EAGER: Numerical two-dimensional fluid simulations and finite element analysis to model an adaptive and flexible microplasma discharge system.

这项探索性研究（EAGER）早期概念拨款将探索不同环境条件对微等离子体放电的影响，以加快基于微等离子体放电装置的系统开发步伐。基于非热等离子体或冷等离子体的微等离子体放电装置在食品、生物医学和医疗保健行业的各种应用中受到越来越多的关注。器件的性能取决于稳定和均匀的微等离子体放电。为了保持微等离子体放电的均匀分布，这些装置通常在高输入电压下运行，同时使用惰性气体，如氩气、氖气、氦气、氙气和氮气。然而，使用高压和惰性气体是一种安全隐患，并且阻碍了便携式微等离子体放电装置的发展。为了克服这些限制，微等离子体放电装置在受控环境和专门的室中运行，在稳定的大气条件下，从而使系统复杂、笨重、不可携带和昂贵。尽管可以开发出在大气中工作的新型微等离子体放电装置来解决这些缺点，但这些装置暴露在不同的环境条件下，包括动态温度、压力和湿度变化。由于环境条件的变化导致电子密度、电子迁移率和电子温度的变化，这进一步增加了与开发最佳微等离子体放电装置相关的挑战。EAGER拨款用于深入了解微等离子体放电动力学，如不同环境条件下的电子密度、电子迁移率和电子温度。该研究具有推动微等离子体放电装置自适应控制系统发展的潜力。这可能会对新兴的柔性混合电子（FHE）和可穿戴生物医学产业产生深远的技术和经济影响。从这个项目获得的成果将通过同行评议期刊的研究出版物以及在区域、国家和国际会议上的发言加以传播。在EAGER资助下的研究旨在从根本上降低开发新型微等离子体放电装置的相关风险，并研究以前未被研究过的微等离子体放电性能。数值二维流体模拟和有限元分析将在不同的环境条件下，对不同电极设计、电极间隙和整体设备尺寸的不同微等离子体放电装置配置的微等离子体动力学进行建模。研究结果将有助于优化微等离子体放电装置参数，以获得一致的电子密度和电子迁移率。这将促进电极表面均匀的电压分布，从而均匀地产生微等离子体放电。在优化的电极结构上进行介质阻挡放电和击穿电压分析，以了解微等离子体放电所需的最佳击穿电压。在不同的环境温度、压力和湿度下，完成微等离子体放电动力学的有限元建模和模拟，如电子密度、电子迁移率和电子温度。研究结果将用于建立一个详细的数据库，该数据库可用于设计和制造新型微等离子体放电装置，该数据库可与自适应控制系统集成，以开发基于新型微等离子体放电装置的系统。这项研究的根本性突破将消除与优化微等离子体放电装置相关的风险，这些设备用于灭菌、伤口消毒和表面处理等应用。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) grant will explore the effects of varying ambient conditions on microplasma discharge for accelerating the pace of microplasma discharge device-based system development. Microplasma discharge devices, which are based on non-thermal or cold plasmas, have been receiving growing interest for various applications in the food, biomedical and health care industries. The performance of the devices is dependent on a stable and uniform microplasma discharge. To maintain a uniform distribution of microplasma discharge, the devices are often operated with high input voltages along with the use of inert gases such as argon, neon, helium, xenon and nitrogen. However, the use of high voltages and inert gases are a safety hazard and prohibits the development of portable microplasma discharge devices. To overcome these limitations, the microplasma discharge devices are operated in controlled environments and specialized chambers, under stable atmospheric conditions, thus making the systems complex, bulky, non-portable and expensive. Even though novel microplasma discharge devices that operate in atmospheric air can be developed to address these drawbacks, the devices are exposed to varying ambient conditions including dynamic temperature, pressure and humidity changes. This further multiplies the challenges associated with the development of optimum microplasma discharge devices because of the changes in electron density, electron mobility and electron temperature due to the varying ambient conditions. The EAGER grant is used for developing a deep understanding of the microplasma discharge dynamics such as electron density, electron mobility and electron temperature under varying ambient conditions. The research has the potential to advance the development of adaptive control systems for microplasma discharge devices. This could have a profound technological and economic impact on the emerging flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) and wearable biomedical industries. The results obtained from this project will be disseminated through research publications in peer reviewed journals as well as in presentations at regional, national and international conferences.The research under this EAGER grant aims to radically reduce the risk associated in developing novel microplasma discharge devices and study the microplasma discharge performance that has not been investigated before. Numerical two-dimensional fluid simulations and finite element analysis will be performed to model the microplasma dynamics of different microplasma discharge device configurations with varying electrode designs, electrode gaps and overall device dimensions, at varying ambient conditions. The results will enable optimization of the microplasma discharge device parameters for consistent electron density and electron mobility. This will facilitate uniform voltage distribution across the surface of the electrodes resulting in uniform generation of microplasma discharge. The dielectric barrier discharge and breakdown voltage analysis will be performed on the optimized electrode configuration to understand the optimum breakdown voltage required for microplasma discharge. Finite element modelling and simulations of the microplasma discharge dynamics such as electron density, electron mobility and electron temperature will be completed for varying ambient temperature, pressure and humidity. The results will be utilized to generate a detailed database that can be used for designing and fabricating novel microplasma discharge devices which can be integrated with adaptive control systems for the development of novel microplasma discharge device based systems. The fundamental breakthroughs from this research will eliminate the risks associated with optimizing microplasma discharge devices for applications such as sterilization, wound disinfection and surface treatments.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.