Browsing by Author "Mancinelli, Beatriz"

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Ambient Species Density and Gas Temperature Radial Profiles Derived from a Schlieren Technique in a Low Frequency Non-thermal Oxygen Plasma Jet.
(2017) Chamorro, Juan Camilo; Prevosto, Leandro; Cejas, Ezequiel; Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz; Fischfeld, Gerardo
A quantitative interpretation of the schlieren technique applied to a non-thermal atmospheric-pressure oxygen plasma jet driven at low-frequency (50 Hz) is reported. The jet was operated in the turbulent regime with a hole-diameter based Reynolds number of 13,800. The technique coupled to a simplified kinetic model of the jet effluent region allowed deriving the temporally-averaged values of the gas temperature of the jet by processing the gray-level contrast values of digital schlieren images. The penetration of the ambient air into the jet due to turbulent diffusion was taken into account. The calibration of the optical system was obtained by fitting the sensitivity parameter so that the oxygen fraction at the nozzle exit was unity. The radial profiles of the contrast in the discharge off case were quite symmetric on the whole outflow, but with the discharge on, relatively strong departures from the symmetry were evident in the near field. The time-averaged gas temperature of the jet was relatively high, with a maximum departure of about 55 K from the room temperature; as can be expected owing to the operating molecular gas. The uncertainty in the temperature measurements was within 6 K, primarily derived from errors associated to the Abel inversion procedure. The results showed an increase in the gas temperature of about 8 K close to the nozzle exit; thus suggesting that some fast-gas heating (with a heating rate *0.3 K/ls) still occurs in the near field of the outflow.
An Interpretation of Langmuir Probe Floating Voltage Signals in a Cutting Arc.
(2009) Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz
An experimental study of the electrostatic probe floating voltage signals in a cutting arc and its physical interpre tation in terms of the arc plasma structure is reported. Sweeping electrostatic probes have been used to register the local floating potential and ion current at 3.5 mm from the nozzle exit in a 30-A arc generated by a high energy density cutting torch with a nozzle bore radius of 0.5 mm and an oxygen mass flow rate of 0.71 g · s−1. It is found that the floating potential signal presented a central hump with duration almost similar to that corresponding to the ion current signal but having also lateral wings with much larger duration. Capacitive coupling between the probe and the conducting body of the nozzle and arc as a source for the float ing potential signal was discarded. It is assumed that the hump in these probe voltage signals results from the presence of an electrostatic field directed in the radial direction outward the arc axis that is caused by thermoelectric effects. The probe floating voltage signal is inverted using the generalized Ohm’s law together with the Saha equation, thus obtaining the radial profiles of the temperature, particle densities, radial electric field, and potential of the plasma at the studied section of the arc. The resulting temperature and density profiles derived from our interpretation are in good agreement with the data published elsewhere in this kind of high-pressure arcs. There is not a straightforward connec tion between the measured hump amplitude in the floating signal (≈4 V) and the derived increase in the plasma potential between the arc edge and the arc center (≈10 V), due to the global zero cur rent balance condition established by the finite size of the probe. It is shown, however, that the probe takes a floating potential value close to that corresponding to the plasma temperature at the probe center.
Departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium in cutting arc plasmas derived from electron and gas density measurements using a twowavelength quantitative Schlieren technique.
(2011) Prevosto, Leandro; Artana, Guillermo; Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz
A two-wavelength quantitative Schlieren technique that allows inferring the electron and gas densities of axisymmetric arc plasmas without imposing any assumption regarding statistical equilibrium models is reported. This technique was applied to the study of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) departures within the core of a 30 A high-energy density cutting arc. In order to derive the electron and heavy particle temperatures from the inferred density profiles, a generalized two-temperature Saha equation together with the plasma equation of state and the quasineutrality condition were employed. Factors such as arc fluctuations that influence the accuracy of the measurements and the validity of the assumptions used to derive the plasma species temperature were considered. Significant deviations from chemical equilibrium as well as kinetic equilibrium were found at elevated electron temperatures and gas densities toward the arc core edge. An electron temperature profile nearly constant through the arc core with a value of about 14 000–15 000 K, well decoupled from the heavy particle temperature of about 1500 K at the arc core edge, was inferred.
