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Energy Control Lab
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The lab investigates the properties and control of the arc plasmas used in welding.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the properties and control of high-density energy sources
The Energy Control Lab studies the properties of high-density energy sources used in welding, cutting, and similar processes, and how to control them.
In particular, it examines the generation and control of arc plasmas and how heat is transported in them, from both physical and chemical perspectives.
Research themes include measuring the temperature of arc plasmas during welding and simulating the flow of molten metal.
On the lab's website, it is presented under the name "Tanaka Lab."
Key terms
- Arc plasma
- A plasma generated between the electrode and the base metal, with temperatures exceeding 10,000 °C. It is used as a heat source for welding
- Weld pool
- The liquefied metal region formed when the base metal melts during welding. Its convection determines the shape of the penetration
- Particle method
- A simulation technique that represents the target as many particles for calculation. It can handle phenomena involving large deformation
- Imaging spectroscopy
- A method that splits light by wavelength and captures it as images, measuring quantities such as temperature as a two-dimensional distribution
NewsLab news
A paper by a master's student was published in ISIJ International
Professor Tanaka and Lecturer Komen received the Encouragement Award for Welding Physics and Technology
A master's student received the Japan Welding Society Outstanding Research Presentation Award
Professor Tanaka received the CAWE Contribution Award
Professor Tanaka received the Encouragement Award for Welding Physics and Technology
ResearchResearch themes
The lab investigates from the fundamentals the characteristics and advanced control of high-density energy sources, the optimization of energy transport, and their interaction with materials, and explores new high-density energy sources for high-precision, high-performance materials processing. In particular, it examines the generation, control, and heat transport phenomena of arc plasmas, which are widely used in welding, cutting, and similar processes, from physical and chemical perspectives. The related papers listed in the research introduction on the lab's website date up to around 2019.
*Illustrative imageOptical measurement of welding arc behavior
In gas metal arc welding, the arc plasma also moves in step with the transfer of molten metal droplets. The lab measures temperature with imaging spectroscopy and studies the relationship between how droplets transfer and how the arc plasma behaves.
*Illustrative imageAnalyzing weld pool flow with the particle method
Convection in the weld pool determines the shape of the penetration, but the inside of the pool is hard to observe experimentally. Using numerical simulation with the particle method, the lab studies how droplets fall and the pool spreads, and how the metal flows inside the pool.
*Illustrative imageMetal vapor transport in TIG welding
In TIG welding, metal vapor released from the weld pool appears to be carried through the arc plasma toward the electrode. The lab studies this transport phenomenon with imaging spectroscopy, which captures the light of specific particles in two-dimensional images.
*Illustrative imageTIG welding with a constricting nozzle
TIG welding with a constricting nozzle is a welding method in which shielding gas flows in separate inner and outer layers to narrow and concentrate the arc plasma. The lab uses numerical simulation to study how the nozzle affects arc plasma phenomena.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members are faculty, secretaries, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2025
- ProfessorManabu Tanaka
- LecturerHisaya Komen
- Assistant ProfessorShinichi Tashiro
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Energy Arc (central electrode of a Plasma Lamp)” Blaise Frazier aka PiccoloNamek / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Optical measurement of welding arc behavior: “GMAW.welding.af.ncs” William M. Plate Jr. / Public domain (cropped)
- Analyzing weld pool flow with the particle method: “Weld puddle, also known as a weld pool or welding pool” Jose Bueno / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Metal vapor transport in TIG welding: “TIG welding” Mak04 at Slovenian Wikipedia / Public domain (cropped)
- TIG welding with a constricting nozzle: “TIG torch breakdown” TTLightningRod at English Wikipedia / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (エネルギー変換機構学分野): “Plasma directed” Volker urban / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (レーザプロセス学分野): “Laser welding of the pipeline” Barbara Nasiłowska / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (微細接合学分野): “Electronic Printed Circuit Board” JayHand / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (接合界面機構学分野): “Friction Stir Weld” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
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