Particle Behavior in a Fluctuating Plasma Jet

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper reports numerical studies of the fluctuations of a plasma jet and behavior of the powder particles injected into such a fluctuating plasma jet. A radially fluctuating plasma jet is assumed to represent rotational fluctuations by forcing a steady‐state plasma jet to oscillate radially with a specified frequency. Axial fluctuations are considered by applying a transient input voltage to the two‐dimensional LAVA code. The trajectories and temperature histories of yttria‐stabilized zirconia particles injected into a fluctuating N 2 /H 2 plasma jet flowing into air are monitored and compared with experimental data. The results show that the radial fluctuation significantly affects the plasma conditions and particle behavior, while the axial fluctuation leads to results closely resembling those of steady‐state plasma jets.