Determination of plasma velocity from light fluctuations in a cutting torch.
(2009) Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz
Enhancement of soybean nodulation by seed treatment with non–thermal plasmas
(2020-03-18) Pérez Pizá, María Cecilia; Cejas, Ezequiel; Zilli, Carla; Prevosto, Leandro; Mancinelli, Beatriz; Santa Cruz, Diego; Yannarelli, Gustavo; Balestrasse, Karina
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is one of the most important crops worldwide providing dietary protein and vegetable oil. Most of the nitrogen required by the crop is supplied through biological N2 fxation. Non-thermal plasma is a fast, economical, and environmental-friendly technology that can improve seed quality, plant growth, and crop yield. Soybean seeds were exposed to a dielectric barrier discharge plasma operating at atmospheric pressure air with superimposed fows of O2 or N2 as carrying gases. An arrangement of a thin phenolic sheet covered by polyester flms was employed as an insulating barrier. We focused on the ability of plasma to improve soybean nodulation and biological nitrogen fxation. The total number of nodules and their weight were signifcantly higher in plants grown from treated seeds than in control. Plasma treatments incremented 1.6 fold the nitrogenase activity in nodules, while leghaemoglobin content was increased two times, indicating that nodules were fxing nitrogen more actively than control. Accordingly, the nitrogen content in nodules and the aerial part of plants increased by 64% and 23%, respectively. Our results were supported by biometrical parameters. The results suggested that diferent mechanisms are involved in soybean nodulation improvement. Therefore, the root contents of isofavonoids, glutathione, auxin and cytokinin, and expansin (GmEXP1) gene expression were determined. We consider this emerging technology is a suitable pre-sowing seed treatment.
Experimental Characterization of a Low-Current Cutting Torch.
(2004) Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz; Prevosto, Leandro; Minotti, Fernando; Márquez, Andrés
An experimental characterization of a low-current (30-40 A) cutting torch is presented. To avoid contamination of the plasma arc by removed anode material, a rotating steel cylinder was used as the anode and the arc was anchored onto the cylinder lateral surface. The cathode-anode and cathode-nozzle voltage drops, together with the gas pressure in the plenum chamber were registered for different values of the mass flow rate injected into the plenum chamber. By employing an optical system with a large magnification (≈ 15 X), the arc radius at the nozzle exit was also determined with a digital optical camera. The obtained experimental quantities were used to evaluate several flow properties at the nozzle exit (hot arc plasma and cold gas temperatures, arc and gas velocities, etc.) by employing a simplified theoretical model for the plasma flow in the nozzle. The obtained results are in reasonable agreement with the data reported in the literature by other authors. Explanations of the origin of the clogging effect and the nozzle voltage are also presented.
Glow Discharge in a High-Velocity Air Flow: The Role of the Associative Ionization Reactions Involving Excited Atoms.
(2019) Cejas, Ezequiel; Mancinelli, Beatriz; Prevosto, Leandro
A kinetic scheme for non-equilibrium regimes of atmospheric pressure air discharges is developed. A distinctive feature of this model is that it includes associative ionization with the participation of N(2D, 2P) atoms. The thermal dissociation of vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules and the electronic excitation from all the vibrational levels of the nitrogen molecules are also accounted for. The model is used to simulate the parameters of a glow discharge ignited in a fast longitudinal flow of preheated (T0 = 1800–2900 K) air. The results adequately describe the dependence of the electric field in the glow discharge on the initial gas temperature. For T0 = 1800 K, a substantial acceleration in the ionization kinetics of the discharge is found at current densities larger than 3 A/cm2 , mainly due to the N(2P) + O(3P) → NO+ + e process; being the N(2P) atoms produced via quenching of N2(A3P u +) molecules by N(4S) atoms. Correspondingly, the reduced electric field noticeably falls because the electron energy (6.2 eV) required for the excitation of the N2(A3P u +) state is considerably lower than the ionization energy (9.27 eV) of the NO molecules. For higher values of T0, the associative ionization N(2D) + O(3P) → NO+ + e process (with a low–activation barrier of 0.38 eV) becomes also important in the production of charged particles. The N(2D) atoms being mainly produced via quenching of N2(A3P u +) molecules by O(3P) atoms.
