<p>Most of the water fed into a paper machine is removedmechanically in the forming and press sections. One of thefactor which has an important influence on mechanicaldewatering, i.e. in both forming and pressing, is thestress-strain behaviour of the fibre network.</p><p>The focus of this thesis is on the development of improvedmathematical descriptions of the stress-strain behaviourexhibited by fibre networks in the forming and press sections.The first part of the thesis presents a physically based modelof the forming and densification of fibre mats in twin-wireformers. The model can calculate the ecect of the applicationof a varied load through the forming section. It was developedfrom mass and momentum balances of the fibre and liquid phases,the fibre mat stress-porosity relation and an expression forthe permeability as a function of the porosity. The fibre-matstress-porosity relation used is rate-independent and presentshysteresis. Simulations have been conducted to study theeffects of roll pressure, blade pulses, wire tension andbeating. The effect of sequential blade pressure pulses afterthe forming roll on the dewatering and the concentrationgradients could be characterised. The simulations alsoexhibited rewetting by expansion when the fibre mats left theforming roll. Increasing wire tension resulted in increaseddewatering, but the rate of increase diminished rapidly withincreasing tension. The simulation results also indicated thatbeating has a large influence on dewatering.</p><p>The second part of the thesis presents two models of therate-dependent stress-strain behaviour of the fibre networkthat is observed in wet pressing. The first model was based onthe approach pioneered by Perzyna (1966) for strain-ratedependent plasticity and was quite satisfactory for calculatingthe stress-strain behaviour of the fibre network in singlepress nips. It was successfully applied for studyingdensification and dewatering in both normal wet pressing andhigh temperature wet pressing. However, the first model onlyincludes rate dependence in the compression phase of thecompressionexpansion cycle; the expansion phase is treated asbeing rate independent</p><p>The second model of the stress-strain behaviour of the fibrenetwork treats both compression and expansion as being ratedependent, according to experimental observations. It is basedon the idea that the wet fibre web may be conceived as alayered network of restricted swelling gels. A swollen fibre isa restricted gel, the inner swelling pressure in a swollenfibre wall being balanced by the stresses in the fibre wallstructure. The observed rate dependence of wet webs in bothcompression and expansion phases was attributed to the flow ofwater out of and into the fibre walls. The second model gavepredictions that are in good agreement with results fromuniaxial experiments using pressure pulses of arbitrary shapefor both a single pulse and a sequence of pulses. It maytherefore be used as a general model for the rheologicalbehaviour of the wet fibre network in wet pressing, providedthe model parameters are estimated from experimental data withsmall experimental error.</p><p><b>KEYWORDS:</b>Paper, modelling, dewatering, forming, wetpressing, fibre network stress, rheology, hysteresis,intra-fibre water, compressibility, structural stress,stress-strain, restricted gels, swelling.</p>

Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt integrierte Hochvolt-Schaltungen für die Ansteuerung elektrostatisch arbeitender Mikroaktoren und Mikroaktorarrays. Im Besonderen wird auf die Gesichtspunkte der Treiberschaltungen von Torsionsspiegelarrays eingegangen. Es werden verschiedene Verstärkerbetriebsarten und Schaltungsvarianten hinsichtlich der Ansteuerung kleiner kapazitiver Lasten beurteilt. Für die hocheffiziente Signalübertragung zwischen Low-Side und High-Side in geschalteten Hochvolt-Verstärkern wird ein neuer dynamischer Level-Shifter vorgestellt. Anhand eines gebondeten Mikroelektronik-Mikromechanik-Aufbaus für ein Hadamard-Transformations-Spektrometer werden die speziellen Aspekte des Elektronikentwurfs für ein System-in-Package aufgezeigt. Als Entwurfsgrundlage wird ein Überblick über die wesentlichen Isolationstechnologien für integrierte Hochvolt-Schaltungen und über die Bauelementemodellierung in einer SOI-Technologie ausgearbeitet. Außerdem werden die Vor- und Nachteile der wichtigsten Antriebsprinzipien von Mikroaktoren zusammengefasst.

