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A Mathematical Representation of Transport Phenomena Inside a Plasma Torch

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

R. Westhoff ,
A. H. Dilawari  and
J. Szekely
R. Westhoff
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. 02139
A. H. Dilawari
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. 02139
J. Szekely
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. 02139
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Abstract

A mathematical representation is developed to describe heat and fluid flow phenomena inside the plasma torch for a non-transferred arc system. In the model a joule heating pattern is postulated for the arc column and then the heat flow and fluid flow equations are solved rigorously. The resultant solutions give information on the temperature and the velocity fields in the plasma gas inside and outside the torch. By postulating “reasonable” values for the heat generation pattern, very good agreement has been obtained between measurements and predictions for a laminar system, used by the INEL researchers. The agreement was less satisfactory with measurements obtained using a Metco torch, where the flow was turbulent. These findings indicate that this is a promising avenue for research, but a great deal more needs to be done before a model of general validity can be developed.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 190: Symposium M – Plasma Processing and Synthesis of Materials III , 1990 , 213
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

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References

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