Hydrodynamic Model for the Plasma-Gas Flow in a Cutting Torch Nozzle.
(2004) Kelly, Héctor; Minotti, Fernando; Prevosto, Leandro; Mancinelli, Beatriz
We present a simple hydrodynamic model to obtain the profiles of the relevant physical quantities along a nozzle of arbitrary cross-section in a cutting torch. The model uses a two-zone approximation (a hot central plasma carrying the discharge current wrapped by a relatively cold gas which thermally isolates the nozzle wall from the plasma). Seeking for a solution with sonic conditions at the nozzle exit, the model allows expressing all the profiles in terms of the externally controlled parameters of the torch (geometry of the torch, discharge current, mass flow of the gas and plenum pressure) and the values of the arc and gas temperatures at the nozzle entrance. These last two values can be estimated simply appealing to energy conservation in the cathode-nozzle region. The model contains additional features compared with previous reported models, while retaining simplicity. The detailed consideration of an arc region coupled to the surrounding gas dynamics allows determining voltage drops and consequent delivered power with less assumptions than those found in other published works, and at the same time reduces the set of parameters needed to determine the solution.
Improvement of growth and yield of soybean plants through the application of non-thermal plasmas to seeds with different health status.
(2019) Pérez Pizá, María; Prevosto, Leandro; Grijalba, Pablo; Zilli, Carla; Cejas, Ezequiel; Mancinelli, Beatriz; Balestrasse, Karina
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is a globally important crop, providing oil and protein. Diaporthe/Phomopsis complex includes seed-borne pathogens that affect this legume. Non-thermal plasma treatment is a fast, cost-effective and environmental-friendly technology. Soybean seeds were exposed to a quasi stationary (50 Hz) dielectric barrier discharge plasma operating at atmospheric pressure air. Different carrying gases (O2 and N2) and barrier insulating materials were used. This work was performed to test if the effects of non-thermal plasma treatment applied to healthy and infected seeds persist throughout the entire cycle of plants. To this aim, lipid peroxidation, activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase, vegetative growth and agronomic traits were analysed. The results here reported showed that plants grown from infected seedsdid not trigger oxidative stress due to the reduction of pathogen incidence in seeds treated with cold plasma. Vegetative growth revealed a similar pattern for plants grown from treated seeds than that found for the healthy control. Infected control, by contrast, showed clear signs of damage. Moreover, plasma treatment itself increased plant growth, promoted a normal and healthy physiological performance and incremented the yield of plants. The implementation of this technology for seeds treatment before sowing could help reducing the use of agrochemicals during the crop cycle.
Interpretation of Voltage Measurements in Cutting Torches.
(2015) Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor; Minotti, Fernando Oscar; Mancinelli, Beatriz
Anode-cathode and nozzle-cathode voltages, plenum pressure and gas mass flow measurements in a low current (30 A) cutting torch, operated with oxygen gas, are used as inputs for an electrical model coupled to a simplified fluid model, in order to infer some properties of the plasma-gas structure that are difficult to measure.
Investigation of the relevant kinetic processes in the initial stage of a double-arcing instability in oxygen plasmas.
(2018) Mancinelli, Beatriz; Prevosto, Leandro; Chamorro, Juan Camilo; Minotti, Fernando; Kelly, Héctor
A numerical investigation of the kinetic processes in the initial (nanosecond range) stage of the double-arcing instability was developed. The plasma-sheath boundary region of an oxygen operated cutting torch was considered. The energy balance and chemistry processes in the dis charge were described. It is shown that the double-arcing instability is a sudden transition from a diffuse (glow-like) discharge to a constricted (arc-like) discharge in the plasma-sheath boundary region arising from a field-emission instability. A critical electric field value of 107 V/m was found at the cathodic part of the nozzle wall under the conditions considered. The field-emission instability drives in turn a fast electronic-to-translational energy relaxation mechanism, giving rise to a very fast gas heating rate of at least 109 K/s, mainly due to reactions of preliminary dissocia tion of oxygen molecules via the highly excited electronic state populated by electron impact. It is expected that this fast oxygen heating rate further stimulates the discharge contraction through the thermal instability mechanism.
