Numerical and experimental studies on DC plasma spray torch

Abstract

One of the challenging problems in the plasma spray technique is reproducibility of the coating quality. This problem is mainly associated with arc fluctuations, which affect the plasma jet temperature and velocity, inside the plasma torch. In this study, 3D numerical models are developed to study the arc behavior inside the torch and effect of arc fluctuations on plasma jet temperature and velocity. Plasma arc is simulated for different operating parameters. Different arc sizes are predicted by using thermo-dynamical principle of minimum entropy production for given torch power. The influence of arc current and gas flow rate on the Ar–N 2 plasma arc characteristics, plasma jet and torch efficiency is presented. Predicted torch efficiencies and arc voltages are comparable with measurements. At the nozzle exit, velocity shows stronger three-dimensional effect than temperature. Plasma jets are simulated using different nozzle exit profiles obtained from the plasma arc model and their temperature and velocity distributions are clarified.