A simple device for dielectric spectroscopy of polymers with temperature regulation close to 300 K based on a Peltier junction

We present a simple thermostat device for performing dielectric spectroscopy measurements on polymers close to their glass transition temperature. By using a vacuum chamber containing a Peltier junction with its regulator, we show that a very simple setup yields a temperature accuracy which is good enough for accurate studies of polymer dielectric properties. This technique is also more cost effective than standard setups using cryogenic fluids.     

An experimental setup for investigation of arc and erosion processes in high-voltage high-current breakers

An experimental test setup for investigating arc and erosion processes in gas-filled high-voltage high-current switches is described and some results that were obtained on it are presented. The setup includes a discharge chamber that allows simulation of the process of disconnecting the ring and pin contacts, a capacitive energy storage with a capacitance of 0.11 F and a charging voltage of up to 10 kV, and a remotely controlled gas-supply system. The diagnostic complex includes systems for measuring the discharge current, the voltage across the arc, and the pulse pressure in the chamber, as well as high-speed filming and optical spectroscopy. Experiments with a current amplitude of 30–300 kA can be performed on the test bench. During the first current half-period of 1.0–3.0 ms, the contacts move apart to a distance of 3–4 cm. The arc is cooled via transverse gas blowing at a pressure in the chamber of 0.5–1.5 MPa. A movable contact is displaced due to the pressure of the gas that is pumped into the chamber.     

A cryogenic source of slow monochromatic positrons

A cryogenic source of slow monochromatic positrons based on ²²Na radioactive isotope has been developed and produced at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. A monochromatic beam is formed from a continuous β⁺ spectrum with energies of 0–0.5 MeV using a solid neon moderator frozen onto a copper substrate that is cooled to temperatures of 5–7 K. The efficiency of condensation of neon onto the substrate is >99.8%. A slow positron beam with an intensity of 5.8 × 10³ particles/s and a mean energy of 1.2 eV at a spectrum width of 1 eV has been extracted from a ²²Na-based test source. The fraction of decelerated positrons is 1% of the total flux.     

A setup for thermodesorption measurements

An ultrahigh-vacuum setup for studying the interaction of ions with a solid by the thermodesorption spectroscopy method has been developed. The residual pressure achieved in the setup after heating is <2 × 10⁻⁷ Pa (the main component of the residual gas is H₂). A sample suspended by two tungsten wires is inserted into the main vacuum chamber through a lock chamber. The sample is heated by thermal radiation from the heater from room temperature to 1600–1700 K. The main features of the setup, the experimental technique, and the calibration of desorption flows are discussed. Examples of results obtained on the setup are presented.     

Development of variable temperature instrument for sensor calibration

An experiment to calibrate temperature sensors at cryogenic temperature has been performed. The main objective of this study was to develop a precise instrument for calibrating the temperature sensors over a temperature range of 4 K to approximately room temperature without liquid helium. The instrument consists of radiation shields, a sensor block, an electric heater, a cryocooler and a vacuum chamber. In a vacuum chamber, the cold head of the cryocooler is thermally anchored to the sensor block to bring the apparatus to a desired temperature. An electric heater is placed at the second stage of the cryocooler to control the temperature of the sensor block. The entire apparatus is covered by radiation shields and wrapped in multi-layer insulation to minimize thermal radiation in a vacuum chamber. The dimensions of components including instrumental wires are optimized to reduce total heat invasion from room temperature into cryogenic temperature. The vacuum chamber is pumped down and cooled to cryogenic temperature by a cryocooler. The resistance of each temperature sensor is measured at steady state as well as cooling down and warming up cycles, and the performance of calibration is discussed with respect to the sensitivity and resolution.     

A Setup for Studying the Low-Temperature Thermal Conductivity of Powder Samples

A setup for studying the thermal conductivity of powder samples in the temperature range 2–200 K using the stationary heat flow method is described. The design of the cryogenic part of the setup allows a sample to be loaded at low temperatures. The effective thermal conductivities of methane hydrate powder and the ice powder obtained upon methane hydrate decomposition were measured, and the true thermal conductivities were determined. A heat exchange gas (helium) at a lowered pressure was used to reduce the interface thermal resistance between the grains in the powders.__________Translated from Pribory i Tekhnika Eksperimenta, No. 3, 2005, pp. 153–157.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Krivchikov, Gorodilov, Korolyuk.     

