Modeling of the supersonic argon plasma jet at low gas pressure environment

Abstract

Numerical simulation results are presented concerning the heat transfer and fluid flow within the supersonic argon plasma jet encountered in low pressure (or soft vacuum) plasma spraying (LPPS). The plasma parameters at the inlet section of the plasma jet are taken from our modeling results of the subsonic-to-supersonic d.c. arc plasma torch. The mach number, temperature and static pressure at the center of the plasma jet on the torch exit section are 2.8, 13 200 K and 6000 Pa, respectively, whereas the environment (i.e. vacuum chamber) pressure is 0.1 atm. Those parameters are typical for LPPS. The plasma jet is assumed to be axi-symmetrical and in local thermodynamic equilibrium state. The All-Speed SIMPLE algorithm is coupled with the FAST-2D program to simulate the whole plasma jet containing both the supersonic and subsonic flow regions. Modeling results clearly show that there exist several successive temperature, velocity and static wave crests and troughs. The fluctuation magnitudes of those parameters reduce rapidly in the flow direction, along with the flow transformation from the supersonic flow regime into the subsonic flow regime. The existence of a series of compression and expansion waves in the region near the torch nozzle exit shows clearly the over-expanded characteristics of the supersonic plasma flow.