Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Gas Stream in a Plasma Torch Reactor

C. Soares[1], N. Padoin[1], F. A. Cassini[1], M. Sanchez[2]
[1]Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
[2]University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Published in 2014

Plasma technology has potential applications in a wide range of areas, such as microwave reflectors/absorbers, material processing, sterilization and chemical neutralization. The knowledge about the fluid behavior in such systems has a central role, since the stability of the flow in the region of the electrical arc is essential for the development of a well-behaved torch. In this work, a numerical analysis of the gas flow inside a three-dimensional model, based on a plasma torch device previously described in the literature, was carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics® software. The results showed that the peak of velocity was obtained at the constrictions that interconnect the two chambers. The flow was, however, equally distributed among the four constrictions.