Effect of current connection to the anode nozzle on plasma torchefficiency

Experiments have been performed to demonstrate the influence of the location of the electric power connection to the anode nozzle on the efficiency of DC plasma torches. The DC plasma torch used in these experiments offers the flexibility to work with different anode geometries and the possibility of connecting the electrical power to the anode at two different locations. For each set of experiments, the controllable parameters such as total gas flow rate, gas composition, and electric current were kept constant, changing only the location of the electrical connection to the anode nozzle. The efficiency of the torch, derived from a conventional energy balance, shows a significant change as the location of the electrical connection to the anode nozzle is changed. The measured mean voltage as well as the amplitude of the voltage fluctuations were also affected by the location of the electrical connection to the anode nozzle. An explanation for the arc behavior is given, based on an analysis of the forces acting on the anode arc column and their influeuce on the variation of the arc column length. Experimental data are in good agreement with analytical predictions     

Plasma generation for the plasma cutting process

This study is an attempt to estimate the overall properties, viz. the thermal power and force, of an intense plasma jet produced by a plasma cutting torch, and to relate the properties of the plasma to the diameter of the nozzle of the plasma torch and the flow rate of plasma-forming gas. For cutting metallic plates using a thermal plasma, a narrow plasma jet is produced by means of a transferred electric are between an electrode in a plasma torch and the material to be cut. The power density and pressure exerted by the plasma jet on the material at the region of cut needs to be high so that a straight cut, without dress at the bottom of the plate, can be obtained. A simple theory to describe the behavior of the arc in a plasma cutting torch has been developed to predict the are radius, pressure, and arc voltage at the nozzle exit as a function of are current for a range of nozzle sizes and air flow rates. The results obtained are in good agreement with the measured values for an air plasma cutting torch nominally rated for 100-A operation. The relationships between the mass flow rate of plasma gas, plasma power, and arc force have been discussed in the light of design of plasma torches for plasma cutting     

Nature of convection-stabilized DC arcs in dual-flow nozzlegeometry. II. Optical diagnostics and theory

For pt.I see ibid., vol.18, no.1, p.91-101, 1990. A supersonic flow field with a 5.5-cm-long and ≈2.2-mm-thick cylindrical arc plasma column was observed with a four-mirror Schlieren optical system in dual-flow nozzle geometries. For both the orifice-type nozzle and the two dimensional convergent-divergent nozzle, the arc current was varied from 45 to 110 A. The optical cold-flow-plasma boundary displayed a sharp and laminar character in both nozzles, and a sharply defined, almost-constant-diameter, quiet arc is observed between the nozzles. Downstream of the nozzle throat the arc expands and assumes a conical shape. In this region, the fringe formation inside the arc is still clear, which is an indication of the laminar nature of the plasma. However, the arc boundary is not as distinct. A cooler arc is observed downstream of the nozzle throat. Using the experimentally determined axial static pressure and cold-flow mass flux rate distributions of pt.I and the channel-flow model with constant arc temperature, the energy integral was solved for the arc radius as a function of the axial distance. From this, the arc electric field strength, voltage, resistance, and power were determined, and the total heat transfer was related to the arc power. Good agreement between the calculated values and experimental data was observed     

The DC Arc in a Supersonic Nozzle Flow

The boundary layer integral method at its second level of approximation has been used to study the DC arc in a supersonic nozzle flow. It is shown that with the inclusion of the arc momentum balance, the critical point of the flow is, generally, not the sonic point of the external flow. The speed, at which a disturbance propagates relative to the external flow, is in general supersonic and is dependent on the arc conditions. The arc model is capable of predicting the axial electric field, the arc size and the axial pressure distribution as a function of current. For affinely related nozzles, the solution is determined by a parameter N, which is related to zt, the stagnation condition and the nominal current density at the throat (I/At). Numerical results are given for a particular nozzle shape although the method of analysis is general. Practical implications as regards nozzle design for a gas blast circuit breaker are briefly discussed.     

