Browsing by Author "Faria, M. J."
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Analysing bifurcations encountered in numerical modelling of current transfer to cathodes of dc glow and arc dischargesPublication . Almeida, P. G. C.; Benilov, M. S.; Cunha, M. D.; Faria, M. J.Bifurcations and/or their consequences are frequently encountered in numerical modelling of current transfer to cathodes of gas discharges, also in apparently simple situations, and a failure to recognize and properly analyse a bifurcation may create difficulties in the modelling and hinder the understanding of numerical results and the underlying physics. This work is concerned with analysis of bifurcations that have been encountered in the modelling of steady-state current transfer to cathodes of glow and arc discharges. All basic types of steady-state bifurcations (fold, transcritical, pitchfork) have been identified and analysed. The analysis provides explanations to many results obtained in numerical modelling. In particular, it is shown that dramatic changes in patterns of current transfer to cathodes of both glow and arc discharges, described by numerical modelling, occur through perturbed transcritical bifurcations of first- and second-order contact. The analysis elucidates the reason why the mode of glow discharge associated with the falling section of the current–voltage characteristic in the solution of von Engel and Steenbeck seems not to appear in 2D numerical modelling and the subnormal and normal modes appear instead. A similar effect has been identified in numerical modelling of arc cathodes and explained.
- Multiple solutions in the theory of dc glow dischargesPublication . Almeida, P. G. C.; Benilov, M. S.; Faria, M. J.Multiple steady-state solutions existing in the theory of dc glow discharges are computed for the first time. The simulations are performed in 2D in the framework of the simplest self-consistent model, which accounts for a single ion species and employs the drift–diffusion approximation. Solutions describing up to nine different modes were found in the case where losses of the ions and the electrons due to diffusion to the wall were neglected. One mode is 1D, exists at all values of the discharge current, and represents in essence the well-known solution of von Engel and Steenbeck. The other eight modes are axially symmetric, exist in limited ranges of the discharge current, and are associated with different patterns of current spots on the cathode. The mode with a spot at the centre of the cathode exhibits a well pronounced effect of normal current density. Account of diffusion losses affects the solutions dramatically: the number of solutions is reduced, a mode appears that exists at all discharge currents and comprises the Townsend, subnormal, normal and abnormal discharges. The solutions that exist in limited current ranges describe patterns, and these patterns seem to represent axially symmetric analogues of the 3D patterns observed in dc glow microdischarges in xenon.
- Simulating different modes of current transfer to thermionic cathodes in a wide range of conditionsPublication . Benilov, M. S.; Cunha, M. D.; Faria, M. J.Changes in the pattern of steady-state modes of current transfer to thermionic cathodes induced by variations of the cathode geometry and temperature of the cooling fluid are studied numerically. For some combinations of control parameters, only one stable mode in a wide current range exists, which combines features of spot and diffuse modes. This mode, when attached to an elongated protrusion on the cathode surface, may be identified with the so-called super spot mode observed in experiments on low-current arcs. There is also reasonable agreement between the modelling and the experiment on cathodes of high-current arcs operating in the diffuse mode. The conclusions on existence under certain conditions of only one stable mode in a wide current range and of a minimum of the dependence of the temperature of the hottest point of the cathode on the arc current, manifested by this mode, may have industrial importance and admit a straightforward experimental verification.
- Study of stability of dc glow discharges with the use of Comsol Multiphysics softwarePublication . Almeida, P. G. C.; Benilov, M. S.; Faria, M. J.Stability of different axially symmetric modes of current transfer in dc glow discharges is investigated in the framework of the linear stability theory with the use of Comsol Multiphysics software. Conditions of current-controlled microdischarges in xenon are treated as an example. Both real and complex eigenvalues have been detected, meaning that perturbations can vary with time both monotonically and with oscillations. In general, results given by the linear stability theory confirm intuitive concepts developed in the literature and conform to the experiment. On the other hand, suggestions are provided for further experimental and theoretical work.
- Three-dimensional modeling of self-organization in DC glow microdischargesPublication . Almeida, P. G. C.; Benilov, M. S.; Faria, M. J.Three-dimensional simulations of self-organization in dc glow microdischarges are reported. The results describe a mode with a normal spot and modes with patterns of multiple spots, qualitatively similar to those observed in experiments with microdischarges in xenon.