Oxides form a class of material which covers almost all the spectra of functionalities : dielectricity, semiconductivity, metallicity superconductivity, non-linear optics, acoustics, piezoelectricity, ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism...In this thesis, crystalline oxides have beenintegrated on the workhorse of the semiconductor industry, the silicon, by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE).The first great interest of the epitaxial growth of crystalline oxides on silicon consists in the application of "high-k" dielectric for future sub-22nm CMOS technology. Gadoliniumoxide was explored in detail as a promising candidate of the alternative of SiO2. The pseudomorphic epitaxial growth of Gd2O3 on Si (111) was realized by identifying the optimal growth conditions. The Gd2O3 films show good dielectric properties and particularly an EOTof 0.73nm with a leakage current consistent with the requirements of ITRS for the sub-22nmnodes. In addition, the dielectric behavior of Gd2O3 thin films was further improved by performing PDA treatments. The second research interest on crystalline oxide/Si platform results from its potential application for the "More than Moore" and "Heterogeneous integration" technologies. TheSrTiO3/Si (001) was intensively studied as a paradigm of the integration of oxides on semiconductors. The crystallinity, interface and surface qualities and relaxation process of the STO films on silicon grown at the optimal conditions were investigated and analyzed. Several optimized growth processes were carried out and compared. Finally a "substrate-like" STO thin film was obtained on the silicon substrate with good crystallinity and atomic flat surface. Based on the Gd2O3/Si and SrTiO3/Si templates, diverse functionalities were integrated on the silicon substrate, such as ferro-(piezo-)electricity (BaTiO3, PZT and PMN-PT),ferromagnetism (LSMO) and optoelectronics (Ge). These functional materials epitaxially grown on Si can be widely used for storage memories, lasers and solar cells, etc.

This thesis is devoted to several aspects of geometry and morphology in wetting problems and hard sphere packings. First, we propose a new method to simulate wetting and slip on nanostructured substrates: a phase field model associated with a dynamical density theory approach. We showed omniphobicity, meaning repellency, no matter the chemical properties of the liquid on monovalued surfaces, i.e. surfaces without overhangs, which is in contradiction with the macroscopic Cassie-Baxter-Wenzel theory, can produce so-called We checked systematically the impact of the surface parameters on omniphobic repellency, and we show that the key ingredient are line tensions, which emerge from needle shaped surface structures. Geometrical effects have also an important influence on glassy or jammed systems, for example amorphous hard sphere systems in infinite pressure limit. Such hard sphere packings got stuck in a so-called jammed phase, and we shall demonstrate that the local structure in such systems is universal, i.e. independent of the protocol of the generation. For this, robust order parameters - so-called Minkowski tensors - are developed, which overcome robustness deficiencies of widely used order parameters. This leads to a unifying picture of local order parameters, based on geometrical principles. Furthermore, we find with the Minkowski tensor analysis crystallization in jammed sphere packs at the random closed packing point

Mass., Harvard Univ., Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Diss.--Cambridge, 2004. / Kopie, ersch. im Verl. UMI, Ann Arbor, Mich. - Enth. 3 Beitr.

Στις ηλεκτρικές μηχανές ο υπολογισμός των απωλειών και οι μηχανισμοί που τις προκαλούν αποτελούν ένα πολύ απαιτητικό αντικείμενο μελέτης. Τα τελευταία χρόνια καθώς αυξάνεται η ανάγκη για ολοένα και πιο αποδοτικές μηχανές μεγάλο κομμάτι της έρευνας έχει επικεντρωθεί στον υπολογισμό των απωλειών τους και πιο συγκεκριμένα στον υπολογισμό των απωλειών σιδήρου. Οι απώλειες σιδήρου ή αλλιώς απώλειες πυρήνα αποτελούν σημαντικό μέρος των απωλειών μια μηχανής, ταυτόχρονα όμως ο υπολογισμός τους εμφανίζει ιδιαίτερη δυσκολία. Στην παρόυσα διπλωματική εργασία η προσπάθεια επικεντρωνεται στον υπολογισμό αυτών των απωλειών σε μια ασύγχρονη μηχανή με διάφορες μεθόδους. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο γίνεται μια εισαγωγή στα σιδηρομαγνητικά υλικά και στις ιδιότητες τους. Αρχικά παρουσιάζεται το φαινόμενο της μαγνήτισης και του κορεσμού. Στη συνέχεια μελετάται το φαινόμενο της υστέρησης και οι ιδιότητες της που παίζουν καθοριστικό ρόλο στις απώλειες του πυρήνα της μηχανής, αλλά και το φαινόμενο των δινορευμάτων. