Arc plasma torch is an effective tool for spheroidization of metallic powders.However,as most conventional plasma torches were not specifically designed for plasma spheroidization,they may exhibit the disadvantages of...Arc plasma torch is an effective tool for spheroidization of metallic powders.However,as most conventional plasma torches were not specifically designed for plasma spheroidization,they may exhibit the disadvantages of the radial injection of powders,large fluctuations in the arc voltage,large gas flow rate,and disequilibrium between multiple plasma jets during the spheroidization process.Therefore,this paper presents a triple-cathode cascade plasma torch(TCCPT)for plasma spheroidization.Its structural design,including three cathodes,a common anode,and three sets of inter-electrodes,are detailed to ensure that powders can be inserted into the plasma jet by axial injection,the arc voltage fluctuations are easily maintained at a low level,and the plasma torches can work at a relatively small gas flow rate.Experimental results showed that the proposed TCCPT exhibits the following characteristics:(1)a relatively small arc voltage fluctuation within 5.3%;(2)a relatively high arc voltage of 75 V and low gas flow rate range of10-30 SLM;(3)easy to be maintained at the equilibrium state with the equilibrium index of the three plasma jets within 3.5 V.Furthermore,plasma spheroidization experiments of SUS304 stainless steel powers were carried out using the proposed TCCPT.Results verified that the proposed TCCPT is applicable and effective for the spheroidization of metallic powders with wide size distribution.展开更多
A two-temperature(2 T)thermal non-equilibrium model is developed to address the thermal nonequilibrium phenomenon that inevitably exists in the reverse-polarity plasma torch(RPT)and applied to numerically investigate ...A two-temperature(2 T)thermal non-equilibrium model is developed to address the thermal nonequilibrium phenomenon that inevitably exists in the reverse-polarity plasma torch(RPT)and applied to numerically investigate the plasma flow characteristics inside and outside the RPT.Then,a detailed comparison of the results of the 2 T model with those of the local thermal equilibrium(LTE)model is presented.Furthermore,the temperature of the plasma jet generated by a RPT and the RPT’s voltage are experimentally measured to compare and validate the result obtained by different models.The differences of the measured excitation temperature and the arc voltage between the 2 T model and experimental measurement are less than 13%and 8%,respectively,in all operating cases,validating the effectiveness of the 2 T model.The LTE model overestimates the velocity and temperature distribution of the RPT and its plasma jet,showing that thermal non-equilibrium phenomena cannot be neglected in the numerical modelling of the RPT.Unlike other common hot cathode plasma torches,the thermal non-equilibrium phenomenon is found even in the arc core of the RPT,due to the strong cooling effect caused by the big gas flow rate.展开更多
基金the supports of the Key R&D Program of Advanced Technology of Sichuan Science and Technology Department(No.2020YFG0111)。
文摘Arc plasma torch is an effective tool for spheroidization of metallic powders.However,as most conventional plasma torches were not specifically designed for plasma spheroidization,they may exhibit the disadvantages of the radial injection of powders,large fluctuations in the arc voltage,large gas flow rate,and disequilibrium between multiple plasma jets during the spheroidization process.Therefore,this paper presents a triple-cathode cascade plasma torch(TCCPT)for plasma spheroidization.Its structural design,including three cathodes,a common anode,and three sets of inter-electrodes,are detailed to ensure that powders can be inserted into the plasma jet by axial injection,the arc voltage fluctuations are easily maintained at a low level,and the plasma torches can work at a relatively small gas flow rate.Experimental results showed that the proposed TCCPT exhibits the following characteristics:(1)a relatively small arc voltage fluctuation within 5.3%;(2)a relatively high arc voltage of 75 V and low gas flow rate range of10-30 SLM;(3)easy to be maintained at the equilibrium state with the equilibrium index of the three plasma jets within 3.5 V.Furthermore,plasma spheroidization experiments of SUS304 stainless steel powers were carried out using the proposed TCCPT.Results verified that the proposed TCCPT is applicable and effective for the spheroidization of metallic powders with wide size distribution.
基金support from National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51875372)the Key R&D Program of Advanced Technology of Sichuan Science and Technology Department(No.2020YFG0111)。
文摘A two-temperature(2 T)thermal non-equilibrium model is developed to address the thermal nonequilibrium phenomenon that inevitably exists in the reverse-polarity plasma torch(RPT)and applied to numerically investigate the plasma flow characteristics inside and outside the RPT.Then,a detailed comparison of the results of the 2 T model with those of the local thermal equilibrium(LTE)model is presented.Furthermore,the temperature of the plasma jet generated by a RPT and the RPT’s voltage are experimentally measured to compare and validate the result obtained by different models.The differences of the measured excitation temperature and the arc voltage between the 2 T model and experimental measurement are less than 13%and 8%,respectively,in all operating cases,validating the effectiveness of the 2 T model.The LTE model overestimates the velocity and temperature distribution of the RPT and its plasma jet,showing that thermal non-equilibrium phenomena cannot be neglected in the numerical modelling of the RPT.Unlike other common hot cathode plasma torches,the thermal non-equilibrium phenomenon is found even in the arc core of the RPT,due to the strong cooling effect caused by the big gas flow rate.
