Ruslan Kozakov

Spectroscopic investigation of the high-current phase of a pulsed GMAW process

While metal vapours have an important impact on the efficiency of the pulsed gas metal arc welding process, only a few papers are focused on this effect. In this paper, methods based on emission spectroscopy are performed to improve the understanding of the physical phenomena occurring during the high-current pulse. Boltzmann plots applied to iron lines, the Stark broadening of the 696.5 nm argon line and composition calculations assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium are used to determine characteristic parameters of the plasma. It is observed that the central part of the arc is composed mainly of iron. The percentage of iron increases quickly at the beginning of the high-current pulse, and slowly decreases when the central part broadens. During the high-current phase the temperature profile has a minimum value of around 8000 K at the axis of the arc while the argon envelope of the central part reaches temperatures of approximately 13.000 K. The high percentage of iron and the high radiation of the plasma at the centre can explain the measured shape of the temperature profile.

High-speed three-dimensional plasma temperature determination of axially symmetric free-burning arcs

In this paper we introduce an experimental technique that allows for high-speed, three-dimensional determination of electron density and temperature in axially symmetric free-burning arcs. Optical filters with narrow spectral bands of 487.5?488.5?nm and 689?699?nm are utilized to gain two-dimensional spectral information of a free-burning argon tungsten inert gas arc. A setup of mirrors allows one to image identical arc sections of the two spectral bands onto a single camera chip. Two-different Abel inversion algorithms have been developed to reconstruct the original radial distribution of emission coefficients detected with each spectral window and to confirm the results. With the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium we calculate emission coefficients as a function of temperature by application of the Saha equation, the ideal gas law, the quasineutral gas condition and the NIST compilation of spectral lines. Ratios of calculated emission coefficients are compared with measured ones yielding local plasma temperatures. In the case of axial symmetry the three-dimensional plasma temperature distributions have been determined at dc currents of 100, 125, 150 and 200?A yielding temperatures up to 20000?K in the hot cathode region. These measurements have been validated by four different techniques utilizing a high-resolution spectrometer at different positions in the plasma. Plasma temperatures show good agreement throughout the different methods. Additionally spatially resolved transient plasma temperatures have been measured of a dc pulsed process employing a high-speed frame rate of 33000 frames per second showing the modulation of the arc isothermals with time and providing information about the sensitivity of the experimental approach.

Out of the Lab and into the Bathroom: Evening Short-Term Exposure to Conventional Light Suppresses Melatonin and Increases Alertness Perception

Life in 24-h society relies on the use of artificial light at night that might disrupt synchronization of the endogenous circadian timing system to the solar day. This could have a negative impact on sleep–wake patterns and psychiatric symptoms. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of evening light emitted by domestic and work place lamps in a naturalistic setting on melatonin levels and alertness in humans. Healthy subjects (6 male, 3 female, 22–33 years) were exposed to constant dim light (<10 lx) for six evenings from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. On evenings 2 through 6, 1 h before habitual bedtime, they were also exposed to light emitted by 5 different conventional lamps for 30 min. Exposure to yellow light did not alter the increase of melatonin in saliva compared to dim light baseline during (38 ± 27 pg/mL vs. 39 ± 23 pg/mL) and after light exposure (39 ± 22 pg/mL vs. 44 ± 26 pg/mL). In contrast, lighting conditions including blue components reduced melatonin increase significantly both during (office daylight white: 25 ± 16 pg/mL, bathroom daylight white: 24 ± 10 pg/mL, Planon warm white: 26 ± 14 pg/mL, hall daylight white: 22 ± 14 pg/mL) and after light exposure (office daylight white: 25 ± 15 pg/mL, bathroom daylight white: 23 ± 9 pg/mL, Planon warm white: 24 ± 13 pg/mL, hall daylight white: 22 ± 26 pg/mL). Subjective alertness was significantly increased after exposure to three of the lighting conditions which included blue spectral components in their spectra. Evening exposure to conventional lamps in an everyday setting influences melatonin excretion and alertness perception within 30 min.

Spatial structure of the arc in a pulsed GMAW process

A pulsed gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process of steel under argon shielding gas in the globular mode is investigated by measurements and simulation. The analysis is focussed on the spatial structure of the arc during the current pulse. Therefore, the radial profiles of the temperature, the metal vapour species and the electric conductivity are determined at different heights above the workpiece by optical emission spectroscopy (OES). It is shown that under the presence of metal vapour the temperature minimum occurs at the centre of the arc. This minimum is preserved at different axial positions up to 1 mm above the workpiece. In addition, estimations of the electric field in the arc from the measurements are given. All these results are compared with magneto-hydrodynamic simulations which include the evaporation of the wire material and the change of the plasma properties due to the metal vapour admixture in particular. The experimental method and the simulation model are validated by means of the satisfactory correspondence between the results. Possible reasons for the remaining deviations and improvements of the methods which should be aspired are discussed.