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο μελετώνται οι απώλειες της μηχανής. Με ποιό τρόπο δηλαδή το φαινόμενο της υστέρησης και των δινορευμάτων πρoκαλούν απώλειες στη μηχανή και με ποια μορφή εμφανίζονται. Παρουσιάζονται ακόμα οι μηχανισμοί που συνδέονται με τις απώλειες χαλκού, επιδερμικό φαινόμενο και φαινόμενο γειτνίασης και ο ρόλος τους. Παρουσιάζεται επίσης μια βιβλιογραφική έρευνα σχετικά με τις διάφορες μεθόδους που χρησιμοποιούνται για τον υπολογισμό των απωλειών σιδήρου. Το τρίτο κεφάλαιο αποτελεί ουσιαστικά μια εισαγωγή στα ηλεκτρονικά ισχύος και πιο συγκεκριμένα στον αντιστροφέα τάσης με τεχνική PWM. Σημαντικός θεωρείται ο τρόπος με τον οποίο διαμορφώνεται η τάση εισόδου στη μηχανή, αλλά και η μορφή της, καθώς επηρεάζει άμεσα τις απώλειες σιδήρου της μηχανής. Στο τέταρτο και τελευταίο κεφάλαιο βρίσκουν εφαρμογή όλα τα παραπάνω. Η εργασία γίνεται με τη βοήθεια ενός μοντέλου πεπερασμένων στοιχείων, δύο διαστάσεων, μιας ασύγχρονης μηχανής βραχυκυκλωμένου κλωβού. Αρχικά η μηχανή τροφοδοτείται από μια ημιτονοειδή τάση είσόδου. Υπολογίζονται οι απώλειες χαλκού και στη συνέχεια οι απώλειες σιδήρου με τη βοήθεια υπολογιστικών μεθόδων ανάλυσης του μαγνητικού πεδίου σε σειρές Fourier. Τέλος μελετάται η μορφή του μαγνητικού πεδίου σε διάφορα σημεία της μηχανής και οι απώλειες που εμφανίζεται σε κάθε στοιχείο του μοντέλου ανά περίπτωση. Τα βήματα αυτά επαναλαμβανονται τροφοδοτώντας αυτή τη φορά τη μηχανή μέσω αντιστροφέα τάσης με τεχνική PWM. Συγκρίνοντας τα αποτελέσματα από κάθε περίπτωση εξάγονται σημαντικά συμπεράσματα για τις απώλειες της μηχανής και τη συμπεριφορά των μηχανισμών που τις προκαλούν. / In electrical machines the calculation of loss and the mechanisms that cause them are a very demanding subject of study. Recently, the increasing need for ever more efficient machines has made the research focus on the calculation of their losses and more specifically the calculation of the iron losses. The iron losses or core losses, constitute an important part of the total machine losses, but also their calculation is particularly difficult. In this thesis we focus on the calculation of these losses in an asynchronous machine using various methods. More specifically, the first chapter is an introduction to the properties of ferromagnetic materials. First, we study the phenomenon of magnetization and saturation and then we examine the phenomenon of hysteresis and its properties which play a crucial role in the core losses of the machine. Finally we study eddy current phenomenon. In the second chapter we discuss the losses of the machine. In which way the phenomenon of hysteresis and eddy currents generate losses in the machine and the form in which they appear. Also presented are the mechanisms associated with the copper losses, skin effect and proximity effect. Also shown is a literature survey on various methods used to calculate the iron losses. The third chapter is essentially an introduction to power electronics, and more particularly to the PWM technique. Important in this chapter is the way in which the input voltage to the machine affects the iron losses. In the fourth and final chapter we produce results of the above theory using simulation methods. The work is done using a finite element model in two dimensions of a squirrel cage asynchronous machine. Initially the machine is fed by a sinusoidal input voltage. Firstly copper losses are calculated and then the iron losses with the help of computational methods which analyze the magnetic induction in Fourier series. Finally, we study the shape of the magnetic field in different parts of the machine and the losses occurring in each element of the model in each case. These additional losses are known as rotational core losses. These steps are repeated, this time powering the machine via inverter supply using the PWM technique.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-12-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:40:17Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 soares_jo_dr_ilha.pdf: 2703269 bytes, checksum: f51d4821a6cb2c9c52cf4d25420d0c39 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / O objetivo deste trabalho é a concepção de uma lógica de controle digital com modulação por histerese variável usando um dispositivo programável FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) e linguagem de descrição de hardware VHDL (Hardware Description Language), aplicada em um retificador trifásico híbrido para a obtenção do Fator de Potência (FP) de entrada quase unitário. O Retificador Trifásico Híbrido (RTH) é uma estrutura composta por um retificador a diodos de 6 pulsos e por três retificadores monofásicos SEPIC conectados em paralelo. O controle digital proposto é capaz de impor a forma de onda das correntes de entrada, obtendose Distorção Harmônica Total (DHT) reduzida e fator de potência (FP) quase unitário, sendo que nesta condição, os retificadores monofásicos SEPIC conduzirão no máximo 33% da potência ativa total. Além disso, o uso de FPGAs dará ao Retificador Híbrido