectations, indicated a single correction for each badge and the disposal of those who submit more discrepant values compared to the batch.

This thesis presents the experimental and theoretical studies of nonthermal and stable atmospheric-pressure glow discharges. With the excitation frequency in the kilohertz range, a uniform and stable glow discharge has been successfully produced in atmospheric helium without the usually indispensable dielectric barrier. For this barrier-free cold atmospheric discharge, there are two discharge events occurring, respectively, in the voltage-rising and the voltage-falling phases, and in general they compete with each other. This distinct feature is illustrated through a detailed fluid simulation. For direct current atmospheric glow discharges, their cathode fall region is shown to depend critically on the discharge current density. For atmospheric glow discharges excited at 13.56 MHz on the other hand, we present observations that after gas breakdown, the discharge evolves from the normal glow mode to the abnormal glow mode and then through the recovery mode back to the normal glow mode. The operation modes, namely the a mode and the y mode, in radio-frequency atmospheric glow discharges are investigated with a one-dimensional, self-consistent continuum model. This model is evaluated by comparing our numerical results with experimental data and other simulation results in literature. It is shown that gas ionization is volumetric in the a mode and localized in the boundary region between the sheath and the bulk plasma in the y mode. The stable operation regime in the a mode is found to have a positive differential conductivity, and can be expanded to higher discharge current density without compensating plasma reactivity by increasing the excitation frequency. Furthermore this plasma stability-reactivity balance is also studied for radio-frequency atmospheric glow microdischarges.