INFLUENCE OF THE INLET CONDITIONS ON THE VORTEX CHARACTERISTICS

Vortex chambers are normally used for arc stabilization in linear plasma torches. In the present work, the effect of uniformity of the gas inlet channel distribution on the stabilizing characteristics of a swirled flow is studied numerically. The  formation of a complex flow pattern with a toroidal recirculating flow area inside the vortex chamber is observed. For some regimes, two local maxima of the tangential velocity are observed in the middle section of the chamber. It is shown that an increment of the number of gas inlet channels leads to a more uniform gas input with disappearance of the second maximum, which increases the velocity amplification coefficient and, correspondingly, results in a better stabilizing effect. The obtained profiles of the radial distribution of the tangential velocity are compared with the results of Oseen's equation for an unconfined vortex.
Автор:  Essiptchouk A.
Ключевые слова:  plasma torch, vortex chamber.
Стр:  1046