A Python-based adaptive mesh solver for drift-diffusion modelling of streamer discharges

Wong, T. and Timoshkin, I. and MacGregor, S. and Wilson, M. and Given, M.; (2022) A Python-based adaptive mesh solver for drift-diffusion modelling of streamer discharges. In: 2021 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2021. IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference . IEEE, USA, pp. 1-5. ISBN 9781665433471 (https://doi.org/10.1109/PPC40517.2021.9733156)

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Abstract

Streamer discharges are fast-moving plasma fronts which can be formed in gases stressed with a sufficiently high electric field and represent a crucial stage in the evolution of an electrical breakdown. Recently, the investigation of streamer discharges has regained significant interest due to the numerous basic processes and practical applications that require their understanding. These include geophysical processes such as sprite development; gas-insulated system design for power and pulsed power equipment; and a growing number of industrial and environmental applications. Computational advances have provided deep insights into some critically important properties and characteristics of streamers, yet simulations remain highly nontrivial due to the multiscale nature of the phenomena. In the present study, the drift-diffusion approximation for the computational modelling of streamers in gases has been implemented using the open-source finite-element platform FEniCS. Equipped with a Python interface to a high-speed C++ backend, the use of FEniCS greatly improves usability by requiring less computational expertise, yet with little compromise on solver efficiency. The accuracy of the code has been verified through comparison with six other codes from a recently published benchmarking study. Thus, we conclude that the FEniCS platform may be a highly suitable alternative for furthering the study of streamer discharges.

ORCID iDs

Wong, T. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6525-814X, Timoshkin, I. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0380-9003, MacGregor, S. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0808-585X, Wilson, M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3088-8541 and Given, M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6354-2486;
  • Item type:Book Section
    ID code:80126
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    15 March 2022
    Published
    16 December 2021
    Published Online
    15 August 2021
    Accepted
    Notes:© 2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting /republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works
    Subjects:Technology > Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
    Department:Faculty of Engineering > Electronic and Electrical Engineering
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:07 Apr 2022 11:05
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 15:27
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/80126
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