Phase 1
VDG path (archived)
We evaluated a Van de Graaff generator as a potential CO₂ excitation approach. We pivoted to a pulsed, instrumentable platform better suited for controlled testing.
Snapshot
Current status
Current focus: safe bring-up, controlled operation, and measurement setup for repeatable test runs.
Phase 2.1
StormFlask 2.0 (active)
Build the chamber and pulse driver, then establish repeatable discharge behavior and a bounded operating window.
Phase 2.2
Pulsed discharge iteration (planned)
Iterate on pulse delivery, protection, and electrode geometry; run structured tests and track repeatability across conditions.
Measurement results will be posted once operating conditions and logging are stable and repeatable.
Schedule
Build & test plan through spring milestones
Planning view to keep build, validation, and documentation aligned with prototype deadlines, symposium, and end-of-term reporting/presentations.
| Dates | Focus | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 27 – Mar 9 | Continue building StormFlask 2.0 (chamber + pulse driver electronics). Wiring hygiene, mechanical fitment, and staged bring-up prep. |
Build progress Bring-up checklist draft, updated diagrams/photos |
| Mar 9 – Mar 15 | Spring Break (no planned lab testing). | Planning window |
| Mar 16 – Mar 22 | Finish Phase 2.1 build and perform initial discharge testing. Capture scope waveforms and document stable vs unstable conditions. |
First test pass Baseline scope captures + logged settings Midterm presentation + report · Fri Mar 20 |
| Mar 23 – Apr 5 | Iterations (2-week cycle): refine pulse delivery, protection, electrode geometry, and measurement workflow based on initial results. |
Iteration set #1 Updated build notes + revised operating window |
| Apr 6 – Apr 12 | Second structured test pass. Repeatability checks and tighter documentation. Identify priorities for Phase 2.2 iteration. |
Second test pass Repeatability summary + curated figures |
| Apr 13 – Apr 17 | Finalize prototype and documentation package. |
Prototype due Apr 17 Documentation package complete |
| Apr 18 – Apr 27 | Polish demo narrative, visuals, and presentation materials. | NAU Grad Symposium Apr 27 |
| Apr 28 – May 1 | Final report wrap-up and documentation packaging (final figures, narrative, and review pass). | Final report due May 1 |
| May 4 – May 8 | Final presentation window (demo readiness, final checks, and closeout documentation as needed). | Final presentation · May 4–8 (tentative) |
Phase 1
Van de Graaff evaluation (archived)
Phase 1 assessed whether a Van de Graaff generator could be a viable CO₂ dissociation driver. The work clarified that high voltage alone is not the same as controllable energy delivery and repeatable operation.
Key objectives
- Measure maximum achievable voltage
- Evaluate stability and discharge behavior
- Quantify energy throughput (voltage alone is not sufficient)
- Assess feasibility for CO₂ excitation and plasma formation
- Develop a safer measurement approach (liquid HV divider concept)
Why we moved on
- High voltage with low current limits usable energy delivery into the load.
- Open-air discharges are hard to control and hard to instrument.
- Any dissociation products can recombine without controlled conditions and diagnostics.
- The project needs a tunable, instrumentable electrical drive with clear operating conditions.
What this phase contributed
This phase set the criteria used in the current design: repeatable operation, measurement readiness, and staged bring-up. Those criteria informed StormFlask 2.0 and the shift toward pulsed discharge experiments.
Phase 2
StormFlask 2.0: pulsed platform now, faster pulses next
StormFlask 2.0 keeps the high-voltage objective but changes the electrical approach: moving from spark-like behavior toward a controllable pulsed drive, with a path to shorter pulse widths as measurement and survivability improve.
Why pulsed discharge
- Repeatable pulses support structured experiments
- Timing control supports measurement and logging (scope captures, settings, flow)
- Better controllability than open-air spark gaps for a bench platform
- Clear iteration loop: pulse shaping, protection, electrode geometry, and operating window mapping
Initial targets (planned)
- HV output target: 10–15 kV (load dependent)
- Repetition rate: kHz range (tunable)
- Pulse width: short-pulse focus (engineering goal)
- Mass flow monitoring with PWM-driven flow hardware
Phase 2.1
StormFlask 2.0 bring-up
Phase 2.1 establishes the baseline test article and pulse driver before Phase 2.2 iteration. Output of this phase is a repeatable operating window and a consistent measurement workflow.