Trifásico uma flexibilidade adicional na operação, podendo substituir vários sistemas de múltiplos pulsos convencionais e reduzir custos para o sistema de controle por eliminar a confecção de circuitos complexos de controle analógico, para os conversores chaveados. Neste trabalho, apresenta-se uma análise detalhada e metodologia de projeto para o Retificador Híbrido Trifásico (RTH) que possibilita relacionar o valor da DHT das correntes de entrada com os valores das potências média e aparente processadas pelas estruturas controlada e não-controlada, podendo-se prever o desempenho global do sistema. Serão apresentados detalhes sobre o funcionamento do código VHDL e da modulação por histerese variável empregada e, por fim, os resultados experimentais de um protótipo implementado para 3,0 kW. O código VHDL desenvolvido, associado à lógica de controle digital proposta, foi implementado através de um dispositivo FPGA da Xilinx – Spartan XC2S200E, módulo digilab-D2E... / The objective of this work is the development of a digital control logic with variable hysteresis modulation using a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) device and VHDL (Hardware Description Language), applied at a hybrid three-phase rectifier in order to obtain an almost unitary input power factor (PF). The hybrid three-phase rectifier is a structure composed by parallel SEPIC controlled single-phase rectifiers connected to each leg of a standard 6-pulses uncontrolled diode rectifier. The proposed digital control is capable to impose input current waveforms, resulting in a reduced THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) and almost unitary input power factor, being that in this operation condition the parallel SEPIC single-phase rectifiers will process only 33.0 % of total active power. Moreover, the use of FPGA will provide to hybrid three-phase rectifier an additional flexbility in its operation, making possible the replacement of same conventional systems of multiple pulses and reducing costs for the control system, through the elimination of complex analogical circuitry used in the controlled converters. In this work is presented a detailed analysis and design methodology to hybrid threephase rectifier that establishes a relationship between the THD imposed to line input currents, with the average and apparent powers processed through controlled and uncontrolled structures, making possible to know previously the global system performance. It will be presented details about the operation of the VHDL code and variable hysteresis modulation proposed, and finally the experimental results from an implemented 3.0 kW prototype. The developed VHDL code, considering the proposed digital control logic, was implemented through a Xilinx’s FPGA device – Spartan XC2S200E, digilab-D2E module, whose generated control signals resulted in input currents with practically sinusoidal waveforms... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Le coût, l'autonomie et la durée de vie sont les principaux aspects qui freine le public dans l'achat d'une voiture électrique. Tous ces aspects sont liés à la batterie qui ne permet de stocker qu'une quantité limitée d'énergie. Dans ces conditions, il est indispensable de maîtriser les pertes d'énergie de la chaîne de traction. La machine électrique étant le principal consommateur d'énergie, elle joue un rôle important dans l'efficacité énergétique globale. Dans ce contexte, comment réduire les pertes de la machine électrique pour la rendre plus efficace ? Pour répondre à cette question, l'objectif de ce travail est de modéliser (avec une précision suffisante) et réduire les pertes fer dans notre application machine électrique de traction afin de les maîtriser. On comblera ainsi le manque de confiance en les modèles de pertes fer que peut avoir le concepteur de machine du concepteur de machine en lui permettant de réaliser des optimisations fines jusque dans les dernières phases de développement. Dans la première partie de ce manuscrit, le lecteur découvrira alors une machine synchrone à rotor bobiné du point de vue du matériau magnétique doux. Les premières conclusions montrent qu'une modélisation fine est nécessaire pour bien prendre en compte les phénomènes générateurs de pertes. On s'intéresse également à la mesure des matériaux magnétiques doux afin de comprendre de manière générale et tangible les pertes dans le matériau. On prend également conscience de la toute première source d'incertitude des modèles, la mesure du matériau. Enfin, nous présentons les démarches couramment rencontrées dans la littérature pour la modélisation des pertes fer. Face aux limitations des modèles couramment rencontrés, le modèle LS (un modèle d'hystérésis scalaire qui décompose les pertes en une contribution statique et une contribution dynamique) est redéveloppé afin qu'il réponde encore mieux