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Monday, May 15, 2006 - 4:00 PM
MDS2.1

Modelling a Plasma Torch for Atmospheric Plasma Spraying (APS): Optimization of Particle Injection Near the Torch Outlet According to the Gas Flow within the Torch

J. L. Marques, Universitaet der Bundeswehr Muenchen, Neubiberg, Germany; K. Ramachandran, Institut für Werkstoffe und Verfahren der Energietechnik (IWV1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany; R. Vaßen, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany; D. Stöver, Forschungszentrum Juelich, Juelich, Germany

Understanding the particle injection into the gas flow issuing from an APS torch is necessary to optimize the spraying parameters. In order to solve numerically this task, the distribution of gas velocity and temperature at the torch outlet is required. In this work this is achieved by developing a model which not only delivers the solution for the electric charged gas flow within the torch, but also includes the thermodynamical condition of minimal entropy production. This additional condition fixes the size of the electric arc inside the torch, whose radius is particularly responsible for the form of the calculated velocity and temperature profiles at the torch nozzle. The velocity and viscosity of the gas flow near the torch outlet mainly control the trajectory of particles injected into the gas flow. For the typical gas mass flow and torch power used in APS, the resulting temperatures at the gas core are sligthly above the ionization temperature of the gas species. The radial location of the viscosity maximum corresponding to the ionization temperature is calculated, since this maximum strongly influences the particle trajectory. Finally a relation for best injection into the gas flow is developed.

Summary: The radial constriction of the gas flow within an APS torch determines the distribution of velocity and temperature near the torch outlet. Combining the numerical solution of the gas flow and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, the gas viscosity profile is calculated at the point of particle injection. The aim is to optimize such injection.