Effect of cryogenic treatment on the matrix structure and abrasion resistance of white cast iron subjected to destabilization treatment

Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the matrix structure and abrasion resistance of high chromium cast iron subjected to destabilization heat treatment has been investigated in this paper. The results show that, during the cryogenic treatment, the secondary carbides precipitate in austenite, which promote the transformation of retained austenite to martensite. The cryogenic treated alloys produced superior hardness and wear resistance (β) to the alloys without cryogenic treatment. When the bulk hardness and wear resistance (β) reach the maximum, there is still about 13% retained austenite in alloys. Cryogenic treatment cannot make retained austenite transform to martensite completely.     

Suppressing harmonic vibrations of a miniature cryogenic cooler using an adaptive tunable vibration absorber based on magneto-rheological elastomers

This paper presents dynamic performances of an adaptive tunable vibration absorber (TVA) designed to suppress the main harmonic disturbance of a miniature linear cryogenic cooler, which is being used in space applications such as an observation satellite. The adaptive TVA employs a magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) for a variable stiffness element. This study first investigates the shear modulus change of MRE samples with respect to the magnetic flux density, which varies through the alignment of particle chains. The MRE with the maximal shear modulus change is mounted for the TVA on a prototype cooler, which emulates the characteristics of a miniature cryogenic cooler. Using the test setup, a series of vibration tests are performed to evaluate the performance and efficacy of the MRE TVA and its re-tuning ability. The experimental results show that the MRE TVA is able to robustly suppress the vibration of the cooler even when the frequency of resonant vibration is changed up to 87% from its initial frequency.     

球阀的低温试验

低温试验是对低温阀门性能验证的一个重要手段,现行标准规定的阀门低温试验方法与实际工况有一定的差异,不当的操作容易造成试验结果的失真,甚至对受试阀门的损害。本文主要针对低温球阀的特殊结构,分析了阀门低温试验中容易出现的问题,并结合实际操作经验,提出了一些应对措施。     

EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF FRICTION COEFFICIENT AND LIQUID NITROGEN LUBRICATION EFFECT IN CRYOGENIC MACHINING

Cryogenic machining is considered an environmentally safe alternative to conventional machining where cutting fluid is used. However, the improved machinability in cryogenic machining has been attributed to the cooling effect of liquid nitrogen (LN2) in past research. Our recent studies indicate that LN2 may possess a lubrication effect in machining, as evidenced by a reduction of tool wear, the apparent coefficients of friction calculated by a mathematical model, and the secondary deformation in chip metallurgy. However, there is a need for a direct proof of LN2's lubrication effect before it can be claimed to be a lubricant in cryogenic machining. This paper presents the methodology and data from an experiment that measures the normal force and friction force directly in an altered machining setup. This procedure simulates the pure frictional behavior of the tool-chip interface in cryogenic cutting. The results show that LN2 cooled condition has a significantly lower coefficient of friction than dry conditions in all cases. The data also shows that the friction is lower for Ti-6Al-4V but mixed results obtained for mild steel AISI 1018 when LN2 is applied properly as in the experiment setup as compared to traditional emulsion flooding. Based on the unique pattern of the friction behavior in the sliding tests, possible lubrication mechanisms using liquid nitrogen are proposed.     

Cryogenic gas loading in a Mao-Bell-type diamond anvil cell for high pressure-high temperature investigations

A simple system for loading argon fluid at cryogenic temperatures in a Mao-Bell-type diamond anvil cell (DAC) has been developed. It is done in a two step process in which the piston-cylinder assembly alone is submerged in the cryogenic chamber for trapping the liquefied inert gas. Liquid nitrogen is used for condensing the argon gas. This system is now being efficiently used for loading liquid argon in the DAC for high pressure-high temperature experiments. The success rate of trapping liquefied argon in the sample chamber is about 75%. The performance of the gas loading system is successfully tested by carrying out direct conversion of pyrolitic graphite to diamond under high pressure-high temperature using laser heated DAC facility.     