The Electrodeless Arc with Radial Inflow

An energy balance analysis has been performed for a confined cylindrical arc column heated inductively by high-frequency fields. The analysis includes the convective energy transport due to a radial inflow in addition to the radiative and conductive transport considered in the Ellenbaas-Heller equation. The resulting non-linear, two-point boundary value equations were solved numerically. Calculations were performed for an argon arc operating at atmospheric pressure using experimentally determined transport properties. Temperature profiles were found to be in better agreement with measured values, when radial inflow was included. There was no indication that the arc attained some natural diameter based on a specific plasma radius to skin depth ratio.     

Modelling of an argon plasma flow

One-fluid MHD equations are numerically solved for an axisymmetric flow of argon inside and outside a discharge chamber of a cascaded plasma torch. Arc currents of 100 and 150 A, flow rates of 10 and 30 slpm, and two different optical thicknesses are assumed. The flow is shown to be only weakly compressible, of the Mach number below 0.3. The calculated torch powers range from 3 to 7 kW, the energy lost by radiation is (1–3) kW. Axial velocities of (200–600) m/s and temperatures of (12 500–14 400) K are found at the torch nozzle exit and compared with available experimental data. Inside the chamber, several recirculation zones are predicted. The physical model and the chamber shape used can readily be extended for a hybrid plasma torch with the simultaneous stabilization of the electric arc inside the chamber by argon and, e.g., water swirl.Dedicated to Professor Jií Horáek on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Time constants for nonstationary arcs

The time constants associated with the initial deviations of an arc column from a static state have been studied analytically. The basic approach is to use a Taylor series expansion in powers of time of the energy balance equation. It is assumed that the arc gas is optically thin and is in local thermal equilibrium. Initially the effects of radial gas flow (which must exist for dynamic arcs) are neglected, but this simplification is later relaxed. The initial conditions are given by the properties of a cylindrically symmetric, wall-stabilized DC positive column. The interrupted (freely decaying) and the step-modulated arcs are considered, and initial time constants for conductance, electric field, and heat flux potential are computed. For numerical results the best available values of thermodynamic and transport properties have been used.     

Nature of convection-stabilized DC arcs in dual-flow nozzlegeometry. I. The cold flow field and DC arc characteristics

An experimental investigation of the steady-state low current air arcs in a dual-flow nozzle system is presented. The cold flow field with no arc was determined for various nozzle geometries, i.e. two- and three-dimensional and orifice nozzles, and nozzle pressure ratios. Supersonic flow separation and oblique and detached shock waves were observed in the flow field. Using a finite-element computer program, the Mach number contours were determined in the flow field for various nozzle-gap spacings and pressure ratios. In addition, the DC arc voltage and current measurements were made for an electrode gap spacing of ≈5.5 cm and current levels of I≈25, 50, and 100 A for the three nozzle geometries. The arc voltage and arc power increased rapidly as the flow speed increased from zero to sonic velocity at the nozzle throat. The shock waves in the converging-diverging nozzles resulted in a decrease in the overall resistance by about 15%     

Study of operating conditions of plasma spray torch using lowelectric power levels

The scaling-down of plasma spray torches is connected with problems of anodic arc attachment fluctuations. It Is known that thermally constricted arcs in molecular gases generate unstable anodic arc roots in the nozzle of the torch. Moreover, using a usual plasma spray torch at reduced electrical power level in an argon-hydrogen gas mixture at a pressure of about 120 mbar, the arc is strongly influenced by hydrodynamic forces. Especially, its long time behavior shown by the arc voltage course is very variable and nonreproducible. It is the purpose of this work to optimize the nozzle geometry and the gas flow rate in order to obtain stabilized operating conditions of the plasma torch for an arc current of 100 A. It will be shown that the design of the entrance region and the diameter of the anodic nozzle influence the are column motion as well as the level and the frequency of the voltage fluctuations. With a particularly modified anodic nozzle, stable and reproducible operating conditions of the plasma torch, which is used to synthesize diamond layers, will be obtained     

Untersuchungen über die thermische Belastbarkeit und die Form von Düsen zur Führung von Hochstromplasmen

The electrical and thermal limitings of nozzle are calculated from electrical dates of argon arcs for guiding and constricting high current plasmas. The electrical field strength in nozzles resulted from the arc characteristics. Hence it follows the maximum nozzle length as a function of nozzle diameter and amperage. From the arc power converted in the nozzle the power density resulted at the nozzle wall. By use of known material functions of nozzle material the needed wall thicknes of nozzle and quantities and velocities of cooling water are calculable. The experimental verification of the results gives the following relation between the minimum nozzle diameter and amperage for argon arcs using the best nozzle cooling d [cm] = 10^?3 I [A]. With superposed gas flow values are riched up to d [cm] = 0,5 · 10^?3 I [A]. The attainable current density is 6 · 10³ A cm^?2 without superposed gas flow and 6 · 10⁴ A cm^?2 with superposed gas flow. New nozzle typs for plasma technological uses ensue from the results of investigations.     

