Development of a Plasma Training Lab kart: System Setup and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

A mobile lab kart for plasma training is developed with a high vacuum pumping system, vacuum gauges and a glass discharge tube powered by a high voltage transformer connected to a household 60 Hz line. A numerical model is developed by using a commercial multiphysics software package, CFD-ACE+ to analyze the experimental data. Simulations for argon and nitrogen were carried out to provide fundamental discharge characteristics. Variations of the kart configuration were demonstrated: a glass tube with three electric probes, optical emission spectrometer attachment and infra red thermal imaging system to give more detailed analysis of the discharge characteristics.