Langmuir probe diagnostics of an atmospheric pressure, vortex–stabilized nitrogen plasma jet
(2012-09-19) Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz
Langmuir probe measurements in an atmospheric pressure direct current (dc) plasma jet are reported. Sweeping probes were used. The experiment was carried out using a dc non–transferred arc torch with a rod–type cathode and an anode of 5mm diameter. The torch was operated at a nominal power level of 15kW with a nitrogen flow rate of 25 Nl min 1. A flat ion saturation region was found in the current–voltage curve of the probe. The ion saturation current to a cylindrical probe in a high–pressure non local thermal equilibrium (LTE) plasma was modeled. Thermal effects and ionization/recombination processes inside the probe perturbed region were taken into account. Averaged radial profiles of the electron and heavy particle temperatures as well as the electron density were obtained. An electron temperature around 11 000 K, a heavy particle temperature around 9500K and an electron density of about 4 1022m 3, were found at the jet centre at 3.5mm downstream from the torch exit. Large deviations from kinetic equilibrium were found throughout the plasma jet. The electron and heavy particle temperature profiles showed good agreement with those reported in the literature by using spectroscopic techniques. It was also found that the temperature radial profile based on LTE was very close to that of the electrons. The calculations have shown that this method is particularly useful for studying spraying–type plasma jets characterized by electron temperatures in the range 9000–14 000 K. VC 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4752886]
Langmuir probe measurements in a time-fluctuating-highly ionized non-equilibrium cutting arc: Analysis of the electron retarding part of the time-averaged current-voltage characteristic of the probe.
(2013) Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz
This work describes the application of Langmuir probe diagnostics to the measurement of the electron temperature in a time-fluctuating-highly ionized, non-equilibrium cutting arc. The electron retarding part of the time-averaged current-voltage characteristic of the probe was analysed, assuming that the standard exponential expression describing the electron current to the probe in collision-free plas mas can be applied under the investigated conditions. A procedure is described which allows the determination of the errors introduced in time-averaged probe data due to small-amplitude plasma fluctuations. It was found that the experimental points can be gathered into two well defined groups allowing defining two quite different averaged electron temperature values. In the low-current re gion the averaged characteristic was not significantly disturbed by the fluctuations and can reliably be used to obtain the actual value of the averaged electron temperature. In particular, an averaged electron temperature of 0.98 ± 0.07 eV (= 11400 ± 800 K) was found for the central core of the arc (30 A) at 3.5 mm downstream from the nozzle exit. This average included not only a time-average over the time fluctuations but also a spatial-average along the probe collecting length. The fitting of the high-current region of the characteristic using such electron temperature value together with the corrections given by the fluctuation analysis showed a relevant departure of local thermal equilibrium in the arc core.
Modelling of an Atmospheric Pressure Nitrogen Glow Discharge Operating in High-Gas Temperature Regimes.
(2016) Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz
A model of an atmospheric pressure nitrogen glow discharge in high-gas tem perature regimes is developed. The model considers a fairly complete set of chemical reactions, including several processes with the participation of electronically exited nitrogen atoms describing the energy balance and charged particles kinetic processes in the dis charge. It is shown that the thermal dissociation of vibrationally excited molecules plays an essential role in the production of N(4 S) atoms. The dominant ion within the investigated current range (52–187 mA) is the molecular N2 ? with an increasing proportion of atomic N? towards high-current values. The process of production of electrons within the almost whole current range is controlled predominantly by associative ionization in atomic colli sions N(2 P) ? N(2 P) ? N2 ? ? e; being the N(2 P) atoms mainly produced via quenching of N2(A3Pu ?) electronically excited molecules by N(4 S) atoms. The results of calculations are compared with the available experimental data and a good agreement is found.
