Module Specification |
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module. |
Title | Plasma System Engineering | ||
Code | ELEC391 | ||
Coordinator |
Professor JW Bradley Electrical Engineering and Electronics J.W.Bradley@liverpool.ac.uk |
||
Year | CATS Level | Semester | CATS Value |
Session 2022-23 | Level 6 FHEQ | First Semester | 7.5 |
Aims |
|
To develop an appreciation and understanding of industrial plasma discharges and associated engineering. |
Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements): |
Co-requisite modules: |
Learning Outcomes |
|
(LO1) Apply knowledge in the analysis of plasma creation and sustainment, its basic physical properties, its interaction with substrates and its use to produce desired technological outcomes. |
|
(S1) After successful completion of the module, the student should be able to: Calculate plasma characteristics, predit the energy and flux at the boundary region of material surfaces; Calculate the desposition, etch and sputter rates of substrates in different types of plasma; To design a number of simple power supply circuits relevant to technology plasma creation; To design a simple plasma system for particular technological applications. |
|
(S2) After successful completion of the module, the student should be able to: Apply their knowledge in the analysis of plasma creation and sustainment , its basic physical properties, its interaction with substrates and its use to produce desired technological outcomes. |
|
(S3) To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the basic physical properties in plasmas relevant to industry and the uses for industrial plasma technology. |
Syllabus |
|
Lecture 1: Introduction to the plasma state. What is a plasma? What is plasma engineering? Lecture 2: Some basics: The idea of Debye screening, temperature, ionisation fraction, calculation of fluxes. Lecture 3: What Plasma breakdown and sustainment- Plasma as a conductor. Lecture 4: Plasma boundary phenomena, Bohm criterion, basic concepts of sputtering, etching and deposition, relation to Si wafer processing and micro-electronics manufacture. Lecture 5- 8: Low pressure plasma systems (RF relative ion etching, magnetron deposition, inductive sources) for micro-electronics fabrication. Lecture 9-10: Atmospheric plasmas (corona, DBD) and their industrial applications including methods for nanotechnology. Lecture 11 : Power delivery methods. Lecture 12: Novel applications: spacecraft thrusters, food hygiene, plasma medicine. |
Teaching and Learning Strategies |
|
Due to Covid-19, one or more of the following delivery methods will be implemented based on the current local conditions and the situation of registered students. It is anticipated that both a) & b) will be in operation for semester 1.. Teaching Method 2 - Synchronous face to face tutorials (b) Fully online delivery and assessment Teaching Method 2 - On-line synchronous tutorials (c) Standard on-campus delivery with minimal social distancing Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial |
Teaching Schedule |
Lectures | Seminars | Tutorials | Lab Practicals | Fieldwork Placement | Other | TOTAL | |
Study Hours |
12 |
6 |
18 | ||||
Timetable (if known) | |||||||
Private Study | 57 | ||||||
TOTAL HOURS | 75 |
Assessment |
||||||
EXAM | Duration | Timing (Semester) |
% of final mark |
Resit/resubmission opportunity |
Penalty for late submission |
Notes |
(391) Final exam. This is an anonymous assessment. There is a resit opportunity for final year students who have extenuating circumstances. | 2 | 100 | ||||
CONTINUOUS | Duration | Timing (Semester) |
% of final mark |
Resit/resubmission opportunity |
Penalty for late submission |
Notes |
Reading List |
|
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module. |