Three-Dimensional Time-Dependent Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Flows in an Inductively Coupled Thermal Plasma Torch With a Reaction Chamber

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 39; no. 11; pp. 2894 - 2895
• Main Authors: Colombo, V., Concetti, A., Ghedini, E., Gherardi, M., Sanibondi, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-11-2011; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Argon; Chambers; Chemical reactions; Coils; Computational fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Mathematical models; Navier-Stokes equations; Plasma devices; plasma material processing; plasma simulation; plasma sources; Plasma spraying; Plasma temperature; Predictive models; Reynolds number; Simulation; Solid modeling; Thermal plasmas; Three dimensional; Turbulence; Turbulent flow; Viscosity
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2011.2161594

A 3-D time-dependent simulation of a laboratory-scale inductively coupled thermal plasma torch system has been carried out to investigate unsteady turbulent flow patterns, which may arise in the reaction chamber as a consequence of a sharp expansion of the gas at the torch outlet. A large eddy simulation model has been used to predict the instantaneous flow field without any time filtering, as done in the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes models (for example, κ-ε or Reynolds stress model).