Modelling of an Atmospheric–Pressure Air Glow Discharge Operating in High–Gas Temperature Regimes: The Role of the Associative Ionization Reactions Involving Excited Atoms.
(2020) Cejas, Ezequiel; Prevosto, Leandro; Mancinelli, Beatriz
A model of a stationary glow-type discharge in atmospheric-pressure air operated in high-gas-temperature regimes (1000 K < Tg < 6000 K), with a focus on the role of associative ionization reactions involving N(2D,2P)-excited atoms, is developed. Thermal dissociation of vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules, as well as electronic excitation from all the vibrational levels of the nitrogen molecules, is also accounted for. The calculations show that the near-threshold associative ionization reaction, N(2D) + O(3P) → NO+ + e, is the major ionization mechanism in air at 2500 K < Tg < 4500 K while the ionization of NO molecules by electron impact is the dominant mechanism at lower gas temperatures and the high-threshold associative ionization reaction involving ground-state atoms dominates at higher temperatures. The exoergic associative ionization reaction, N(2P) + O(3P) → NO+ + e, also speeds up the ionization at the highest temperature values. The vibrational excitation of the gas significantly accelerates the production of N2(A3P u +) molecules, which in turn increases the densities of excited N(2D,2P) atoms. Because the electron energy required for the excitation of the N2(A3P u +) state from N2(X1P g +, v) molecules (e.g., 6.2 eV for v = 0) is considerably lower than the ionization energy (9.27 eV) of the NO molecules, the reduced electric field begins to noticeably fall at Tg > 2500 K. The calculated plasma parameters agree with the available experimental data.
Modelling of the Plasma–Sheath Boundary Region in Wall-Stabilized Arc Plasmas: Unipolar Discharge Properties.
(2017) Mancinelli, Beatriz; Prevosto, Leandro; Chamorro, Juan Camilo; Minotti, Fernando; Kelly, Héctor
A two-dimensional model of the non-equilibrium unipolar discharge occurring in the plasma–sheath boundary region of a transferred-arc was developed. This model was used to study the current transfer to the nozzle (1 mm diameter) of a 30 A arc cutting torch operated with oxygen. The energy balance and chemistry processes in the discharge were described by using a kinetic block of 45 elementary reactions and processes with the participation of 13 species including electronically excited particles. The nonlocal transport of electrons was accounted for into the fluid model. The dependence of the ion mobility with the electric field was also considered. Basic discharge properties were described. It has been found that a large part (* 80%) of the total electric power (1700 mW) delivered in the bulk of the sheath region is spent in heating the positive ions and further dissipated through collisions with the neutral particles. The results also showed that the electron energy loss in inelastic collisions represents only * 25% of the electron power and that about 63% of the power spent on gas heating is produced by the ion– molecule reaction, the electron–ion and ion–ion recombination reactions, and by the electron attachment. The rest of the power converted into heat is contributed by dissociation by electron-impact, dissociative ionization and quenching of O(1 D). Some fast gas heating channels which are expected to play a key role in the double-arcing phenomena in oxygen gas were also identified.
Numerical investigation of the double-arcing phenomenon in a cutting arc torch.
(2014) Mancinelli, Beatriz; Minotti, Fernando; Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor
A numerical investigation of the double-arcing phenomenon in a cutting arc torch is reported. The dynamics of the double-arcing were simulated by using a two-dimensional model of the gas breakdown development in the space-charge layer contiguous to the nozzle of a cutting arc torch operated with oxygen. The kinetic scheme includes ionization of heavy particles by electron impact, electron attachment, electron detachment, electron–ion recombination, and ion–ion recombination. Complementary measurements during double-arcing phenomena were also conducted. A marked rise of the nozzle voltage was found. The numerical results showed that the dynamics of a cathode spot at the exit of the nozzle inner surface play a key role in the raising of the nozzle voltage, which in turn allows more electrons to return to the wall at the nozzle inlet. The return flow of electrons thus closes the current loop of the double-arcing. The increase in the (floating) nozzle voltage is due to the fact that the increased electron emission at the spot is mainly compensated by the displacement current (the ions do not play a relevant role due to its low-mobility) until that the stationary state is achieved and the electron return flow fully-compensates the electron emission at the spot. A fairly good agreement was found between the model and the experiment for a spot emission current growth rate of the order of 7 x 104 A/s.
