A Macroscopic Model for First Return Stroke of Lightning

A lightning return stroke model for a downward flash is proposed. The model includes underlying physical phenomena governing return stroke evolution, namely, electric field due to charge distributed along the leader and cloud, transient enhancement of series channel conductance at the bridging regime, and the nonlinear variation of channel conductance, which supports the return stroke current evolution. Thermal effects of free burning arc at the stroke wave front and its impact on channel conductance are studied. A first-order arc model for determining the dynamic channel conductance along with a field-dependent conductivity for corona sheath is used in the model. The model predicts consistent current propagation along the channel with regard to current amplitude and return stroke velocity. The model is also capable of predicting the remote electromagnetic fields that are consistent with the experimental observations.

Potential and Electric Field Profiles for Transmission line Insulators

Transmission of bulk power at high voltages over very long distances has become very imperative. At present, throughout the globe, this task has been mostly performed by overhead transmission lines. The dual task of mechanically supporting and electrically isolating the live phase conductors from the support tower is performed by string insulators. Whether in clean condition or under polluted conditions, the electrical stress distribution along the insulators governs the possible flashover, which is quite detrimental to the system. However, a reliable data on stress distribution in commonly employed string insulators are rather scarce. Considering this, the present work has made an attempt to study accurately, the field distribution in 220 kV strings for six different types of porcelain/ceramic insulators (Normal and Antifog discs) used for high voltage transmission. The surface charge simulation method is employed for the required field computation. Voltage and electric stress distribution is deduced and compared across different types of discs. A comparison on normalised surface resistance, which is an indicator for the stress concentration under polluted condition, is also attempted.

Thermally induced phase separation in P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends in presence of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes: Rheology, morphology and electrical conductivity

The focus of this work is the evaluation and analysis of the state of dispersion of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs), within different morphologies formed, in a model LCST blend (poly[(alpha-methylstyrene)-co-(acrylonitrile)]/poly(methyl-methacryla te), P alpha MSAN/PMMA). Blend compositions that are expected to yield droplet-matrix (85/15 P alpha MSAN/PMMA and 15/85 P alpha MSAN/PMMA, wt/wt) and co-continuous morphologies (60/40 P alpha MSAN/PMMA, wt/wt) upon phase separation have been combined with two types of CNTs; carboxylic acid functionalized (CNTCOOH) and polyethylene modified (CNTPE) up to 2 wt%. Thermally induced phase separation in the blends has been studied in-situ by rheology and dielectric (conductivity) spectroscopy in terms of morphological evolution and CNT percolation. The state of dispersion of CNTs has been evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results indicate that the final blend morphology and the surface functionalization of CNT are the main factors that govern percolation. In presence of either of the CNTs, 60/40 P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends yield a droplet-matrix morphology rather than co-continuous and do not show any percolation. On the other hand, both 85/15 P alpha MSAN/PMMA and 15/85 P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends containing CNTPEs show percolation in the rheological and electrical properties. Interestingly, the conductivity spectroscopy measurements demonstrate that the 15/85 P alpha MSAN/PMMA blends with CNTPEs that show insulating properties at room temperature for the miscible blends reveal highly conducting properties in the phase separated blends (melt state) as a result of phase separation. By quenching this morphology, the conductivity can be retained in the blends even in the solid state. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fermion Electric Dipole Moments in R-parity violating Supersymmetry

In this talk I discuss some aspects of the study of electric dipole moments (EDMs) of the fermions, in the context of R-parity violating (\rpv) Supersymmetry (SUSY). I will start with a brief general discussion of how dipole moments, in general, serve as a probe of physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) and an even briefer summary of \rpv SUSY. I will follow by discussing a general method of analysis for obtaining the leading fermion mass dependence of the dipole moments and present its application to \rpv SUSY case. Then I will summarise the constraints that the analysis of $e,n$ and $Hg$ EDMs provide for the case of trilinear \rpv SUSY couplings and make a few comments on the case of bilinear \rpv, where the general method of analysis proposed by us does not work.

Transient electric field distribution within the working volume of an NEMP simulator

Nuclear electro-magnetic pulse (NEMP) simulators which are used in the simulation of transient electromagnetic fields due to a high altitude nuclear detonation are generally excited with a double exponential high voltage pulse. This results in a current distribution on the wires of the simulator and hence a transient electric field in the working volume of the simulator where the test object is kept. It is found that for the simulator under study, the current distribution is non-uniform and so is the field distribution along the width of the simulator in the working volume. To make the current distribution uniform, several methods have been suggested and the results of these methods are analyzed and suitable conclusions are arrived at from those results.

