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Energy balance for a DC plasma torch
Author(s) -
Bokari Azhar,
Boulos Maher
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450580206
Subject(s) - torch , plasma torch , anode , argon , plasma , cathode , materials science , volumetric flow rate , current (fluid) , analytical chemistry (journal) , atmospheric pressure , electrode , range (aeronautics) , atomic physics , chemistry , mechanics , thermodynamics , physics , metallurgy , quantum mechanics , chromatography , welding , meteorology , composite material
Abstract A study was made of the energy utilization efficiency in a d.c. plasma toich operating with argon at atmospheric pressure at a power level of 10‐25 kW. Calorimetric measurements of the energy lost to the cathode, anode and that remaining in the plasma jet showed that the torch efficiency was about 40 to 50%. It increases with an increase of the plasma gas flow rate but decreases with an increase of the current intensity. The electrode spacing was found to have no significant influence on the efficiency over the range investigated. The torch efficiency could be substantially improved by a reduction of the anode size. The addition of small concentrations of a diatomic gas such as nitrogen improved the efficiency to about 65% and increased the total power dissipated in the torch.