高真空多层绝热低温容器完全真空丧失后升压规律的试验研究

高真空多层绝热低温容器是一种危险性很高的压力容器。绝热夹层完全的真空丧失是可能发生在高真空多层绝热低温容器上的、并会对低温容器带来严重的安全隐患。在搭建了高真空多层绝热低温真空丧失试验台的基础上,用试验的方法研究了低温容器的绝热材料层数和初始充满率对其真空丧失后无排放贮存过程中升压的影响。试验结果表明,高真空多层绝热低温容器绝热夹层内的绝热材料层数及其初始充满率都对容器完全真空丧失后的升压过程有着重要影响。     

Volume ratio and pressure drop on hydraulic dynamic pressure calibration system

The calibration of a pressure transducer that works in dynamic conditions is an unavoidable challenge. To address this challenge, an experimental setup has been designed and developed to simultaneously generate and calibrate the dynamic pressure. The system mainly comprises a pressure chamber that accommodates a step pressure generator and test chamber with a quick open valve and pressure sensor under calibration. Accordingly, an aperiodic type of step pressure generator with a quick open valve is particularly designed. This instrument can generate a positive step pressure with a rise time of up to 11 ms and a negative step pressure with a fall time of up to 12 ms within a working pressure range from the atmospheric pressure to 200 MPa. The volume ratio of the test chamber to the pressure chamber and its effect on pressure drop is critical in such systems. The effect of volume ratio on the dynamic performance parameters, namely, rise/fall time, is explored and inferences for optimizing these parameters are derived. A mathematical model for pressure drop in the test chamber has been developed and validated to precisely determine the magnitude of the step pressure input. Lastly, the experimental study of the effect of volume ratio on pressure drop has been conducted to diminish the pressure drop, thereby minimizing the uncertainty.     

Cryogenic resonant acoustic spectroscopy of bulk materials (CRA spectroscopy)

The capability to measure Q factors at cryogenic temperatures enhances the ability to study relaxation processes in solids. Here we present a high-precision cryogenic setup with the ability to measure Q factors of at least 10(9). This level of sensitivity offers new potential for analyzing relaxation processes in solids and for correlating mode shape and relaxation strength. Our improved method of mechanical spectroscopy, cryogenic resonant acoustic spectroscopy of bulk materials, is verified by identifying relaxation processes in low-loss quartz crystals. For the first time, we observe additional damping peaks. The mechanical Q factors of different modes of cylindrical crystalline quartz substrates were measured from 300 down to 6 K. Resonant modes with frequencies between 10 and 325 kHz were excited without contact to the substrates and the ring down of the amplitudes was recorded using an interferometric vibration readout.     

低温绝热气瓶绝热性能检测时间优化分析

蒸发率是用来检测低温绝热气瓶绝热性能是否合格的一个重要指标,但是目前仍存在检测时间较长的不足。依据一维传热模型,提出了一种基于一定检测时长的优化检测方法。该方法以少于24 h的实际检测数据作为样本来获取传热系数等部分参数,并利用获取的参数预测剩余时间的蒸发流量,最终实现缩短检测时间的目的。为了验证优化方法的有效性,搭建了恒温箱实验台并进行了相关试验测试。对比结果表明,计算结果与试验值符合良好,误差在5%以内,验证了模型的可靠性与实用性。     

A method for measuring the surface impedance of superconductors in the temperature range 0.4–120 K

A method and a setup for making precision measurements of the temperature dependences of components of surface impedance Z(T) = R(T) + iX(T) of small superconductor crystals in the temperature range 0.4–120 K have been developed. The setup combines a high-quality-factor resonance system for measuring the microwave response of a sample at a frequency of 28 GHz and a refrigerating unit with the use of evaporation of ³He vapors. Measurements of Z(T) of optimally doped YBa₂Cu₃O_6.93 single crystals in the superconducting and normal states were performed to illustrate the operation of the setup.     

