Distribution of dynamic and thermal characteristics in a non-equilibrium plasma jet

The paper presents the results of an investigation of plasma jet parameters downstream from the exhaust nozzle of a plasma generator (PG). The distribution of thermodynamic temperature, velocity, electron temperature and electron density in a non-equilibrium plasma jet generated by a linear DC PG employed for the deposition of coatings has been analyzed. The typical arc current varied in the range 150-275 A, and the voltage drop ranged within 80-300 V. The plasma-forming gas was heated to 7500 K, mixed with the ambient temperature air and left the plasma generator as a high temperature jet (3000-3500 K) at a velocity of 400-600 m.s(-1) velocity. A numerical simulation of dynamic and thermal characteristics in a free atmospheric pressure air plasma jet was done. The Fluent software was used to solve the Navier Stokes and energy equation based on the dynamic k-epsilon model for a single-phase fluid jet. Experimental measurements were performed in an expanding air plasma jet effluent from the plasma torch, employing the calorimetric and Langmuir probe method. The behaviour of dynamic and thermal characteristics in the entrance region of the plasma jet out:flowing from the plasma chemical reactor was established. The motion and interaction of the high temperature air jet were found to depend mainly on the plasma source operating regime, the initial plasma jet parameters, and the construction of a plasma torch.