Objectives
- Assemble chamber hardware for controlled bench testing
- Bring up the pulse driver and verify survivability
- Establish repeatable discharge behavior (bounded operating range)
- Define the measurement workflow: waveforms, thermal checks, and flow logging plan
Bring-up checks
- Repeatable discharge initiation and operation at defined settings
- No uncontrolled hard-arcing during normal operation within the defined window
- Documented bring-up steps and safety checks
- Saved oscilloscope waveforms and configuration notes for each test condition
StormFlask 2.0 (test article)
Chamber platform used to validate discharge behavior, electrode configuration, and a measurement workflow before Phase 2.2 iteration.
Baseline chamber build (iterating)
Chamber build designed for rapid iteration of the discharge geometry. Planned updates include a needle anode integration, cleaned-up tubing/flow path, and controlled sweeps of spark-gap length and CO₂ flow to map stable operating windows.
Bench integration (in progress)
Integration and cleanup in progress: improved cable routing and strain relief, clearer grounding/bonding layout, and staged bring-up organization to support consistent measurements and run-to-run comparisons.
Fast-pulse driver (current)
Isolated control drives a high-frequency switching stage to generate repeatable, spark-forming pulses into the transformer primary. Current focus is survivability and controllability: timing, ringing management, and protection so pulse behavior can be tuned and measured consistently.
System flow (current)
System-level view of control → isolation → pulse generation → HV stage → chamber, with flow/logging feedback. Used to keep interfaces consistent as the build changes.
Phase 2.2
Pulsed discharge iteration
Phase 2.2 focuses on iterating and improving the chamber geometry and pulse driver design based on measured behavior. The goal is better repeatability, cleaner waveforms, and a clearer operating map across conditions.
Parameters to iterate
- Pulse shaping and protection (snubbers/clamps/series elements as used)
- Rise time and pulse width characterization (scope-based)
- Repetition rate and duty/timing control
- Electrode geometry, spacing, and materials
Measurements to report first
- Waveform set: gate, switch-node, and primary current at stable points
- Stability window vs. repetition rate and flow
- Repeatability across runs (same settings → similar behavior)
- Thermal checks and component temperature limits (documented)
Safety
Standards, safety & controls
High-voltage testing is treated as a subsystem. The design and procedures reference established safety guidance and lab best practices.
Referenced standards (planning basis)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.333 – Electrical safety and work practices
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.101 – Compressed gases (general requirements)
- IEEE 510 – Safety in high-voltage and high-power test areas
- IEEE 433 – High-voltage measurement techniques
- ANSI Z535 – Hazard signage and communication
- ASME BPVC Section VIII – Pressure-vessel considerations
- ASTM dielectric/insulation standards (e.g., D149, D150, D257)
Operational controls
- Restricted-access test area, clear signage, and defined roles
- Grounding and bonding plan; staged bring-up
- One change at a time, recorded settings, and documented wiring
- Appropriate PPE and insulated tools
- Interlocks / power cutoffs as feasible for the bench setup
- Local exhaust ventilation when feasible (e.g., fume hood) to reduce exposure to discharge byproducts
Planned PPE (task-dependent)
- Eye/Face: Safety glasses plus a full-face acrylic/polycarbonate shield during energization, first-power tests, and any open-enclosure troubleshooting.
- Respiratory (as needed): KN95 for particulates/dust during setup/cleanup; ventilation is the primary control for discharge byproducts.
- Footwear: Closed-toe, rubber-soled shoes (non-slip, non-conductive).
- Electrical insulation (task-specific): 12 kV-rated rubber insulating gloves (or higher as required), inspected before use and used per lab procedure.
- Thermal protection (task-specific): Welding gloves and welding jacket for hot parts after power-down/cool-down (not used as electrical PPE).