Abstract
The generation, jet length and flow-regime change characteristics of argon plasma issuing into ambient air have been experimentally examined. Different torch structures have been used in the tests. Laminar plasma jets can be generated within a rather wide range of working-gas flow rates, and an unsteady transitional flow state exists between the laminar and turbulent flow regimes. The high-temperature region length of the laminar plasma jet can be over an order longer than that of the turbulent plasma jet and increases with increasing argon flow rate or arc current, while the jet length of the turbulent plasma is less influenced by the generating parameters. The flow field of the plasma jet has very high radial gradients of plasma parameters, and a Reynolds number alone calculated in the ordinary manner may not adequately serve as a criterion for transition. The laminar plasma jet can have a higher velocity than that of an unsteady or turbulent jet. The long laminar plasma jet has good stiffness to withstand the impact of laterally injected cold gas and particulate matter. It could be used as a rather ideal object for fundamental studies and be applied to novel materials processing due to its attractive stable and adjustable properties.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pfender E (1978) In: Hirsh MN, Oskam HJ (eds.) Electrical discharges, Academic Press, New York, pp 291–398
Pfender E (1999). Plasma Chem Plasma Process 19:1
Fauchais P (2004). J Phys D: Appl Phys 37:R86
Pfender E, Spores R, Chen WLT (1995). Int J Mater Product Technol 10:548
Pan WX, Zhang WH, Zhang WH, Wu CK (2001). Plasma Chem Plasma Process 21:23
Pan WX, Li G, Meng X, Ma W, Wu CK (2005). Pure Appl Chem 77:373
Pan WX, Meng X, Li G, Fei QX, Wu CK (2005). Surf Coatings Tech. 97:345
Pan WX, Ma W, Wu CK (2001). In: Zhou Y-C, Gu Y-X, Li Z (eds). Proceedings of mechanics and material engineering for science and experiments, Science Press, Beijing, pp 427–431
Solonenko OP (1994). In: Solonenko OP, Zhukov MF (eds.) Thermal plasma and new materials technology Vol. 2. Cambridge Interscience Publishing, Cambridge, pp 7–96
Osaki K, Fukumasa O, Kobayashi A (2000). Vacuum 59:47
Pan WX, Zhang WH, Ma W, Wu CK (2002). Plasma Chem Plasma Process 22:271
Xu D-Y, Chen Xi, Cheng K (2003). J Phys D: Appl Phys 36:1583
Meng X, Pan WX, Wu CK (2003) In: Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, Taomina, Italy, Paper No. ISPC-243
Cheng K, Chen Xi (2004). J Phys D: Appl Phys 37:2385
Li G, Pan WX, Meng X, Wu CK (2005). Plasma Sources Sci Technol 14:219
Meng X, Pan WX, Li T, Wu CK (2005) In: Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, Toronto, Paper No. ISPC-354
Xu D-Y, Chen Xi, Pan WX (2005). Int J Heat Mass Transfer 48:3253
Fincke JR, Pentecost CG (1991) In: Etemadi K, Mostaghimi J (eds.) Heat transfer in thermal plasma processing, ASME HTD-161, pp 101–106
Sinkevich OA, Chikunov SE (2004). Fluid Dynamics 39:718
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pan, W., Meng, X., Wu, C. et al. Experimental Study on the Thermal Argon Plasma Generation and Jet Length Change Characteristics at Atmospheric Pressure. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 26, 335–345 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-006-9000-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-006-9000-z