保护气对切割弧特性影响的模拟研究

通过比较两种不同结构切割炬所产生的等离子体流场,发现保护气对等离子体的温度和速度分布影响很小.垂直保护气在切割炬喷口形成阻碍作用,造成切割炬内的压强有所升高,但是增加不大.两种结构保护气对切割弧的影响只是在炬喷口外的激波附近.加入保护气后激波的强度会减弱.相对于没有保护气的情况,保护气增加冷却作用,弧电压会略有升高.当改变保护气的成分时,发现弧柱区的氧气含量不受影响,所以保护气成分的改变不会影响到弧电压.计算发现轴线处氧气和周围气体的混合很少,在喷口下游10mm处,氧气的摩尔分数仍在90%以上. 关键词： 等离子体切割弧 保护气 数值模拟     

Combined experimental and computational study of laminar, axisymmetric hydrogen–air diffusion flames

We investigate the structure of two-dimensional, axisymmetric, laminar hydrogen–air flames in which a cylindrical fuel stream is surrounded by coflowing air, using laser-diagnostic and computational methods. Spontaneous Raman scattering and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) are used to measure the distributions of major species and temperature. Computationally, we solve the governing conservation equations for mass, momentum, energy, and species, using detailed chemistry and transport. The fuel is diluted with nitrogen (1:1) to reduce heat transfer to the burner, to match the zero temperature gradient at the fuel exit. Three average fuel exit velocities are studied: 18, 27, and 50 cm/s. Comparisons of the measured and computed results are performed for radial profiles at a number of axial positions, and along the axial centerline. Peak major species mole fractions and temperatures are quantitatively predicted by the computations, and the axial species profiles are predicted to within the experimental uncertainty. In the radial profiles studied, base-case computations excluding thermal diffusion of light species were in excellent agreement with the measurements. While the addition of thermal diffusion led to some discrepancy with the measured results, the magnitude of the differences was no more than 25%. The computations predicted the axial centerline profiles from the burner exit to the maximum temperature well, though the experimental temperatures in the downstream mixing region decreased somewhat faster than the computed profiles. Radiative losses are seen to be negligible in these flames, and changes in transport properties and variations in initial flow velocities generally led to only modest changes in the axial profiles. The results also show that the detailed axial profiles of major species and temperature at different fuel jet velocities scale quantitatively with the jet velocity.     

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通过构建等离子体数字测控系统,测量了等离子体发生器不同工况下的工作参数,包括工作气体流量、冷却水温升、弧电压与弧电流等。运用能量平衡原理,计算了等离子体发生器出口射流平均焓值、平均温度及其分布。结果表明,在等离子体发生器的出口处,射流温度呈抛物线分布,增加主气气体流量,射流焓值与温度呈下降趋势,而添加氢气为辅助工作气体时,射流焓值与温度将会得到显著提高。     

大气压直流氩等离子体射流工作特性研究

介绍了一种新型大气压直流双阳极等离子喷枪,并对其电特性参数和发射光谱进行了测量.通过对氩等离子体射流的电信号进行时域和频域分析,研究了载气流量和弧电流的变化对射流脉动的影响,结果表明氩等离子体电弧的伏安特性呈上升趋势,射流脉动属于接管模式,电源特性中的交流分量引起的电压波动是影响氩等离子体射流脉动的主要因素. 通过光谱法测量了氩等离子体射流在弧室内和弧室出口的发射光谱,利用玻尔兹曼曲线斜率法计算了射流的激发温度,根据Ar I谱线的斯塔克展宽得到了射流的电子密度,并对等离子体射流满足局域热力学平衡(LTE) 关键词： 等离子喷枪 射流脉动 激发温度 局域热力学平衡     

