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Probe measurements in thermal plasma jets

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Abstract

Measurements of composition, temperature, and velocity in atmospheric argon plasma jets are reported, using enthalpy probes. The plasma jets are generated by a commercial type plasma gun and the measurements are expected to be of particular interest for industrial applications such as plasma spraying. Emphasis has been on the central and downstream regions of the plasma flame. The entrainment of air into the jet was found to be very high, even close to the axis of the jet. Gas samples analyzed with a gas chromatograph showed demixing of the air, i.e., nitrogen is more abundant in the jet than at room temperature. The high air entrainment has a strong cooling effect on the plasma, resulting in a rapid temperature drop along the axis. The influence of the argon flow rate and of the arc current on the jet's conditions was parametrically studied. Matching of the quantities measured in the jet with the torch input confirmed the validity of the results, and the relevance of enthalpy probe diagnostics in thermal plasma jets.

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Abbreviations

CA:

effective cross-sectional area of sonic orifice (m2)

c P :

specific heat at constant pressure [J/(kg K)]

c V :

specific heat at constant volume [J/(kg K)]

D :

diameter (mm)

h :

Specific enthalpy (J/kg)

m :

mass flow rate (kg/s)

M :

molecular mass (kg/kmol)

p :

pressure (N/m2)

Q j :

enthalpy flux through a jet's cross section (W)

r :

radial coordinate (mm)

r 0 :

limit of integration (mm)

R :

universal gas constant [J/(kmol K)]

T :

temperature (K)

v :

velocity (m/s)

X :

mole fraction

z :

Distance from the nozzle (mm)

γ:

Specific heat ratio

ρ:

mass density (kg/m3)

atm:

atmospheric conditions

F:

with flow through the probe

g :

gas sample

j:

jet

n:

nozzle

NF:

with no flow through the probe

o:

conditions upstream of the sonic orifice

p:

plasma

s:

gas sample at the exit of the probe

st:

stagnation conditions

w:

cooling water

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 125 Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 55455, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    M. Brossa & E. Pfender

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  1. M. Brossa
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  2. E. Pfender
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Brossa, M., Pfender, E. Probe measurements in thermal plasma jets. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 8, 75–90 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016932

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016932

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