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Plasma and Exergetics (PleX) Laboratory

The Plasma and Exergetics (PleX) Laboratory is a 750 square foot space shared by Mechanical Engineering Professors Wright, Sidebotham and Wootton. This laboratory was previously used by externals researchers but starting in 2022 the space was repurposed to support core Mechanical Engineering Department objectives.

Prof. Wright leads graduate and undergraduate research in plasma engineering. He guides research as part of his Thermo-fluid, Energy and Plasma Laboratory Group, stationed in the back of the PLeX Laboratory. More energetic than solids, liquids, and gases, the 4th state of matter – plasma – is generated in the PLeX Laboratory using electrical discharges and is studied for its ability to stimulate beneficial effects when in contact with other forms of matter. Engineering systems relying on low temperature plasmas (LTP) can be used to help address grand challenges related to sustainability, carbon capture and utilization, and providing access to clean water. Wright has guided students in developing instrumented plasma reactors to decompose CO2 gas and achieve a balance in conversion and efficiency. Recent research in the laboratory includes development of a plasma dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system with liquid electrodes for gas treatment. This system was reported as part of the Proceedings of the ASME 2023 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE) 2023. The Thermo-fluid, Energy and Plasma Laboratory Group space of the PleX Laboratory supports undergraduate and graduate researchers at Cooper in designing and safely testing plasma systems. It is also used to support safe demonstrations and hands-on experiences in the newly developed Plasma Engineering graduate (and undergraduate) elective course (ME436), as well as for relevant projects in Experimentation (ME360), Senior Capstone Design (ME393/394), and independent studies. These relevant projects have included plasma actuator/airfoils, plasma thrusters, and plasma CO2 and water treatment studies. Other thermo-fluids experimental apparatuses of interest, especially for master’s level research studies are also supported here, such as a heat transfer rig for determining thermal conductivity of solids, and a benchtop section for developing and instrumenting airfoils. The PLeX Laboratory facilities contain a range of equipment to support the activities of the Thermo-fluid, Energy and Plasma Laboratory Group, including:

  • Three dedicated computers with internet connectivity and associated access to a range of open-source resources in addition to licenses for a range of standard software for:
    • general mathematical processing, visualization, and graphical editing
    • CAD (SolidWorks)
    • programming and numeric computing to analyze data, develop algorithms and creating models (MATLAB).
    • multiphysics simulations (COMSOL)
  • Equipment to support experiments, including:
    • benchtop power supplies for generating high voltages.
    • high voltage safety gloves and glove testing apparatuses
    • electrical characterization via oscilloscope; high voltage probe; current probe
    • CO2 gas analyzer (Licor-850)
    • vacuum pump for low pressure experiments and demonstrations
    • peristaltic pump for uncontaminated transport of liquid samples
  • Small tools/instrumentation to measure: length, temperature, pressure, gas velocity; more
  • General facilities: fume hood, sink/water access; compressed air; compressed CO2

Prof. Sidebotham is developing laboratories that are designed to reinforce fundamental principles in the thermal fluids course sequence (Thermodynamics, Fluids, Heat Transfer, Advanced Thermodynamics). Use of the term exergy (the useful work potential of a system) for this laboratory is aspirational, a reminder that while energy is always conserved, mechanical (useful) energy is not as it can be dissipated into low-grade thermal energy. One test stand consisting of a 1.6 m tall transparent vertical tube (5.9 cm ID) with fittings on the top and bottom to be used in two main modes: the draining tank and the hydrostatic vacuum tube. Both of these modes are forms of “Module 1” laboratories defined in ME360 (Engineering Experimentation) and have been successfully tested during regular ESC330 (Engineering Thermodynamics) class sections.

In the draining tank mode, the column is initially filled with water and is open to the atmosphere at the top. The exit can be connected to any combination of piping and exit nozzles to investigate major and minor losses in pipes. The test consists of opening a valve and measuring the water depth as a function of time. The experiment requires a team of at least 3 (one to monitor water level and call out time, one to set the times on a stopwatch and one to collect the discharge). It is designed so that a team can collect a data set in a 15-minute time block. Therefore, in a 2-hour class period, up to 8 teams can conduct a test, and each team can be assigned a different nozzle configuration. While not conducting tests, the teams work on a workshop designed to analyze the data and compare theory with experimental results. Deviations can be attributed to loss of exergy.

In the hydrostatic vacuum tube (HVT) mode, air is trapped above the water column by closing a valve. When the exit valve is opened, water drains but as the air pocket expands, its pressure decreases below atmospheric (a vacuum) and the flow eventually stops when a hydrostatic balance is attained. Student teams measure the quantity of water that exits for different initial water heights and compare that result with the theoretical prediction which involves ideal gas properties.

Other demonstration laboratories are in development, including a water rocket (constrained in a vertical tube), a heat exchanger laboratory, a pressure vessel (similar to draining tank, but venting compressed air through a nozzle, which involves compressible flow principles), and a heat pump instrumentation development test stand
Prof. Wootton has 2 multiprocessor Intel Xeon computer workstations and a stepper motor/piston pump airflow simulator to support his obstructive sleep apnea respiratory biomechanics research. Students can use the computers via windows remote desktop.

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