阀门低温试验装置的节约型设计

阀门低温试验装置兼有深冷处理和低温试验的双重功能,是低温阀门生产过程中的重要设备,其冷媒和试验介质等消耗巨大且价格昂贵,对低温阀门的整机成本具有重要影响。提出了一种低温阀门试验装置的节约型设计,从组成装置的低温系统、压力试验系统和测控系统等方面着手,寻找减少消耗的途径,并重点讨论了多种高效保温技术,通过液氮喷淋实现自动调温的方式,贵重试验介质回收重复利用技术,数据采集和智能化操作模式等,提出了应从多渠道实现装置的节约型设计。     

Influence of flow disturbances on the performance of industry-standard LNG flow meters

In the last decade significant progress has been achieved in the development of measurement traceability for LNG inline metering technologies such as Coriolis and ultrasonic flow meters. In 2019, the world's first LNG research and calibration facility has been realised thus enabling calibration and performance testing of small and mid-scale LNG flow meters under realistic cryogenic conditions at a maximum flow rate of 200 m³/h and provisional mass flow measurement uncertainty of 0.30% (k = 2) using liquid nitrogen as the calibration fluid. This facility enabled, for the first time, an extensive test programme of LNG flow meters under cryogenic conditions to be carried out to achieve three main objectives; the first is to reduce the onsite flow measurement uncertainty for small and mid-scale LNG applications to meet a target measurement uncertainty of 0.50% (k = 2), the second is to systematically assess the impact of upstream flow disturbances and meter insulation on meter performance and the third is to assess transferability of meter calibrations with water at ambient conditions to cryogenic conditions. SI-traceable flow calibration results from testing six LNG flow meters (four Coriolis and two ultrasonic, see acknowledgment section) with water in a water calibration facility and liquid nitrogen (LIN) in the LNG research and calibration facility under various test conditions are fully described in this paper. Water and LIN calibration data were compared and it was observed that the influence of removing the meter insulation on mass flow rate measurement accuracy can be more significant (meter error > ±0.50%) than the influence of many typical upstream disturbances when the meter is preceded by a straight piping length equal to twenty pipe diameters (20D) with no additional flow conditioning devices, in particular for ultrasonic meters. The results indicate that the correction models used to transfer the water calibration to cryogenic conditions (using LIN) can potentially result in mass flow rate measurement errors below ±0.5%, however, the correction models are specific to the meter type and manufacturer. This work shows that the target measurement uncertainty of 0.50% can be achieved if the expanded standard error of the mean value measured by the meter is smaller than 0.40% (k = 2). It is planned to repeat these tests with LNG in order to compare the results with the LIN tests presented in this paper. This may reveal that testing with an explosion safe and environmentally friendly fluid such as LIN produces representative results for testing LNG flow meters.     

深冷处理对440A铸造不锈钢性能的影响

在440A铸造不锈钢热处理的不同阶段引入深冷处理工艺，并进行硬度、抗弯强度、滑动磨损试验等测试。结果表明：深冷处理可以使材料的硬度得到提高；深冷处理安排在两次回火之间进行，对抗弯强度的提高比较明显；安排在淬火后或预处理后进行，对抗弯强度的影响不明显。在滑动磨损工况条件下深冷处理对材料的耐磨性影响不大。     

Damage identification in composite materials using ultrasonic based Lamb wave method

The paper presents an ultrasonic based Lamb waves propagation method for identifying and measuring the damage location in a material for SHM. The present work determines the experimental and analytical effects of various parameters on the sensitivity of damage detection and a methodology is proposed for estimating and measuring the location of damage in the test specimens. An experimental setup is used for generating A_o Lamb waves by calibrating ultrasonic pulse generation for optimal value of the parameters. The experiment is performed on two carbon fiber reinforced plastic bars in both undamaged and damaged state, where the two damaged states are (1) having a cut partway through the bar, perpendicular to the long axis of the bar and (2) having a circular hole. The Lamb wave propagation parameters are calibrated using the ultrasonic pulse generator test setup and the method was compared with direct measured values of ultrasonic instrument.