Towards high-power density microsystems - Vers des microsystèmes à haute densité de puissance

目的：拟议的研究计划旨在继续研究不稳定的可压缩流现象的产生和传播，有和没有化学热释放，在毫米和亚毫米尺度。基于这些发现，一些生物医学和航空航天应用将追求在该地区的高功率密度microsystems.Scientific方法：我们的方法是基于实验观察的可压缩流现象在小规模使用特制的设备和开发简单的分析模型来解释实验观察。我们已经在毫米和微米尺度通道中的冲击波实验研究方面积累了独特的专业知识，我们将利用这种能力研究这些尺度下的预混合气体混合物和单组元推进剂中的燃烧波。特别是，我们将调查，如果通常的燃烧比例律和传播制度可以扩展到亚毫米尺度使用适当的初始条件（特别是高压）和点火技术。新奇和意义：人们对各种MEMS器件（发动机、燃料电池等）的连续微燃烧有很大的兴趣。但只有少数研究在小尺度上研究了非定常燃烧波的传播，而从未在我们独特的实验设备的微米尺度上研究过。因此，这将产生有价值的新知识，可以在新的高功率密度微系统的设计中加以利用。然后，正如我们在过去20年中所做的那样，这些创新设备将获得专利，并与商业化合作伙伴一起进一步开发，从而在加拿大创造价值和就业机会。

Objectives: The proposed research program aims at continuing the study of the generation and propagation of unsteady compressible flow phenomena, with and without chemical heat release, at millimeter and sub-millimeter scales. Based on these findings, a number of biomedical and aerospace applications will be pursued in the area of high-power density microsystems.Scientific approach: Our approach is based on the experimental observation of compressible flow phenomena at small scale using specially-built devices and on developing simple analytical models to explain the experimental observations. We then use this new knowledge to develop novel devices exploiting these phenomena.We have developed a unique expertise in the experimental investigation of shock waves in millimeter- and micron-scale channels and we will leverage this capability in the study of combustion waves in pre-mixed gaseous mixtures and monopropellants at those scales. In particular, we will investigate if the usual combustion scaling laws and propagation regimes can be extended down to the sub-millimeter scale using appropriate initial conditions (especially elevated pressure) and ignition techniques. If successful, these combustion waves will be used in original miniaturized propulsion and actuation systems.Novelty and significance:There is great interest in continuous micro-combustion for various MEMS devices (engines, fuel cells, etc.) but only few studies have investigated the propagation of unsteady combustion waves at small scales, and never at the micrometer scale of our unique experimental facilities. So this should produce valuable new knowledge that can potentially be exploited in the design of novel high-power density microsystems. Then, as we have successfully been doing for the past 20 years, these innovative devices will be patented and further developed with commercialization partners, leading to value and job creation right here in Canada.