Electric Field Modelling of Composite High Voltage Insulators

This paper deals with the two-dimensional electric field modelling and electric field stress calculations of different types of composite insulators used in high voltage distribution and transmission systems. The computer simulations are carried out by using a commercially available software package. The potential and electric filed results obtained for the actual insulator profiles for three types of composite/polymeric insulators are discussed and presented.

Maturation of a transient outward potassium current in mouse fetal hypothalamic neurons in culture

The whole-cell voltage clamp technique was used to record potassium currents in mouse fetal hypothalamic neurons developing in culture medium from days 1 to 17. The neurons were derived from fetuses of IOPS/OF1 mice on the 14th day of gestation. The mature neurons (>six days in culture) showed both a transient potassium current and a non-inactivating delayed rectifier potassium current. These were identified pharmacologically by using the potassium channel blockers tetraethyl ammonium chloride and 4-aminopyridine, and on the basis of their kinetics and voltage sensitivities. The delayed rectifier potassium current had a threshold of −20 mV, a slow time-course of activation, and was sustained during the voltage pulse. The 4-aminopyridine-sensitive current was transient, and was activated from a holding potential more negative (−80 mV) than that required for evoking the delayed rectifier potassium current (−40 mV). The delayed rectifier potassium current was detectable from day 1 onwards, while the transient potassium current showed a distinct developmental trend. The time-constant of inactivation became faster with age in culture. The half steady-state inactivation potential showed a shift towards less negative membrane potentials with age, and the relationship was best described by a logarithmic regression equation.The developmental trend of the transient potassium current may relate functionally to the progressive morphological changes, and the appearance of synaptic connections during ontogenesis.

MPD arcjet cathode surface current density

The radial current density distribution on the cathode longitudinal surface of magnetoplasmadynamic arcjets for axisymmetric geometries has been obtained by simultaneous solution of the electromagnetic equations for a given uniform gas dynamic field. The problem formulation permits a parametric study of the effects of the Hall parameter and the magnetic Reynolds number. The solution for the current density distribution displays current concentrations at two locations, that is, at the upstream and downstream ends of the cathode. This result is in conformity with known experimental data. The parameters responsible for these current concentrations are identified. It is shown that the effect of the magnetic Reynolds number on the current density distribution is different depending on whether or not the Hall effect is included. This result is also found to be consistent with experimental data.

Principle of a Dual Current Source Converter for AC Motor Drives

The principle of operation of a dual current source converter is briefly explained. The combination of two single current source converters (SCSC) to form a ``dual (duplex) current source converter'' (DCSC) is proposed. The DCSC is shown to have the following merits: 1) it retains all the advantages of the SCSC; 2) it reduces the harmonic content of the current waveform considerably; and 3) since the load current is shared equally between two current source converters, ratings of the individual components employed in the circuit are considerably lowered. A DCSC can be an attractive choice for sophisticated large horsepower drives where a good performance of the drive rather than cost is a prime factor. An open-loop control scheme employing the DCSC for an ac motor drive has been successfully implemented in the laboratory. Oscillograms of the improved load current waveforms are shown.

Varistor property of n‐BaTiO3 based current limiters

Highly stable varistor (voltage-limiting) property is observed for ceramics based on donor doped (Ba1-xSrx)Ti1-yZryO3 (x < 0.35, y < 0.05), when the ambient temperature (T(a)) is above the Curie point (T(c)). If T(a) < T(c), the same ceramics showed stable current-limiting behavior. The leakage current and the breakdown voltage as well as the nonlinearity coefficient (alpha = 30-50) could be varied with the T(c)-shifting components, the grain boundary layer modifiers and the post-sintering annealing. Analyses of the current-voltage relations show that grain boundary layer conduction at T(a) < T(c) corresponds to tunneling across asymmetric barriers formed under steady-state joule heating. At T(a) > T(c), trap-related conduction gives way to tunneling across symmetric barriers as the field strength increases.

Magnetic, electric, and dielectric properties of FeCo alloy nanoparticles dispersed in amorphous matrix

Nanocrystalline Fe53Co47 alloy was synthesized by a single-step transmetallation chemical method at room temperature. The Fe53Co47 alloy nanoparticles of 77 and 47 wt% were dispersed in silica matrix by the sol-gel process using tetraethyl orthosilcate. Structural studies reveal that the as-prepared alloy powders are in bcc phase and silica is in an amorphous state. The phase-transition temperature and Mossbauer spectra analysis of the Fe-Co alloy establishes the homogeneous alloy formation. A saturation magnetization of 218 emu/g was obtained for pure FeCo alloy at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopic analysis demonstrates the hollow-sphere morphology for FeCo alloy particles. Magnetic nanocomposite consisting of 47 wt% FeCo-silica shows enhanced thermal stability over the native FeCo alloy. Electrical and dielectric properties of 47 wt% FeCo-silica nanocomposites were investigated as a function of frequency and temperature. It was found that the dielectric constants and dielectric loss were stable throughout the measured temperature (310-373 K). Our results indicate that FeCo-silica nanocomposite is a promising candidate for high-frequency applications. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim