Modeling and Simulation Study of Flow and Temperature Characteristics of a Pen-shaped Plasma Torch

Abstract

This study presents the numerical modeling, simulation and experimental findings of plasma flow and temperature characteristics in pen-shaped plasma torch. The complex plasma flow characteristic due to the interaction between electric arc and nitrogen gas inside the pen-shaped plasma torch is modeled using the Maxwell’s and the Magnetic-Hydrodynamic (MHD) equations. Cartesian coordinate based finite volume discretization is used to solve numerically all the governing equations. At a specific boundary condition, the numerical simulation values are validated with experimental result. The results suggest that the plasma can be accelerated to a mean velocity of 6.5 m/s at the throat of the torch with nitrogen mass flow rate of 17.5 Litre per minute and the plasma temperature computed showed 1380 K at the cathode surface and average temperature of 600 K at the torch outlet. The results successfully reflected important features of the studied pen-shaped plasma torch, which is worthwhile to provide preliminary knowledge in developing the new design of pen-like plasma torches for practical applications.