Nanosecond Plasma Pulse Gas Temperature Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring gas temperatures in nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharges are limited to the initial 20 ns after discharge initiation, failing to provide comprehensive temporally resolved measurements necessary for analyzing flow-induced effects and combustion system applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a probing nanosecond plasma pulse in conjunction with optical emission spectroscopy to measure gas temperatures, allowing for measurements up to several milliseconds after the discharge, by generating a high-voltage pulse between electrodes and using an optical emission spectrometer to process the light emission signal excited by the probing pulse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If classical optical emission spectroscopy is used to measure gas temperature in NRP discharges, then temperature measurement is possible during the initial discharge phase, but measurements are limited to only the first 20 ns and cannot capture later temperature evolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic nanosecond probing pulses at controlled repetition rates to repeatedly excite the gas and generate emission signals at different time points. This periodic excitation enables temperature measurements throughout the entire discharge duration (up to several milliseconds), overcoming the limitation of single-shot measurements that are restricted to the initial 20 ns phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary nanosecond probing pulses to excite the gas before the main discharge effects fully develop. These preliminary probes establish a baseline and enable measurement of temperature evolution from the very beginning of the discharge process, extending the measurable time window backward and forward beyond the traditional 20 ns limitation.
2Ease of manufacture
If longer electrical pulses are used to generate plasma, then easier plasma generation is achieved, but high energy electrons that are unique to nanosecond pulses cannot be created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temporal parameters of the electrical pulse (duration, repetition rate, amplitude) to optimize the balance between ease of plasma generation and electron energy characteristics. By using nanosecond-duration pulses at specific repetition rates, the system maintains the high energy electron production unique to short pulses while enabling sustained plasma through periodic regeneration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic nanosecond pulses to repeatedly generate high energy electrons throughout the discharge duration. Each pulse creates a burst of high energy electrons, and the periodic repetition maintains a sustained population of reactive species and excited states, achieving both ease of plasma generation and unique electron energy characteristics.
3Productivity
If NRP discharges are applied for combustion applications, then flame speed and stabilization are improved, but comprehensive understanding requires temporally resolved plasma property measurements that are currently unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where optical emission measurements from each nanosecond pulse provide real-time information about plasma properties (electron density, temperature, species concentration). This feedback enables dynamic adjustment and optimization of discharge parameters to maximize combustion enhancement while maintaining precise knowledge of plasma state throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic nanosecond probing to repeatedly sample plasma properties at different time points during the discharge and combustion process. This time-resolved measurement approach captures the evolution of plasma parameters, providing comprehensive data on how plasma properties change during combustion enhancement, thereby eliminating the information loss about temporal plasma behavior.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables temporally resolved gas temperature measurements with high precision, capable of capturing temperature evolution up to 5 milliseconds after the discharge, providing insights into combustion and plasma applications with improved temporal and spatial resolution compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
using an optical emission spectroscopy technique to measure the temperature of the gas by processing a light emission signal excited by the probing nanosecond plasma pulse
Implementation Method 2
generating a probing nanosecond plasma pulse in the gas by applying a high-voltage (HV) nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) discharge in a pin-to-pin configuration
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems capable of measuring gas temperatures utilizing plasma discharges. Such a method performs a measurement of a temperature of a gas by generating a probing nanosecond plasma pulse in the gas, and then using an optical emission spectroscopy technique to measure the temperature of the gas by processing a light emission signal excited by the probing nanosecond plasma pulse.