Numerical modeling of the gas breakdown development in the space–charge layer inside the nozzle of a transferred arc torch
(2012) Mancinelli, Beatriz; Prevosto, Leandro; Minotti, Fernando Oscar
Double–arcing is a phenomenon that occurs when a transferred arc, flowing inside an electrically insulated nozzle, breaks into two separate arcs: one that connects the cathode with the nozzle, and another that connects the nozzle with the anode. Experimental evidence suggests that the reason for double–arcing is a Townsend like breakdown occurring in the thin space–charge layer, which separates the plasma from the metallic nozzle, due to the high voltage drop across it. Breakdown phenomena in a gas between metallic electrodes have been extensively studied; however the present case involves breakdown of a high–temperature gas between one electrode (the nozzle) and a plasma boundary. A 1–D model of the gas breakdown development in the space–charge layer contiguous to the nozzle of a cutting arc torch operated with oxygen is reported. The dynamics of the discharge is analyzed. The kinetic scheme includes processes of ionization of heavy particles by electron impact, electron attachment, electron–ion recombination and ion–ion recombination.
Numerical Modelling of a Cutting Arc Torch
(Jan Awrejcewicz. INTECH, 2014-02-14) Mancinelli, Beatriz; Minotti, Fernando Oscar; Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor
Plasma cutting is a process of metal cutting at atmospheric pressure by an arc plasma jet, where a transferred arc is generated between a cathode and a work-piece (the metal to be cut) acting as the anode . Small nozzle bore, extremely high enthalpy and operation at relatively low arc current (≈ 10 ÷ 200) A are a few of the primary features of these torches. The physics involved in such arcs is very complicated. The conversion of electric energy into heat within small volumes causes high temperatures and steep gradients. Dissociation, ionization, large heat transfer rates (including losses by radiation), fluid turbulence and electromagnetic phenomena are involved. In addition, wide variations of physical properties, such as density, thermal conductivity, electric conductivity and viscosity have to be taken into account.
On the Double-Arcing Phenomenon in a Cutting Arc Torch.
(2011) Prevosto, Leandro; Kelly, Héctor; Mancinelli, Beatriz
Transferred arc plasma torches are widely used in industrial cutting process of metallic materials because of their ability to cut almost any metal and the very high productivity that can be achieved with this technology (Boulos et al., 1994). The plasma cutting process is characterized by a transferred electric arc that is established between a cathode, which is a part of the cutting torch, and a work-piece (the metal to be cut) acting as the anode. In order to obtain a high-quality cut, the plasma jet must be as collimated as possible and also must have a high power density. To this end, the transferred arc is constricted by a metallic tube (a nozzle) with a small inner diameter (of the order of one millimeter). Usually, a vortex-type flow with large axial and azimuthal velocity components is forced through the nozzle to provide arc stability and to protect its inner wall. In such case the hot arc is confined to the center of the nozzle, while centrifugal forces drive the colder fluid towards the nozzle walls, which are thus thermally protected. The axial component of the gas flow continuously supplies cold fluid, providing an intense convective cooling at the arc fringes. In addition, the vortex flow enhances the power dissipation per unit length of the arc column, resulting in high temperatures at the arc axis. Since the nozzle is subjected to a very high heat flux, it is made of a metal with a high thermal conductivity (copper is broadly used). The arc current is of the order of ten up to a few hundred amperes, and the gas pressure is several atmospheres. Arc axis temperatures around 15 kK are usual, but larger values, close to 25 kK or even higher, have been reached.

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