Effects of Swirl Flow on an Atmospheric Inductively Coupled Plasma

Abstract

An atmospheric inductively coupled plasma is expected to be used in the development of the thermal protection system for Venus missions. In this study effects of the swirl flow injection on the characteristics of an atmospheric ICP generator were investigated. The total enthalpy was measured by two ways; the sonic flow method and calorimetric method. A diode laser absorption spectroscopy was also applied to the measurement of the temperature and velocity of an extracted plume. The stagnation pressure was about 60 kPa and the work gas was argon. The experimental found that the specific enthalpy increased with decreasing the swirl flow fraction. This seems to arise from the change in the shape and the flow pattern inside the plasmas.