Temperature and emissivity determination of liquid steel S235

Temperature determination of liquid metals is difficult but a necessary tool for improving materials and processes such as arc welding in the metal-working industry. A method to determine the surface temperature of the weld pool is described. A TIG welding process and absolute calibrated optical emission spectroscopy are used. This method is combined with high-speed photography. 2D temperature profiles are obtained. The emissivity of the radiating surface has an important influence on the temperature determination. A temperature dependent emissivity for liquid steel is given for the spectral region between 650 and 850 nm.

Study of an ablation-dominated arc in a model circuit breaker

A switching arc in a model circuit breaker is studied by means of CFD simulations and optical emission spectroscopy. The arc is initiated between tungsten–copper electrodes in a carbon dioxide atmosphere and is led through PTFE (polytetrafluorethylene) nozzles. Radiation emitted by the arc plasma is absorbed by the surface of the nozzles leading to ablation of the wall material. The CFD simulations are based on a model of the arcing zone including a consistent treatment of the radiation transport and wall ablation. Carbon ion line radiation is analysed in the experiment using an optical path in the heating channel between the nozzles. Temperature profiles obtained from spectroscopy and simulations are compared. The pressure value in the arc is estimated based on the line width-intensity dependence. The obtained values correspond to the measured pressure outside the arc. Coincidence in temperature for the peak current and discrepancy on the falling edge are found and discussed.

Temperature profiles of an ablation controlled arc in PTFE: I. Spectroscopic measurements

A wall-stabilized arc in a polytetrafluoroethylene nozzle was investigated. Very similar arc properties as in the ablation dominated high-current phase of SF6 circuit breakers were expected. Spectroscopic measurements of arc temperature profiles were performed. Spectral lines of fluorine and ionized carbon were observed. The side-on intensities of optically thin spectral lines were measured. Abel inversion was applied and the emission coefficient was determined. Temperatures of 16 000 to 18 000 K in the arc centre were obtained at various times of the current pulse. The pressure values were in the range 10–30 bar and arc currents varied from 10 to 20 kA. In the framework of the model, radial temperature profiles were determined with an accuracy of ±4%.

Weld pool temperatures of steel S235 while applying a controlled short-circuit gas metal arc welding process and various shielding gases

The temperature determination of liquid metals is difficult and depends strongly on the emissivity. However, the surface temperature distribution of the weld pool is an important characteristic of an arc weld process. As an example, short-arc welding of steel with a cold metal transfer (CMT) process is considered. With optical emission spectroscopy in the spectral region between 660 and 840 nm and absolute calibrated high-speed camera images the relation between temperature and emissivity of the weld pool is determined. This method is used to obtain two-dimensional temperature profiles in the pictures. Results are presented for welding materials (wire G3Si1 on base material S235) using different welding CMT processes with CO2 (100%), Corgon 18 (18% CO2 + 82% Ar), VarigonH6 (93.5% Ar + 6.5% H2) and He (100%) as shielding gases. The different gases are used to study their influence on the weld pool temperature.

Modification of light sources for appropriate biological action

The impact of the non-visual action of light on the design of novel light sources is discussed. Therefore possible modifications of lamps dealing with spectral tailoring and their action on melatonin suppression in usual life situations are investigated. The results of melatonin suppression by plasma lamps are presented. It is shown that even short-time exposure to usual light levels in working areas has an influence on the melatonin onset.

Spectral diagnostics of a pulsed gas metal arc welding process

IntroductionPlasma properties in the pulsed arc determine the welding process. They will have influence on the consumable electrode and the weld pool. For that reason, the accurate gauging of the plasma properties is of special importance for deeper understanding of the processes.Material and methodsUsing spectroscopic methods and plasma physical diagnostics, the temperature in the arc during the high-current phase of a pulsed gas metal arc welding process is determined. With this knowledge and composition calculation, the electrical conductivity is also derived. A one-drop-per-pulse process with workpiece and wire made of steel and an argon-dominated shielding gas is considered. Boltzmann plots applied to iron lines, broadening of argon lines or the emission coefficient of optically thin lines are used for the determination of plasma parameters.ResultsIntersections of the arc at different distances from the workpiece are analysed for different times during the pulse. It is observed that the brighter central part of such an arc has a minimum in the temperature profile and contains a high amount of iron.ConclusionConsequently, the central part of the arc has lower electrical conductivity than the outer part dominated by the shielding gas argon.