Effective thermal conductivity of a heat generating rod bundle dissipating heat by natural convection and radiation

A numerical study of conjugate natural convection and surface radiation in a horizontal hexagonal sheath housing 19 solid heat generating rods with cladding and argon as the fill gas, is performed. The natural convection in the sheath is driven by the volumetric heat generation in the solid rods. The problem is solved using the FLUENT CFD code. A correlation is obtained to predict the maximum temperature in the rod bundle for different pitch-to-diameter ratios and heat generating rates. The effective thermal conductivity is related to the heat generation rate, maximum temperature and the sheath temperature. Results are presented for the dimensionless maximum temperature, Rayleigh number and the contribution of radiation with changing emissivity, total wattage and the pitch-to-diameter ratio. In the simulation of a larger system that contains a rod bundle, the effective thermal conductivity facilitates simplified modelling of the rod bundle by treating it as a solid of effective thermal conductivity. The parametric studies revealed that the contribution of radiation can be 38-65% of the total heat generation, for the parameter ranges chosen. Data for critical Rayleigh number above which natural convection comes into effect is also presented. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Radiated Lightning Electromagnetic fields at different heights above ground

In this paper, the radiated electric and magnetic fields above a perfectly conducting ground at different heights from 10 m to 10 km and for lateral distances varying from 20 m to 10 km from a lightning return stroke channel are computed and the field waveforms are presented. It has been observed that the vertical electric field reverses its polarity with height and this height depends on the radial distance from the lightning channel. The magnitude of the horizontal electric field, on the other hand,increases with height up to a certain height and then reduces. The effect of variation in the rate of rise of lightning current (di/dt) and the velocity of return stroke current on the radiated electric and magnetic fields for the above heights and distances have also been studied. It is seen that the variation in maximum current derivative does not have a significant influence on the electric field when ground is assumed as a perfect conductor but it influences significantly the horizontal electric field when ground has finite conductivity. The velocity of propagation of return stroke current on the other hand has significant influence for both perfectly as well as finitely conducting ground conditions.

Crystal Structure, Thermal Expansion and ElectricaH Conductivity of Yo.sCao.2Fel-x Mnx03+o (0 < x < 1.0)

The crystal structure, thennal expansion and electrical conductivity of the solid solutions YOgCao.2Fel-x MnxOJ+c5 (0 ~ x ~ 1.0) were investigated. All compositions had the GdFeOrtype orthorhombic perovskite structure with trace amounts of a second phase present in case of x = 0.8 and 1.0. The lattice parameters were detennined at room tempe'rature by using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The pseudocubic lattice constant decreased with increasing x. The average I inear thermal expansion coefficient (anv) in the temperature range from 673 to 973 K showed negligible change with x up to x = 0.4. The thennal expansion curve for x = I had a slope approaching zero in the temperature range from 648 to 948 K. The calculated activation energy values for electrical conduction indicate that conduction occurs primarily by the small polaron hopping mechanism. The drastic drop in electrical conductivity for a small addition of Mn (0 ~ x ~ 0.2) is caused by the preferential fonnation of Mn4t ion~ (rather than Fe4 +) which act as carrier traps. This continues till the charge compensation for the divalent ions on the A-site is complete. The results indicate that with further increase in manganese content (beyond x =0.4) in the solid solutions, there is an increase in exc :::ss oxygen and consequently, a small increase in Mn'll il>I1~, which are charge compensated by the formation of cation vancancies.

La-Doped Ba2In2O5 Electrolyte: Pechini Synthesis, Microstructure, Electrical Conductivity, and Application for CO Gas Sensing

Dense (Ba1―xLax)2In2O5+x (BLIO) electrolytes with different compositions (x = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6) were fabricated using powders obtained by the Pechini method. The formation of BLIO powders was investigated by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The calcination temperature and time were optimized. The sintered (Ba1―xLax)2In2O5+x electrolytes showed a relative density greater than ∼97%, and the major phase of three electrolyte compositions was indexed as a cubic perovskite. The electrical conductivity of BLIO ceramics at elevated temperatures in air was measured by ac-impedance spectroscopy. The activation energies for conduction in BLIO were 102 kJ mol―1 between 473 and 666 K and 118 kJ mol―1 between 769 and 873 K, which are comparable to that for 8 mol % yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia. Mixed-potential gas sensors utilizing BLIO-based electrolytes exhibited good sensitivity to different CO concentrations from ∼100 to ∼500 ppm and excellent selectivity to methane at around 873 K.

Dielectric properties of Li2O–3B2O3 glasses

The frequency and temperature dependences of the dielectric constant and the electrical conductivity of the transparent glasses in the composition Li2O–3B2O3 were investigated in the 100 Hz–10 MHz frequency range. The dielectric constant and the loss in the low frequency regime were electrode material dependent. Dielectric and electrical relaxations were, respectively, analyzed using the Cole–Cole and electric modulus formalisms. The dielectric relaxation mechanism was discussed in the framework of electrode and charge carrier (hopping of the ions) related polarization using generalized Cole–Cole expression. The frequency dependent electrical conductivity was rationalized using Jonscher’s power law. The activation energy associated with the dc conductivity was 0.80±0.02 eV, which was ascribed to the motion of Li+ ions in the glass matrix. The activation energy associated with dielectric relaxation was almost equal to that of the dc conductivity, indicating that the same species took part in both the processes. Temperature dependent behavior of the frequency exponent (n) suggested that the correlated barrier hopping model was the most apposite to rationalize the electrical transport phenomenon in Li2O–3B2O3 glasses. These glasses on heating at 933 K/10 h resulted in the known nonlinear optical phase LiB3O5.