aux exigences de l'industrie automobile. Il est précis et facilement identifiable à partir de mesures faciles à réaliser. La contribution statique reprend le modèle de Preisach formulé à l'aide des fonctions d'Everett dont l'identification à partir des caractéristiques mesurées est directe. La contribution dynamique quant à elle est dorénavant identifiable à partir de caractérisations en induction sinusoïdales. La précision du modèle ainsi améliorée est ensuite validée sur 63 cas tests exigeants dont la forme de l'induction est à fort contenus harmoniques. Le modèle développé est ensuite couplé avec un modèle électromagnétique élément finis de la machine électrique et validé par l'expérience. Les mesures faites sur le matériau étant l'un des points faibles des modèles, une méthodologie permettant d'évaluer la pertinence de la plage des mesures est proposée. On dresse également un état de l'art de l'impact du process (découpage, empilement et assemblage des tôles) sur les pertes fer afin d'aider le concepteur à mettre en balance les impacts liés au process qui n'ont pu être modélisés. Enfin des méthodologies parmi lesquels, les méthodologies des plans d'expériences sont mises en place afin d'optimiser les cartographies de commandes en des temps de calcul raisonnables. On montre des gains allant jusqu'à 50% de réduction des pertes totales de la machine dans certaines zones de fonctionnement par rapport à une optimisation dont l'objectif serait de minimiser uniquement les pertes dans les conducteurs de la machine. Ces résultats montrent l'intérêt d'utiliser un modèle de pertes fer précis afin de réduire les pertes totales de la machine. / Cost, range and lifetime are the main aspects that hold back the consumer to buy electric cars. These three aspects are all related to the battery which stores a limited amount of energy. Under such condition energy consumption is a major concern in electric cars. As the major electricity consumer, electrical machines play a key role for global energy savings. In this context how the electric machine can be made more energy efficient? To answer this question this thesis aim to model (accurately enough) and reduce the iron losses in traction electrical machine for electrical car. Indeed iron loss model suffer from a lack of confidence when it comes to fine optimization during the late phase of development. This thesis answers this question and takes into account the development criteria of the car industry and the constraints of the electric car. The first part of the thesis gives an overview of the application by taking a wounded rotor synchronous machine as a case study. The reader will discover the electrical machine with a soft magnetic material perspective. First, conclusion show that fine modelling of the electric machine is necessary to achieve desired accuracy. An overview on soft magnetic material behavior and measurements is then given. The reader will then acquire a broad feeling on soft magnetic material behavior and understands the first source of inaccuracy of the models (the measurements). Then, the typical models for predicting iron losses in magnetic materials are presented in a literature review. The second part of this study focus on iron loss modelling aspect. The loss surface model (a scalar hysteresis model made of a static and dynamic contribution) is used as the base of this modelling work. The static contribution is re-developed using Everett function formulation of the Preisach model is used to allow easy identification of the model directly from measurements. The identification of the dynamic contribution is re-worked to allow identification from sine-wave measurements (triangular wave measurement previously required). The model accuracy is improved and validated on 63 test cases with high harmonic distortion wave forms. The iron loss model is then coupled to finite element model of the electric machine and the limits of the model are investigated. One of the limits coming from measurement limitation, a methodology to evaluate the relevance of the measurement range is proposed. A literature review of the main impact of the process including cutting, stacking and assembling effects on electrical steel magnetic characteristics is intended to complement the modelling work to help the decision making of the designer on aspects that cannot be modeled. Finally methodologies playing with the modelling hypothesis and involving design of experiment and response surface are presented to reduce computational time and allow the optimization of the control of the machine. The optimizations carried out show total machine loss reduction up to 50% for some working point of the machine compared to an optimization dedicated to minimize only Joule's losses. This results show the interest of using a reliable iron loss model to reduce the total loss of the machine.

