Our laboratory aims at understanding and modeling various properties of plasma and electromagnetic fluids. Based on the fruits obtained there, we contribute to developing innovative technologies utilizing plasma/electromagnetic fluids in aerospace engineering and energy engineering.
Aerospace Engineering Field
Recent research topics on high-enthalpy plasma flow around spacecrafts during planetary atmospheric entry flight:
- Numerical modeling of thermochemical nonequilibrium plasma flows around a spacecraft during planetary atmospheric flight
- Development of numerical simulator of high-enthalpy plasma wind tunnels (Arc-heated and rf-ICP wind tunnels)
- Innovative active thermal protection systems such as MHD heatshield
Recent research topics on electric thrusters using radio-frequency inductively coupled plasmas (rf-ICPs):
- Numerical modeling of nonequilibrium supersonic plasma flows in rf-ICP thrusters using multi propellants such as Ar/He/H2/Air/CO2
- Optical diagnosis of nonequilbrium supersonic plasma flows coupled with collisional-radiative (C-R) model
- Experimental and numerical studies on improvement in thrust performance of rf-ICP thrustres
Recent research topics on active flow control around airfoils using DBD plasma actuators:
- Experimental study on optimization of applied high-frequency voltage forms for improvement in DBD plasma actuator
- Effectiveness evaluation of DBD plasma actuator in high-Reynold- number flows
Electric Power & Energy Engineering Field
Recent research topics on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generators driven by noble gas plasma flows
- Understanding of the behavior of supersonic, non-equilibrium noble gas plasma in MHD generators
- Development of suppression techniques of plasma instabilities in MHD generators
- Optimization of generator shape and operating conditions for high-performance MHD power generation
Recent research topics on high-power arcs in gas and vacuum circuit breakers (GCBs and VCBs) for electric power networks
- Providing the basic data of thermodynamic and transport properties of interruption gases (SF6/CO2/N2/O2/He/Ar, etc.) in a wide range of temperature and pressure
- Development of MHD numerical simulation technique coupled with radiative transfer analysis of gas-blasted arcs in GCBs
- Finding solutions to practically improve the interruption performance of eco-friendly and compact GCBs using interruption gases alternative to SF6 gas which is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas
- Development of MHD-PIC hybrid numerical simulation technique of arcs in VCBs
Recent research topics on plasma spraying process
- Experimental and numerical studies on the mechanism of dynamic behavior of arc in non-transferred dc plasma torches
- Numerical modeling of plasma-suspension interaction in axial injection suspension plasma spray
- Development of a low-power, highdurability, and low-cost dc plasma torch with externally applied magnetic field
Recent research topics on rotating co-axial MHD energy conversion device for advanced utilization of wind energy
- Theoretical analysis of liquid-metal MHD flow in the device
- Numerical modeling of liquid-metal MHD turbulent flow in the device
- Performance prediction and optimization of the device by three-dimensional MHD numerical simulation