低压下直流电弧热等离子体射流电子密度的光谱法测量

采用原子发射光谱仪研究低压直流电弧热喷涂等离子体射流的特性。利用Stark展宽法采集H_β谱线,使用其Δλ_1/2来计算等离子射流中的电子密度,研究了氢气流量、输入功率和探测距离对等离子体射流中电子密度的影响。使用Saha方程计算热等离子体的电离程度,研究了功率/氢气流量与等离子体电离程度的关系。结果表明:电子密度和电离程度随着电流强度的增大而增加;氢气流量增加可以明显提高等离子体射流的能量,但对电离程度影响不大。     

Hot Ion Plasma Heating Experiments in SUMMA

Initial empirical results are presented for the hot-ion plasma heating experiments conducted in the new SUMMA (Superconducting Magnetic Mirror Apparatus) at NASA Lewis Research Center. A discharge was formed by applying a radially inward DC electric field near the mirror throats. Data were obtained at midplane magnetic flux densities from 1.0 to 3.5 tesla. Charge-exchange neutral particle energy analyzer data were reduced to ion temperatures using a plasma model that included a Maxwellian energy distribution super-imposed on an azimuthal drift, finite ion orbits, and radial variations in density and electric field. Using this plasma model, the highest ion temperatures computed were 5 keV, 1.2 keV, and 1 keV for He+, H2+, and H+, respectively. These were obtained at a mid-plane magnetic flux density of 1.6 T. Ion temperature was found to scale roughly as (P/B)n, where P/B is the ratio of power input to magnetic flux density and n is about 1 for hydrogen and 2 for helium. Optical spectroscopy line-broadening measurements yielded ion temperatures about 15 percent higher than the charge-exchange neutral particle analyzer results for hydrogen and about 50 percent higher for helium. Spectroscopically obtained electron temperatures ranged from 3 to 30 eV.     

Analytical Models of Free-Burning Electric Arcs

Two-dimensional electric arc model based on the solution of the energy equation by means of variables separation method in curve-line orthogonal coordinates, associated with electrical arc characteristics, is suggested. Quite accurate solution of MGD-equations complete system for the arc with radial current spreading out of the top nozzle of the conic electrode is produced. Influence of electrode geometry on arc column characteristics in some particular cases has been analysed.     

The Rotation of Ions and Neutrals in a Cylindrical Magnetized Hollow Cathode Argon Arc

In a magnetized hollow cathode arc rotational velocities of ions and neutrals and their temperatures were measured in axial and radial dependence. In comparison with theory experimental results give a detailed analysis of radial transport phenomena.     

A Current-Zero Arc Model Based on Forced Convection

A simplified arc model based on the integral method is used to study the arc behavior in a supersonic nozzle. Emphasis is placed on the energy balance of the overall arc, which extends to the arc thennal boundary. Similarity rules for aerodynamic and electrical quantities are established, and a quantitative definition of current zero period is given. Computations have been done for two nozzle geometries. The nozzle geometry plays the role of shaping the arc, thereby affecting the axial electric field distribution. Performance curves in terms of the critical rate of rise of recovery voltage (rrrv)c and di/dt at current zero are established. It has been found that (rrrv)c can be seriously affected by the distortion of the current waveform near current zero due to arc-circuit interaction. When experimentally measured current waveform is used as an input, a good quantitative agreement is obtained for the Liverpool orifice arc [1] between theory and experimental results. A satisfactory agreement has also been achieved for the axial electric field distribution without adding a turbulence term into the energy equation. The limitations of the present arc model is also discussed in detail.     

存在空气卷吸时等离子体射流光谱诊断应做的修正

采用一套高精度多谱线的等离子光谱诊断系统来同时探测等离子体射流中两条谱线的强度。通过谱线绝对强度法 ,获得了直接流入空气的氩等离子体射流在考虑卷吸和不考虑卷吸时两种不同的温度分布和卷吸空气的浓度分布。两种情况下所获得的温度分布的对比 ,说明等离子射流中的空气卷吸现象对光谱诊断的结果有可观的影响。忽略所卷吸的空气会对绝对强度法的温度诊断带来误差 ,尤其在远离喷口的区域 ,这种误差是很明显的。