La thèse porte sur la caractérisation et la modélisation d'un échantillon ferromagnétique doux de Fer-Cobalt sous stimulation mécanique vibratoire. Le banc de caractérisation permet de maîtriser l'amplitude et la fréquence de la sollicitation mécanique au travers d’actionneurs piézoélectriques. Le cycle d'hystérésis magnétique ainsi que l'amplitude des déformations mécaniques sont mesurés simultanément lorsque l'échantillon torique est sollicité en flexion longitudinale. Les résultats expérimentaux montrent une réduction importante de l'hystérésis magnétique statique. Les réductions de coercivité sont corrélées linéairement à l'amplitude des contraintes élastiques exercées sur le tore quelle que soit la fréquence mécanique des vibrations. Ces réductions, observées en présence d'une contrainte externe cyclique, sont associées à des décrochements de parois de Bloch lorsque celles-ci sont piégées par des défauts de contraintes internes. Pour interpréter ces résultats, une modélisation de l'interaction paroi - défaut est proposée à l'aide d'une approche énergétique. Les profils d'interaction énergétique entre paroi et défaut permettent alors d'exprimer la coercivité attribuée aux défauts de contrainte interne en présence d'une contrainte externe d'amplitude et/ou de direction variable(s). Le modèle met en évidence la nécessité d'explorer un grand nombre d'états mécaniques pour chaque valeur de champ magnétique. Les portées applicatives de ces travaux sont proposées à l'issue d'un bilan énergétique effectué sur le système d'excitation magnéto-mécanique. Cette étude ouvre de nouvelles voies pour des dispositifs de récupération d'énergie mécanique vibratoire ainsi que pour des systèmes de désaimantation par activation mécanique. / This study deals with the characterization and modeling of a soft ferromagnetic sample of Cobalt-Iron under vibratory mechanical stimulation. The characterization test bench allows to control the magnitude and the frequency of the mechanical solicitation through piezoelectric actuators. The magnetic hysteresis loop and the magnitude of the mechanical deformations are measured simultaneously when the ring sample is placed under longitudinal bending. The experimental results show a significant reduction of the static magnetic hysteresis. Decreases of coercivity are linearly correlated to the amplitude of elastic strain applied on the torus regardless of the mechanical vibration frequency. These reductions, observed under a cyclic external stress, are associated with the depinning of Bloch domain walls when they encounter residual stress defects. To clarify these results, a modeling of the interaction between domain wall and defect is proposed using an energy approach. Energy profiles interaction is used to express the coercivity attributed to residual stress defects in the presence of an external stress of both variable amplitude and/or variable direction(s). The model highlights the need to explore a large number of mechanical states for each magnetic field value. Finally, applications raised by this work are proposed from an energy balance analysis performed on the magneto-mechanical excitation system. This study opens new opportunities for vibratory mechanical energy harvesting devices and systems for demagnetization by mechanical activation.

In the quest for reliable, repeatable and stable field electron emission that has commercial potential, whilst many attempts have been made, none yet has been truly distinguishable as being successful. Whilst I do not claim within this thesis to have uncovered the secret to success, fundamental issues have been addressed that concern the future directions towards achieving its full potential. An exhaustive comparison is made across the diverse range of materials that have, over the past 40-50 years, been postulated and indeed tested as field emitters. This has not previously been attempted. The materials are assessed according to the important metrics of turn on voltage, Eon, and maximum current density, Jmax, where low Eon and high Jmax are seen as desirable. The nano-carbons, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in particular, perform well in both these metrics. No dependency was seen between the material work function and its performance as an emitter, which might have been suggested by the Fowler Nordheim equations. To address the issues underlying the definition of the local enhancement factor, β, a number of variations of surface geometry using CNTs were fabricated. The field emission of these emitters was measured using two different approaches. The first is a Scanning Electrode Field Emission Microscope, SAFEM, which maps the emission at individual locations across the surface of the emitter, and the parallel plate that is more commonly encountered in field emission measurements. Finally, an observed hysteretic behaviour in CNT field emission was explored. The field emitters were subjected to a number of tests. These included; in-situ residual gas analysis of the gas species in the emitter environment, a stability study in which the emitters were exposed to a continuing voltage loop for 50 cycles, differing applied voltage times to analyse the effects on the emitted current, and varying maximums of applied field in a search for hysteresis onset information. These studies revealed the candidate in causing the hysteresis is likely to be water vapour that adsorbs on the CNT surface. A six step model if the emission process was made that details how and when the hysteresis is caused.