Advanced Nonequilibrium Modelling of DC Tungsten-Inert Gas Arcs

The paper is concerned with the state-of-the-art nonequilibrium modelling of a DC tungsten-inert gas arc plasma. The advanced description involves the two-way interaction between the plasma and the electrodes. Results in atmospheric pressure argon demonstrating important features of the arc plasma are presented and discussed. First results in the presence of metal vapour released from the molten anode are presented. Outlook for further developments in nonequilibrium arc modelling are discussed

Advanced Nonequilibrium Modelling of DC Tungsten-Inert Gas Arcs

The paper is concerned with the state-of-the-art nonequilibrium modelling of a DC tungsten-inert gas arc plasma. The advanced description involves the two-way interaction between the plasma and the electrodes. Results in atmospheric pressure argon demonstrating important features of the arc plasma are presented and discussed. First results in the presence of metal vapour released from the molten anode are presented. Outlook for further developments in nonequilibrium arc modelling are discussed

Comparative Studies of Low-Intensity Short-Length Arcs

We present results obtained by two non-equilibrium modelling approaches and experiments on low-intensity short-length arcs in argon at atmospheric pressure. The first one considers a quasi-neutral arc column combined with boundary conditions on the electrodes based on the energy balance in the space-charge sheaths. The second approach applies a unified description over the entire gap and solves the Poisson equation for the self-consistent electric field. The experiments provide the arc voltage

A collisional-radiative model of iron vapour in a thermal arc plasma

A collisional-radiative model for the ground state and fifty effective excited levels of atomic iron, and one level for singly-ionized iron, is set up for technological plasmas. Attention is focused on the population of excited states of atomic iron as a result of excitation, de-excitation, ionization, recombination and spontaneous emission. Effective rate coefficients for ionization and recombination, required in non-equilibrium plasma transport models, are also obtained. The collisional-radiative model is applied to a thermal arc plasma. Input parameters for the collisional-radiative model are provided by a magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a gas-metal welding arc, in which local thermodynamic equilibrium is assumed and the treatment of the transport of metal vapour is based on combined diffusion coefficients. The results clearly identify the conditions in the arc, under which the atomic state distribution satisfies the Boltzmann distribution, with an excitation temperature equal to the plasma temperature. These conditions are met in the central part of the arc, even though a local temperature minimum occurs here. This provides assurance that diagnostic methods based on local thermodynamic equilibrium, in particular those of optical emission spectroscopy, are reliable here. In contrast, deviations from the equilibrium atomic-state distribution are obtained in the near-electrode and arc fringe regions. As a consequence, the temperatures determined from the ratio of line intensities and number densities obtained from the emission coefficient in these regions are questionable. In this situation, the collisional-radiative model can be used as a diagnostic tool to assist in the interpretation of spectroscopic measurements

Advanced Approach for Radiation Transport Description in 3D Collisional-radiative Models

The description of radiation transport phenomena in the frames of collisional-radiative models requires the solution of Holstein-Biberman equation. An advanced solutuion method for 3D plasma obejcts is proposed. The method is applicable for various line contours in a wide range of absorption coefficients. Developed approach is based on discretization of the arbitrary plasma volume on a Cartesian voxel grid. Transport of photons between the cells is computed using the ray traversal algorithm by Amanatides [1]. Solution of the particle balance equations with computed in advance radiative transfer matrix is demonstrated for various typical arc shapes, like e.g. free-burning arc and cylindric arc. Results are compared with corresponding calculations using previously developed approaches. As the method is suited for finite geometries and allows for a strict solution of the radiation transport equation, applicability ranges of previous approximations can be specified

Advanced Approach for Radiation Transport Description in 3D Collisional-radiative Models

The description of radiation transport phenomena in the frames of collisional-radiative models requires the solution of Holstein-Biberman equation. An advanced solutuion method for 3D plasma obejcts is proposed. The method is applicable for various line contours in a wide range of absorption coefficients. Developed approach is based on discretization of the arbitrary plasma volume on a Cartesian voxel grid. Transport of photons between the cells is computed using the ray traversal algorithm by Amanatides [1]. Solution of the particle balance equations with computed in advance radiative transfer matrix is demonstrated for various typical arc shapes, like e.g. free-burning arc and cylindric arc. Results are compared with corresponding calculations using previously developed approaches. As the method is suited for finite geometries and allows for a strict solution of the radiation transport equation, applicability ranges of previous approximations can be specified

Comparing two non-equilibrium approaches to modelling of a free-burning arc

Two models of high-pressure arc discharges are compared with each other and with experimental data for an atmospheric-pressure free-burning arc in argon for arc currents of 20–200 A. The models account for space-charge effects and thermal and ionization non-equilibrium in somewhat different ways. One model considers space-charge effects, thermal and ionization non-equilibrium in the near-cathode region and thermal non-equilibrium in the bulk plasma. The other model considers thermal and ionization non-equilibrium in the entire arc plasma and space-charge effects in the near-cathode region. Both models are capable of predicting the arc voltage in fair agreement with experimental data. Differences are observed in the arc attachment to the cathode, which do not strongly affect the near-cathode voltage drop and the total arc voltage for arc currents exceeding 75 A. For lower arc currents the difference is significant but the arc column structure is quite similar and the predicted bulk plasma characteristics are relatively close to each other.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Investigation of an Ablation-dominated Arc in a Model Chamber by Optical Emission Spectroscopy

A switching arc in a model chamber is investigated by means of optical emission spectroscopy. Ignition wire is applied to initiate an arc of several kiloampere between tungsten−copper electrodes. Radiation emitted by the arc plasma is absorbed by a surrounding PTFE nozzle, leading to an ablation–dominated discharge. Video spectroscopy is carried out using an imaging spectrometer combined with a high–speed video camera. Carbon ion and fluorine atom line emission from the heating channel as well as copper, oxygen and nitrogen from ignition wire and ambient air are analyzed with focus on the low–current phases at the beginning of discharge and near current zero. Additionally, electrical parameters and total pressure are recorded while the general behavior of the discharge is observed by another video camera. Considering rotational symmetry of the arc the corresponding radial emission coefficients are determined. Finally, radial temperature profiles are calculated

Investigation of an Ablation-dominated Arc in a Model Chamber by Optical Emission Spectroscopy

A switching arc in a model chamber is investigated by means of optical emission spectroscopy. Ignition wire is applied to initiate an arc of several kiloampere between tungsten−copper electrodes. Radiation emitted by the arc plasma is absorbed by a surrounding PTFE nozzle, leading to an ablation–dominated discharge. Video spectroscopy is carried out using an imaging spectrometer combined with a high–speed video camera. Carbon ion and fluorine atom line emission from the heating channel as well as copper, oxygen and nitrogen from ignition wire and ambient air are analyzed with focus on the low–current phases at the beginning of discharge and near current zero. Additionally, electrical parameters and total pressure are recorded while the general behavior of the discharge is observed by another video camera. Considering rotational symmetry of the arc the corresponding radial emission coefficients are determined. Finally, radial temperature profiles are calculated

Calculation of the Heat Affected Zone Coupled with the Arc Simulation in Tig Welding Process Considering the Marangoni Effect

The present article is focused on a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding process in two operation regimes, a normal and a constricted one. A computational model is applied for simulations of the liquid weld pool and the heat-affected zone of the workpiece coupled with a simulation of the welding arc. Welding experiments are used for model validation. Temperature profiles obtained from high-speed images with spectral filters correspond well with arc simulation results for both operation regimes