Modeling the Thermal Characteristics of an AC Plasma Torch

Luxat, J.C.; Lees, Leonard H.

doi:10.1109/tiga.1971.4181335

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Plasma torches operate with power levels as low as 0.5 kW and as high as 10 MW with either DC, or AC or RF inductively coupled systems [1][2][3]. Research on plasma torches encompasses modeling and experiments, effects of geometry, and consideration of thermal and non-thermal equilibrium conditions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling and analysis of a dual channel plasma torch for industrial, space, and launch applications

Zielinski¹,

Fair²,

Winfrey

et al. 2014

2014 17th International Symposium on Electromagnetic Launch Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dual-channel thermal plasma torches can operate with air, argon, or combustible gases to produce high temperature plasma flows. This plasma torch can be used in various important applications such as metal industry recycling, surface coating and hardening, space operations using controlled thrust, and macroparticle acceleration based on the electrothermal nature of thermal torches and electrical-to-thermal energy conversion. Power for this torch is supplied from the electric mains and the voltage is stepped up to 6 kV. However, the torch can also operate in DC or in pulsed mode. The electrical operation is characterized by the VoltAmpere relationship to determine the power rating of the torch and diagnose the dynamic behavior of the plasma. Experiments on the torch using air and argon have shown plasma temperatures of 1 eV and 0.5 eV, respectively, with plasma number densities in the range of 10 24 -10 25 /m 3 , indicating a dense plasma regime with the plasma tending to be weakly nonideal. Plasma kinetic temperature and electron number density were obtained from optical emission spectroscopy using the relative line method as the plasma is near local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) condition. The plasma temperature is at a maximum for low flow rates and decreases for increased flow rates. The torch modeling was conducted using an electrothermal plasma code to simulate and predict the parameters for pulsed mode operation. Simulation was conducted on a single channel as the dual torch is symmetric. Code results for extended pulse lengths show a plasma temperature between 0.6 eV and 0.8 eV for nitrogen, oxygen and helium, which are in good correlation with plasma temperatures obtained from optical emission spectra and measured plasma resistivity. A set of computational experiments using short pulses at higher discharge currents have shown temperatures in the range of 2.0-2.5 eV for nitrogen and helium.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling and analysis of a dual channel plasma torch for industrial, space, and launch applications

Zielinski¹,

Fair²,

Winfrey

et al. 2014

2014 17th International Symposium on Electromagnetic Launch Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Plasma torches operate with powers in the range as low as of 0.5 kW to as high as 10 MW either dc, or ac or RF inductively coupled systems [1]- [3]. Research covers modeling and experiments, effect of geometry, and consideration of thermal and nonthermal equilibrium conditions [1]- [7]. Experimental research has been in the use of torches with various working gases and the essential diagnostics of the generated plasma [7]- [10].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling and Analysis of a Dual-Channel Plasma Torch in Pulsed Mode Operation for Industrial, Space, and Launch Applications

Zielinski¹,

Fair²,

Winfrey

et al. 2015

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dual-channel thermal plasma torch can operate with air, argon, or combustible gases to produce hightemperature plasma flow. This plasma torch can be used in various important applications such as metal industry recycling, surface coating and hardening, space operations using controlled thrust, and macroparticle acceleration based on the electrothermal nature of thermal torches and electrical-to-thermal energy conversion. Power for this torch is supplied from the electric mains and the voltage is stepped up to 6 kV. However, the torch can also operate on dc or pulsed mode. The electrical operation is characterized by the voltampere relationship to determine the power rating of the torch as well as diagnosing the dynamic behavior of the plasma. Experiments on the torch using air and argon have shown plasma temperatures in the range of 0.4-0.6 eV with plasma number density in the range of 10 24 -10 25 /m 3 , indicating a dense plasma regime with the plasma tends to be weakly nonideal. Plasma kinetic temperature and electron number density were obtained from optical emission spectroscopy using the relative line method as the plasma is near local thermodynamic equilibrium condition. Plasma temperature has its peak for low flow rates and decreases for increased flow rates. The torch modeling was conducted using an electrothermal plasma code to simulate and predict the parameters for pulsed mode operation. Simulation was conducted on a single channel as the dual torch is symmetric. Code results for extended pulselength show a plasma temperature between 0.6 and 0.8 eV for nitrogen, oxygen, and helium; which are in good correlation with plasma temperatures obtained from optical emission spectra and measured plasma resistivity. A set of computational experiments using short pulses at higher discharge currents has shown temperature in the range of 2.0-2.5 eV for nitrogen and helium.

show abstract

Suboptimal adaptive control of a class of non-linear systems†

Luxat

Lees

1973

International Journal of Control

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Modeling the Thermal Characteristics of an AC Plasma Torch

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Modeling and analysis of a dual channel plasma torch for industrial, space, and launch applications

Modeling and analysis of a dual channel plasma torch for industrial, space, and launch applications

Modeling and Analysis of a Dual-Channel Plasma Torch in Pulsed Mode Operation for Industrial, Space, and Launch Applications

Suboptimal adaptive control of a class of non-linear systems†

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About