Analysis of De-Laval nozzle designs employed for plasma figuring of surfaces

Plasma figuring is a dwell time fabrication process that uses a locally delivered chemical reaction through means of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch to correct surface figure errors. This paper presents two investigations for a high temperature jet (5000 K) that is used in the context of the plasma figuring process. Firstly, an investigation focuses on the aerodynamic properties of this jet that streamed through the plasma torch De-Laval nozzle and impinged optical surfaces. Secondly, the work highlights quantitatively the effects of changing the distance between the processed surface and nozzle outlet. In both investigations, results of numerical models and experiments were correlated. The authors’ modelling approach is based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The model is specifically created for this harsh environment. Designated areas of interests in the model domain are the nozzle convergent-divergent and the impinged substrate regions. Strong correlations are highlighted between the gas flow velocity near the surface and material removal footprint profiles. In conclusion, the CFD model supports the optimization of an ICP torch design to fulfil the demand for the correction of ultra-precision surfaces

Definition of a New Level One Test Case Measurements of Equilibrium Radiation from an Inductively Coupled Plasma in the Near-UV to Near-IR Spectral Region for a Titan-Type N2-CH4 Mixture. Preliminary Results

A test case, using a similar methodology and experimental set-up than previous test case TC5-Level 1 is presented in this paper. An inductively coupled plasma torch, working at atmospheric pressure, is used to create N2-CH4 Titan-like plasma (98%N2 - 2%CH4). The operating frequency and power are 64 MHz and 3 kW respectively. This kind of apparatus allows obtaining plasma in chemical and quasi-thermal equilibrium The spectral measurements cover the [300-800] nm range and are performed inside the induction coil. Each interesting spectrum is calibrated and compared to the line-by-line spectral code SPARTAN used for the simulation of the radiative emission of entry-type plasma. Finally, a discussion is proposed about the nucleation phenomenon which is occurred in the ICP torch with the N2-CH4 plasma. Preliminary studies show the synthesis of nanostructured carbon on the quartz tube.Comment: Radiation of High Temperature Gases in Atmospheric Entry, Heraklion : Greece (2008

Characterization of a 50kW Inductively Coupled Plasma Torch for Testing of Ablative Thermal Protection Materials Using Non-Air Gases

Thermal protection systems have been a major area of study since the advent of space flight, but recent efforts towards crewed spaceflight missions have placed a new importance on the development of such systems. The 50 kW Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Torch Facility at The University of Texas at Austin allows for rapid testing of high-temperature aerospace materials essential to the development of thermal protection systems in planetary re-entry applications. This ICP Torch Facility has been previously characterized using air as the test gas. However, planets of interest for future exploration have atmospheric compositions that differ from air, so testing heat shield materials in the presence of other gases is critical. To address this disparity between tested and actual environment, the current work characterizes the torch using various combinations of argon, CO2, and N2 by determining its operational range at various power settings, mass flow rates, and mixtures these gases. At each setting, the cold-wall heat flux is also measured to determine the range the torch is able to provide. Measurements indicate that using pure Ar gives the torch the largest operating range with regard to power setting and gas injection mass flow rate, and mixing argon into other gases drastically increases the stable operating range compared to the pure gas. Pure CO2 does not form a stable plasma discharge, but a mixture of 50% argon and 50% CO2 (by mass) provides stable operation up to 40 slpm total gas flow rate with a maximum heat flux of 98 W/cm2. Smaller percentages of CO2 allow the cold-wall heat flux to be increased to 110 W/cm2. Pure N2 forms a stable plasma discharge, but the operating range is very limited, providing stable operation up to 20 slpm total gas flow rate with a maximum heat flux of 110 W/cm2.Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanic

Advances in induction-heated plasma torch technology

Continuing research has resulted in significant advances in induction-heated plasma torch technology which extend and enhance its potential for broad range of uses in chemical processing, materials development and testing, and development of large illumination sources. Summaries of these advances are briefly described

A generalized method for multiple robotic manipulator programming applied to vertical-up welding

The application is described of a weld programming algorithm for vertical-up welding, which is frequently desired for variable polarity plasma arc welding (VPPAW). The Basic algorithm performs three tasks simultaneously: control of the robotic mechanism so that proper torch motion is achieved while minimizing the sum-of-squares of joint displacement; control of the torch while the part is maintained in a desirable orientation; and control of the wire feed mechanism location with respect to the moving welding torch. Also presented is a modification of this algorithm which permits it to be used for vertical-up welding. The details of this modification are discussed and simulation examples are provided for illustration and verification

Plasma torch for ignition, flameholding and enhancement of combustion in high speed flows

Preheating of fuel and injection into a plasma torch plume fro adjacent the plasma torch plume provides for only ignition with reduced delay but improved fuel-air mixing and fuel atomization as well as combustion reaction enhancement. Heat exchange also reduced erosion of the anode of the plasma torch. Fuel mixing atomization, fuel mixture distribution enhancement and combustion reaction enhancement are improved by unsteady plasma torch energization, integral formation of the heat exchanger, fuel injection nozzle and plasma torch anode in a more compact, low-profile arrangement which is not intrusive on a highspeed air flow with which the invention is particularly effective and further enhanced by use of nitrogen as a feedstock material and inclusion of high pressure gases in the fuel to cause effervescence during injection

Pemesinan Nonkonvensional Plasma Arc Cutting

Dalam proses pemesinan dikenal 2 jenis proses pemesian, yaitu pemesinan konvensional dan pemesinan nonkonvensional. Salah satu jenis pemesinan nonkonvensional ini adalah Plasma Arc Cutting. Plasma Arc Cutting sangat banyak digunakan dalam berbagai industri yang mengunakan bahan baku logam. Jenis torch pada Plasma Arc Cutting ini ada banyak. Setiap jenis torch mempunyai karakteristik tertentu dan fungsi tertentu. In machining process known 2 kind machining process, conventional machining and nonconventional machining. Plasma Arc Cutting is example nonconventional machining.Plasma Arc Cutting so many used in all of kind industry that use metal as raw material. In Plasma Arc Cutting there are many kind of torch. Every torch has spesifik characteristic and spesific funtion

Microwaves enable activated plasma figuring for ultra-precision fabrication of optics

Activated plasma figuring using microwaves aims at providing highly efficient activated energy beams for rapid fabrication of optics. The chemical nature of this type of energy beam leads to targeting silicon-based materials. Furthermore this technology is proposed to address the needs of ultra-precision optical components. In this paper, we present a novel ADTEC microwavegenerated plasma torch design which is operated at atmospheric pressure. In this study, the plasma torch is fed with either argon or helium carrier gas. However this novel design for Plasma Figuring is targeted at local surface correction of crystal quartz which is a material of great interest for optical systems, such as acousto-optic devices. Also this novel design is targeted at reducing midspatial frequency errors such as waviness, ripple errors and residual sub-aperture tool footprints. These are responsible for the scattering of light at small angles, resulting in optical hazing effects, photonic energy loss and pixel cross-talk. Also the results of a preliminary investigation using Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) are reported and discussed. These results show the operat ing range when the main processing parameters are changed: microwave forward power values, gas flow rates and the types of gasses