ISSN:
1572-8986
Keywords:
Thermal plasmas
;
particle motion
;
computer experiments
;
review
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Technology
Notes:
Abstract A particle injected into a thermal plasma will experience a number of effects which are not present in an ordinary gas. In this paper effects exerted on the motion of a particle will be reviewed and analyzed in the context of thermal plasma processing of materials. The primary purpose of this paper is an assessment of the relative importance of various effects on particle motion. Computer experiments are described, simulating motion of a spherical particle in a laminar, confined plasma jet or in a turbulent, free plasma jet. Particle sizes range from 5 to 50 µm, and as sample materials alumina and tungsten are considered. The results indicate that (i) the correction term required for the viscous drag coefficient due to strongly varying properties is the most important factor; (ii) non-continuum effects are important for particle sizes 〈10 µm at atmospheric pressure and these effects will be enhanced for smaller particles and/or reduced pressures; (iii) the Basset history term is negligible, unless relatively large and light particles are considered over long processing distances; (iv) thermophoresis is not crucial for the injection of particles into thermal plasmas; (v) turbulent dispersion becomes important for particle 〈10 µm in diameter.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00615122
